47th McCallister Cup
Long Island Raiders VS. Louisville Thunder - Milton Charles Stadium - Buffalo, NY - October 3, 1965 - 6 PM ET - Weather: Cloudy 8ºC | 46ºF1st Q
To no surprise, the game would start with a whole lot of defence. The Raiders looked to punish the Thunder early with several a few (maybe a little too hard) hits to players early. The aggressive play-calling worked well for the Raiders as RB Rodney Clark would get rocked by LB William Washington II and would lose the football. DB Lauri Hayha was able to jump on the ball and the Raiders would have the ball in Thunder territory. The Raiders offence would be able to take advantage with RB Dareion Fields able to break into the endzone to make it 7-0 early for the Raiders. Shortly after the score, things only got worse for the Thunder as WR Sammy Moss would be rocked by DB Alexander Bradley in attempting to make a catch over the middle. Moss was slow to get up and would not return to the game. The game would remain 7-0 after the opening quarter.
LI 7-0 LOU
2nd Q
While the Raiders’ defence was continuing to shut down the Louisville offence, their own run-game was making waves. RB Dareion Fields already had 42 yards in the opening quarter and was adding to it throughout the second. A monster 38-yard run would put the team into K Henderson Schumacher range and they would extend the lead to 10-0 with a field goal shortly after. Playing with a bit more urgency, the Thunder offence was able to pick it up as the second quarter was winding down. RB Rodney Clark was able to make up for his early fumble, breaking loose for 18, before Dumont found WR Lloyd Lane for another 12. They would just get into field goal range by the dying seconds, however, to their disappointment, K Frank Hughes would come up short on the field goal attempt leaving the game at 10-0 heading into the half.
LI 10-0 LOU
3rd Q
There was plenty of action in the Thunder locker room during the half as HC Emil Riddle was devising a plan to try and finally beat the Raiders’ defence in the second half. Their plan got off to a rocky start on a 2 and out on the opening drive, however, they were able to convert on their next drive and pick up a couple of first downs behind the legs of RB Rodney Clark. They slowly chipped away drive after drive, which both helped their defence rest and tired out the Raiders. Their defence would thank them for the extra rest in picking up an interception. DB Jayden Mills came through with the pick that would set the Thunder up in Raiders’ territory. It would not take too long for the Thunder to pull themselves back to within 3 after QB Leonidas Dumont found WR Piers Key for an 8-yard touchdown pass. Louisville had now managed to get themselves back into the game heading into the closing frame.
LI 10-7 LOU
4th Q
On several occasions, this season, the Raiders’ offence had been the only reason the team had lost games this season with their defence playing so dominantly. The Thunder’s rebound in the 3rd certainly put the pressure on the Raiders’ offence to pick it up and give their defence some support. Noting the several tough games where they could not convert, the offence got it together starting moving down the field. RB Dareion Fields continued to take advantage of the weaker front 7 of the Thunder, while some short quick passes from QB Stanley Troyer helped convert a couple of 2nd down attempts. Soon enough the Raiders were down at the 3-yard line. With how well Fields had been rushing all day, the Thunder expected the Raiders to run and they loaded up the front and brought S Johnny Berger right up to the line. Ultimately, the Raiders would fake the handoff and WR Casey Coleman would break off into the endzone. Troyer quickly threw the ball his way, but S Johnny Berger still was able to get over to make a play. He would hit Coleman aiming to knock the ball loose. Silence fell on the Buffalo crowd as Coleman hit the ground, but a moment later, the young WR would raise the ball up to show he had it. The score would give the Raiders the 17-7 lead. The Thunder would still have loads of time left to make something happen. However, the one issue was having to still go through the amazing Raiders’ defence. They would still make up more ground than they were able to get during the first half, but they still could not break past the Raiders’ defence. They would get a big run out of RB Greg Dix on a fake to RB Rodney Clark, but they would only manage a field goal. Time would slowly run down and the Raiders defence would continue to foil the Thunder’s attempts at scoring. Eventually, DB Rutherford Winters would seal the game with an interception and give the Raiders their second McCallister Cup in Long Island.
Injury Report
WR Sammy Moss LOU - Day-to-Day
DL Bjorn Sigmarsson LOU - Day-to-Day
McCallister Cup MVP
With the early hit and forced fumble on RB Rodney Clark, Washington would set the tone of the game and would not look back. He racked up 13 tackles on the day, 2 of which for losses, and was the anchor that would not move as the Raiders defence stuffed the Thunder offence. A well-deserved honour as the game’s MVP.
1965 McCallister Cup Champions
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1965 NAAF Season
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