Roster Moves
PRO: LB Kurt Warlock | Injured Reserve -> Active Roster
PRO: LB Cole Kent | Active Roster -> Reserve List
(5) Vancouver Wolves VS. (1) Providence Gold Stars - Milton Charles Stadium - Buffalo, NY - October 22, 1972 - 7:00 PM ET - Weather: Rain - 9°C | 48°F - Attendance: 53,871
Many Gold Star fans made the trip over to Buffalo to watch their team compete for a title, even with the rain in the forecast. Wolves fans were few and far between the Gold Stars and local Buffalo fans that were in attendance, making it feel more like a home game for the Gold Stars. The rain was increasing as the kickoff festivities continued in what was shaping up to be a wet evening.
1st Quarter
Vancouver would get the ball to start the game but quickly went 2 and out following a dropped pass from WR Akira Sakamoto. Providence took over and didn’t have much success either, getting one 1st down before punting it back. The game continued like this for a while until Vancouver would be the first to catch a break when QB Red King would lose his grip on the football when pulling it back to throw. DL Qian Zhou would land on it after the ball pinballed around the many legs of the O- and D-lines. Vancouver would take over in Providence’s end and put up a field goal to strike first. The sudden turn of events didn’t deter Providence who was able to get down the field themselves and add a field goal to tie the game with RB Tresean Jones starting to get some traction in the run game.
VAN 3-3 PRO
2nd Quarter
The rain started to pick up a little more into the 2nd quarter. However, despite that Providence would be able to get the offence moving. RB Tresean Jones continued to roll out of the backfield, but it was WR Justin Palmer who was able to slip out of a couple of tackles following an 18-yard catch and pick up another 21 yards. After Jones failed to get into the endzone from the 3 on 1st down, the Gold Stars would swing the ball to RB Ronnie Byers who would then punch in the first touchdown of the game to give Providence the lead. On the ensuing kickoff, RB Nikki Yang would return the kick only to lose his grip on the ball allowing DB Nazario Piacenza to pick it up for a big turnover. Providence would once again threaten a touchdown, but WR Leon Hudson would be unable to reel in the touchdown grab, forcing the Gold Stars to settle for a field goal. The game had quickly gone from a tie to a 10-point Gold Stars lead. Vancouver’s offence was really struggling, between dropped passes and a batter O-line that was having a tough time against the Gold Stars’ front. QB Kevin Westwood was running for his life on most plays having to throw the ball out of bounds several times to avoid sacks. However, he was eventually able to slip a tackle and hit WR Keshawn Johnston for a decent gain to get into Providence’s end. However, they didn’t get much further and had to punt. Providence returner, WR Mark Taylor, also had some trouble on the return with the ball slipping through his arms and bouncing into the endzone. Taylor would get back and fall on it, sacrificing the single. Providence would then take the lead into halftime
VAN 4-13 PRO
3rd Quarter
The rain continued to start the 3rd quarter and Vancouver was still getting swamped by the Gold Stars’ defence. RB Jeremiah Morrow would eventually be blown up in the backfield, causing a fumble and taking Morrow out of the game. Providence added to their lead shortly after with another field goal to make it 4-16. Frustration could have easily overcome the Wolves after another turnover, but they remained composed. On the next drive, QB Kevin Westwood was dishing out to his many receivers. He had to get the ball off quickly with Providence still putting on the pressure. It would still work with WR Akira Sakamoto eventually slipping a tackle to get down to the 5. Westwood would then toss a short pass to RB Nikki Yang, who would get into the endzone. Over the time Vancouver rolled down the field, the rain let up, going from consistent rain to a very sparse drizzle. Vancouver’s defence built off of the momentum and longer rest and was able to hold the Gold Stars off on the next couple of drives. However, Providence would also stop the Wolves to hold onto a 5-point lead heading into the final quarter.
VAN 11-16 PRO
4th Quarter
A drizzle remained in the final frame, but the lighter rain seemed to allow for more offensive risk-taking with the Gold Stars starting to move down the field. Vancouver had gained some momentum in the 3rd with a solid comeback, so the Gold Stars felt they needed to put the pressure on offensively. QB Red King went to work and swiftly got the team down to the 16 before he would hit WR Justin Palmer for a touchdown to give Providence an 11-22 lead. Unfortunately, K Gilbert O’Neill’s left foot slipped on the grass as he ran up to kick the extra point resulting in a failed PAT. Vancouver would get a decent return to start the next drive, helping them get to midfield. However, it would end shortly after when DL Bartolo Cruz got to QB Kevin Westwood for the 3rd time in the game. Providence would get the ball back and once again get down the field. O’Neill did get some redemption for his earlier slip-up, putting up another field goal to extend the lead to 11-25. Down 14 with less than half a quarter to go, Vancouver was feeling the pressure, but Westwood remained composed. He would lead another long drive down the field, somehow finding a way past the Gold Stars’ defence. The drive would come to an end when Westwood would hit WR Keshawn Johnston cutting across the field on a post. Johnston would get by S Paul Christopher to get into the endzone to cut the lead in half. The Providence fans collectively held their breath as Vancouver was back in the game. Providence’s offence would try to kill some clock with some conservative offence, but Vancouver’s defence was able to stop them eventually and get the ball back. Time was down to less than 3 minutes as Westwood once again started to lead the offence down the field. As hard as the Gold Stars’ defence tried, Vancouver kept moving, picking up a couple of 3rd down conversions to keep the drive alive. Westwood was looking to threaten a potential game-tying score and dropped back, but was immediately flushed out of the pocket by DL Bartolo Cruz. WR Akira Sakamoto had run his route, but changed direction and looked like he had a window. As Westwood threw, Cruz laid a hit and he couldn’t get enough on it. DB Neville Falkner cut right at it and picked off the pass, running it all the way the other way for a touchdown to put the game to bed. The Providence fans exploded. Vancouver had nothing left in the tank. The Gold Stars had ended their drought. They were champions for the first time since 1941.
Scoring Summary
1st Q
3-0: VAN - FG K Sterling Brooks
3-3: PRO - FG K Gilbert O’Neill
2nd Q
3-10: PRO - RTD RB Ronnie Byers
3-13: PRO - FG K Gilbert O’Neill
4-13: VAN - Single K Sterling Brooks
3rd Q
4-16: PRO - FG K Gilbert O’Neill
11-16: VAN - PTD QB Kevin Westwood -> RB Nikki Yang
4th Q
11-22: PRO - PTD QB Red King -> WR Justin Palmer
11-25: PRO - FG K Gilbert O’Neill
18-25: VAN - PTD QB Kevin Westwood -> WR Keshawn Johnston
18-32: PRO - DTD DB Neville Falkner
Injury Report
PRO: WR Owen Paisley - Day-to-Day
VAN: RB Jeremiah Morrow - 2 Weeks
McCallister Cup MVP
Cruz was a thorn in QB Kevin Westwood's side throughout the game. His constant pressure was a key to Providence's success in this game.
Other Notes: QB Red King made some history, becoming the youngest QB (24) to win the McCallister previously held by QB Lyle Painter who was 25 when he won in 1958. King also set a mark by winning all 13 starts he made this season, the only QB to have that many starts and remain perfect in a season.
1972 McCallister Cup Champions
1972 Season Recap
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