Express Win Wild Opener over Drifters

Author: William Jeffries, San Diego Post
Date: September 3, 1990

DENVER, CO - The San Diego Express won their inaugural game on Sunday as they beat the Denver Drifters in a wild one that went down to the final two minutes of the game. The Drifters got off on a shaky start, as rookie quarterback Frank Boyette completed a 14-yard pass to fellow rookie wideout Leon Hill only to watch Hill cough up the ball after taking a devastating hit from San Diego safety Ken Adams. Fortunately, Denver lineman Erik Nofsinger covered up the ball, but the Drifters subsequnetly stalled, failing to convert a first down on their next three attempts. Following a punt from Louis Olds that left the Express starting at their 19-yard line, Express quarterback Ladell Suggs led an 81-yard drive that he capped off with 3-yard toss to rookie receiver Ron Sydney.

Following another Denver punt, the Express took their next possession down the field again, but came up short on a fourth-and-one attempt from the Denver 30-yard-line, as Suggs attempted a short pass to halfback Kareem Wood that fell incomplete. Following that, the teams traded a couple of punts, and the Express struck again when kicker Herman Webster booted a 52-yard field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, Drifters returner Horace Henderson fumbled after being hit by coverage specialist Bill Turner, and the loose ball was scooped up by Express wideout Ray Dickerson. The Express offense stalled, however, and settled for another Webster field goal.

With slightly less than three minutes left in the first half, Boyette did not want to head into the locker room trailing 13-0. On the Drifters next possession, Boyette completed passes of 26-, 21-, and 17-yards, leading up to a one-yard touchdown pass to second-string halfback Mike Faaola, who, in the week leading up to the game, expressed dissatisfaction with his backup role on the team. At the end of the first half, the Express led by a score of 13-7.

The third quarter was a wild one, with both teams combining for 29 points in 15 minutes of play. San Diego kicked off the scoring spree with an opening 87-yard drive finished off by a 9-yard pass from Suggs to wideout Bo Jackson. San Diego followed that up with a handoff to Wood, securing the two-point conversion and a 21-7 lead. The Drifters bounced right back, however, with a touchdown-scoring drive of their own, capped off with a 2-yard plunge from starting halfback Todd Blackwell. Included in the Drifters' drive was a 23-yard dash by fullback Scott Burr.
Not to be outdone, San Diego immediately struck back, as Suggs put together another textbook, 11-play drive, ending in a 4-yard touchdown run by rookie halfback Keith Crittenden. Not surprisingly, however, San Diego's two-touchdown lead was short-lived, as Henderson returned the Express's kickoff 96-yards for a touchdown, setting up a 28-21 showdown entering the fourth quarter.

Opening the fourth quarter, both teams traded punts before San Diego marched down the field to the Denver 14 on what looked to be another Express scoring drive. Suggs next pass was intercepted by Drifters cornerback Tom Tuitele, however, and Tuitele returned the ball 91-yards for a touchdown. Drifters kicker Carlos Belton tied the game at 28 with a successful extra-point conversion, and San Diego took possession of the ball with slightly over eight minutes to go.

The Drifters stopped the Express's next drive, forcing a punt, and Boyette led a drive that left Denver in seemingly superb position with a 1st and 10 at the Express 15-yard line. Boyette couldn't complete his next two passes, however, and his third ended up in the hands of Express cornerback Brian Gordy, who returned it 41 yards to the Denver 44. Suggs immediately led the Express into field goal range, and Webster converted a 44-yard field goal to give the Express a 31-28 lead with two minutes left on the clock. Boyette was unable to get the Drifters moving on their next possession, and the Express secured the opening-week victory.

Suggs was awarded player of the game honors as he completed 25 of 38 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
Next week, the Express (1-0) go for two in a row as they host the Arizona Rattlers (0-1). Meanwhile, the Drifters (0-1) will try to give their fans something to cheer about as they welcome the Louisville Colonels (0-1).