Coming into the game, with both teams finishing their seasons at 4–2, the Gladiators hosted the ArenaBowl due to their high attendance during the regular season.[1] During the regular season the team split their games, with the Gladiators winning in Denver 49–32, but lost at home by a score of 32–31.[2]
The first half of ArenaBowl I was not a competitive game, as the Dynamite came out leading at the half by a score of 18–0. The Dynamite scored the first 32 points and shut out the Gladiators for 3 quarters before Gladiators quarterback Mike Hohensee found Russell Hairston on an 11-yard pass. The Dynamite were paced on offense by wide receiver Gary Mullen, who had nine receptions for 123 yards and 3 touchdowns, earning him MVP honors.
The Dynamite got off to an early start with a fumble recovery for a touchdown by OL/DL Phil Forte, along with a two-yard touchdown run by FB/LB Richard Prather (with a failed two-point conversion) in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Denver's domination continued with Quarterback Whit Taylor completing a 26-yard touchdown pass to WR/DB Gary Mullen (with another failed two-point conversion) for the only score of the period.[3][4]
In the third quarter, the Dynamite continued their destruction with Taylor completing a 32-yard touchdown pass to WR/LB Richard Rodgers, along with WR/DB Steve Trimble returning an interception 47 yards for a touchdown.
In the fourth quarter, the Gladiators finally managed to score as Quarterback Mike Hohensee completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to WR/LB Russell Hairston (with a successful two-point conversion). Denver would wrap up the game with Taylor and Mullen hooking up with each other on a five-yard touchdown pass and even a 19-yard touchdown pass (failed PAT). Pittsburgh's final strike came from Quarterback Brendan Folmar to WR/DB Rodney Richmond.
Mullen was named the game's MVP for his performance.[3][5]
Scoring summaryedit
1st Quarter
DEN – Forte 0 Fumble Recovery (Morales kick failed)
DEN – Prather 2 run (Taylor pass failed)
2nd Quarter
DEN – Mullen 26 pass from Taylor (Taylor pass failed)
3rd Quarter
DEN – Rodgers 32 pass from Taylor (Morales kick)
DEN – Trimble 47 Interception Return (Morales kick)
4th Quarter
PIT – Hairston 11 pass from Hohensee (Hohensee pass)
DEN – Mullen 5 pass from Taylor (Morales kick)
DEN – Mullen 19 pass from Taylor (Morales kick failed)
PIT – Richmond 14 pass from Folmer (Folmer pass)
Referencesedit
^"Gladiators get ArenaBowl I". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 25, 1987. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
^Gary Tuma (July 27, 1987). "Ready or not, here come ArenaBowl I". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
^ abJoey Bunch (October 22, 2012). "Denver Dynamite exploded in Arena League's first season, then fizzled out". The Denver Post. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
^"Arena Football League Championship : Taylor Leads Dynamite, 45-16". Los Angeles Times. August 2, 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
^"Glads wilt in 'Bowl'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 3, 1987. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
External linksedit
ArenaFan box score
November 27, 2023
arenabowl, arena, bowl, arena, bowl, arena, football, league, first, championship, game, played, august, 1987, civic, arena, pittsburgh, pennsylvania, game, denver, dynamite, defeated, pittsburgh, gladiators, score, denver, dynamite, pittsburgh, gladiators, 16. Arena Bowl 87 or Arena Bowl I was the Arena Football League s first Championship Game It was played on August 1 1987 at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania In the game the 2 Denver Dynamite defeated the 1 Pittsburgh Gladiators by a score of 45 16 ArenaBowl IDenver Dynamite 2nd Pittsburgh Gladiators 1st 45 161234 TotalDEN 1261413 45PIT 00016 16DateAugust 1 1987ArenaCivic Arena Pittsburgh PennsylvaniaMVPGary Mullen WR DB Denver Steve Trimble WR DB Denver Ironman of the Game Attendance13 232Winning coachTim MarcumLosing coachJoe HaeringTV in the United StatesNetworkESPNAnnouncersBob Rathbun Lee CorsoArenaBowlII Coming into the game with both teams finishing their seasons at 4 2 the Gladiators hosted the ArenaBowl due to their high attendance during the regular season 1 During the regular season the team split their games with the Gladiators winning in Denver 49 32 but lost at home by a score of 32 31 2 The first half of ArenaBowl I was not a competitive game as the Dynamite came out leading at the half by a score of 18 0 The Dynamite scored the first 32 points and shut out the Gladiators for 3 quarters before Gladiators quarterback Mike Hohensee found Russell Hairston on an 11 yard pass The Dynamite were paced on offense by wide receiver Gary Mullen who had nine receptions for 123 yards and 3 touchdowns earning him MVP honors Contents 1 Game summary 2 Scoring summary 3 References 4 External linksGame summary editThe Dynamite got off to an early start with a fumble recovery for a touchdown by OL DL Phil Forte along with a two yard touchdown run by FB LB Richard Prather with a failed two point conversion in the first quarter In the second quarter Denver s domination continued with Quarterback Whit Taylor completing a 26 yard touchdown pass to WR DB Gary Mullen with another failed two point conversion for the only score of the period 3 4 In the third quarter the Dynamite continued their destruction with Taylor completing a 32 yard touchdown pass to WR LB Richard Rodgers along with WR DB Steve Trimble returning an interception 47 yards for a touchdown In the fourth quarter the Gladiators finally managed to score as Quarterback Mike Hohensee completed an 11 yard touchdown pass to WR LB Russell Hairston with a successful two point conversion Denver would wrap up the game with Taylor and Mullen hooking up with each other on a five yard touchdown pass and even a 19 yard touchdown pass failed PAT Pittsburgh s final strike came from Quarterback Brendan Folmar to WR DB Rodney Richmond Mullen was named the game s MVP for his performance 3 5 Scoring summary edit1st QuarterDEN Forte 0 Fumble Recovery Morales kick failed DEN Prather 2 run Taylor pass failed 2nd QuarterDEN Mullen 26 pass from Taylor Taylor pass failed 3rd QuarterDEN Rodgers 32 pass from Taylor Morales kick DEN Trimble 47 Interception Return Morales kick 4th QuarterPIT Hairston 11 pass from Hohensee Hohensee pass DEN Mullen 5 pass from Taylor Morales kick DEN Mullen 19 pass from Taylor Morales kick failed PIT Richmond 14 pass from Folmer Folmer pass References edit Gladiators get ArenaBowl I Pittsburgh Post Gazette July 25 1987 Retrieved April 14 2014 Gary Tuma July 27 1987 Ready or not here come ArenaBowl I Pittsburgh Post Gazette Retrieved April 14 2014 a b Joey Bunch October 22 2012 Denver Dynamite exploded in Arena League s first season then fizzled out The Denver Post Retrieved January 23 2013 Arena Football League Championship Taylor Leads Dynamite 45 16 Los Angeles Times August 2 1987 Retrieved February 1 2013 Glads wilt in Bowl Pittsburgh Post Gazette August 3 1987 Retrieved February 14 2013 External links editArenaFan box score Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title ArenaBowl I amp oldid 1003098247, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
