Oct 15 in Jet History: Riggins, Boozer Run Wild
Oct 15, 2015 7:22:29 GMT -5
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Post by Lithfan on Oct 15, 2015 7:22:29 GMT -5
October 15, 1972
It was a windy afternoon at Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro as the Jets and Patriots met for a week 5 matchup in the 1972 season. Both teams came into this one with identical 2-2 records.
The Patriots won the opening coin toss, but surprised everyone when they elected to take the wind rather than the ball. The Jets set the tone early, taking possession at their own 20 yard line and running right at the Patriots. They went 80 yards in 13 plays for an opening possession TD. John Riggins carried 8 times for 50 yards on the drive including a 6-yard TD run, and Emerson Boozer had 4 carries for 21 yards. Namath only threw once, a 9 yard completion to Rich Caster.
That opening drive set the tone for the afternoon, as the Jets would go on to gain 333 yards on the ground, while Namath only threw 8 passes, completing 5 with 1 TD. Both Boozer and Riggins went over 150 yards in the game, with RIggins leading the way with 32 carries for 168 yards and 1TD and Boozer adding 150 on 18 carries, including 3 TDs. The 333 rushing yards remains a franchise single game record to this date and it is still the only time two Jet teammates have rushed for at least 150 yards each in the same game.
“They pushed me around more than any other two back this year,” said Patriots Safety Rickie Harris after the game. “I can usually take down a back, but I was looking for help today. They’re something else. Every time Riggins carried the ball I was hoping he would veer off so I wouldn’t have to hit him head on.”
The Patriots got two short field goals from Charlie Gogolak in the 2nd quarter to cut the Jets lead to 1. The Jets would take control however, with two TDs befoer the half, the first a 37 yards scoring run by Boozer and the 2nd on one of Namath’s rare passes, a 27-yard strike to Caster to give the Jets a 21-6 halftime lead.
The Patriots cut into the Jets lead with a 41 yard TD run by Carl Garrett making it 21-13 after 3. The Jets put the Patriots away with 20 unanswered points in the 4th quarter on two more Boozer TD runs and two Bobby Howfield field goals. The final score was 41-13.
Namath, who was just 5 of 8 for 63 yards with 1 TD and an interception, couldn’t help but be impresssed with the Jets running game. “They did a helluva job,” Namath said. “Our line was great making the initial blocks. Then Riggins and Boozer got the extra yards through second and third efforts.”
Source: The Nashua Telegraph and the Lewiston Daily Sun
It was a windy afternoon at Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro as the Jets and Patriots met for a week 5 matchup in the 1972 season. Both teams came into this one with identical 2-2 records.
The Patriots won the opening coin toss, but surprised everyone when they elected to take the wind rather than the ball. The Jets set the tone early, taking possession at their own 20 yard line and running right at the Patriots. They went 80 yards in 13 plays for an opening possession TD. John Riggins carried 8 times for 50 yards on the drive including a 6-yard TD run, and Emerson Boozer had 4 carries for 21 yards. Namath only threw once, a 9 yard completion to Rich Caster.
That opening drive set the tone for the afternoon, as the Jets would go on to gain 333 yards on the ground, while Namath only threw 8 passes, completing 5 with 1 TD. Both Boozer and Riggins went over 150 yards in the game, with RIggins leading the way with 32 carries for 168 yards and 1TD and Boozer adding 150 on 18 carries, including 3 TDs. The 333 rushing yards remains a franchise single game record to this date and it is still the only time two Jet teammates have rushed for at least 150 yards each in the same game.
“They pushed me around more than any other two back this year,” said Patriots Safety Rickie Harris after the game. “I can usually take down a back, but I was looking for help today. They’re something else. Every time Riggins carried the ball I was hoping he would veer off so I wouldn’t have to hit him head on.”
The Patriots got two short field goals from Charlie Gogolak in the 2nd quarter to cut the Jets lead to 1. The Jets would take control however, with two TDs befoer the half, the first a 37 yards scoring run by Boozer and the 2nd on one of Namath’s rare passes, a 27-yard strike to Caster to give the Jets a 21-6 halftime lead.
The Patriots cut into the Jets lead with a 41 yard TD run by Carl Garrett making it 21-13 after 3. The Jets put the Patriots away with 20 unanswered points in the 4th quarter on two more Boozer TD runs and two Bobby Howfield field goals. The final score was 41-13.
Namath, who was just 5 of 8 for 63 yards with 1 TD and an interception, couldn’t help but be impresssed with the Jets running game. “They did a helluva job,” Namath said. “Our line was great making the initial blocks. Then Riggins and Boozer got the extra yards through second and third efforts.”
Source: The Nashua Telegraph and the Lewiston Daily Sun
