Oilers Travel Land Route — Find Victory
Houston, Sept. 18 —
The Houston Oilers proved Sunday that the running game is still a mighty weapon in professional football, pounding out a 38‑28 triumph over the Los Angeles Chargers before 20,156 sun‑drenched fans at Jeppesen Stadium.
Behind the steady hand of veteran quarterback George Blanda and the flying feet of rookie Billy Cannon, Houston’s backfield turned the Chargers’ vaunted aerial attack into a footrace they couldn’t win.
Blanda mixed short passes with bruising line plunges, setting up three touchdowns and booting five extra points plus a field goal. Cannon, the famed LSU halfback who struggled through exhibitions, found his stride at last — galloping 68 yards on eight carries, including a 39‑yard dash that set up the final Oiler score.
The Oilers’ ground assault was relentless. Dave Smith, the hard‑charging fullback from Ripon College, led all rushers with 77 yards on 14 carries. Rookie Doug Cline added 62 yards on eight tries, while Charlie Tolar, the fireplug from Northeast Louisiana, contributed 47 yards and a one‑yard plunge for the club’s closing touchdown.
Defensive back Mark Johnson ignited Houston’s scoring with a 33‑yard interception return, and Cannon’s 51‑yard punt return set up another quick strike. Blanda twice burrowed over from the one‑yard line, giving the Oilers a 21‑14 halftime lead that ballooned to 38‑14 midway through the third period.
Los Angeles quarterback Jack Kemp kept firing, completing 27 of 44 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns — three to Royce Womble, Ralph Anderson, and Charlie Flowers — but the Chargers’ air show couldn’t overcome Houston’s ground power.
Oilers coach Lou Rymkus praised his offensive line and Blanda’s direction but warned, “We must work harder on defense.” He credited Houston’s humid training for giving his men the edge over the visiting West Coasters.
Blanda summed it up best: “We shook them up early with that run by Dave Smith — and I’m thinking it hurt them pretty bad.”
It was Houston’s second straight league victory and a clear sign that the Oilers’ land route may be the surest way to win in the new American Football League.
Courtesy of The Houston Chronicle September 19, 1960 via Newspapers.com