(Houston, TX) In the first game ever played in the newly-formed Hardaway Solitaire Electric
Football League, the expansion Miami Dolphins triumphed over the expansion Cleveland Browns 6-0. Zach Thomas was the first Dolphin to touch the football as he took the opening kickoff for 14 yards to start the game. Thomas bobbled the ball the whole way nearly fumbling. However, he worked out the jitters quickly and dominated the Cleveland offense coming up with an incredible 6 tackles including 2 sacks, catching Tim Couch behind the line early in the second half, and again on the Brown's final drive. Neither team could produce points in the first quarter, although Miami did attempt a 50-yard field goal which fell just short in the end zone. Cleveland followed that demonstration with a kicking show of its own producing a 60 yard punt that pinned Miami deep in its own territory. Trying to get out of trouble, Marino dropped back to pass being chased all the way back to the Dolphin 3 yard line, with no receivers open. In a risky move, Marino decided to eat the ball and lumbered up the middle toward the line of scrimmage. Suddenly, a hole opened up large enough to drive a pair of semi's through. Marino kicked into high gear and scampered 86 yards for the score, untouched all the way. In typical electric football fashion, Brown defenders were left spinning around the wrong goalpost and buzzing haplessly out of bounds on both sidelines.
The Browns mounted a final comeback in the 4th quarter, driving to the Miami 39 yard line. On a critical 4th down play, once again Zach Thomas sacked a frustrated Couch to turn the ball over to Miami which then ran out the clock.
"Now, I'm glad I let Coach Hardaway talk me out of retirement," Marino said after the game. Glenn Hardaway's offer of a permanent base of his choice also enhanced Marino's decision to make a comeback.
42-year-old Coach Hardaway was also glad to be back. "You know, it's been 31 years since I last coached a game, going back to the summer season of 1971. It felt good to be clicking that switch again!"
Marino can be seen right by the goal post on his 86-yd game-winning TD run. You can see the incredible distance he put between himself and the nearest Brown
defender buzzing himself silly out of bounds!
