ArenaBowl III

Infobox ArenaBowl Old
sb_name = III


visitor = Gladiators
home = Drive
visitor_total = 26
home_total = 39

visitor_qtr1 = 3
visitor_qtr2 = 9
visitor_qtr3 = 14
visitor_qtr4 = 0

home_qtr1 = 16
home_qtr2 = 10
home_qtr3 = 13
home_qtr4 = 0

date = August 18, 1989
arena = Joe Louis Arena
city = Detroit, Michigan
attendance = 12,046
mvp = George LaFrance, OS, Detroit
ironman = Cornelius Ross, WR/DB, Pittsburgh
wincoach = Tim Marcum
losecoach = Joe Haering
network = Prime Network
announcers = Dave Enet & Howard Balzer
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Arena Bowl '89 (or Arena Bowl III) was the Arena Football League's third Arena Bowl. In this match-up, it pitted the #2 Pittsburgh Gladiators against the #1 Detroit Drive. Both teams finished their seasons at 3-1, yet the Drive greatly led in points against (84-147).

Game summary

In the first quarter, Detroit drew first blood with OL/DL Reggie Mathis sacking Gladiators QB Willie Totten in the end zone for a safety, while Drive QB Tony Burris got a 1-yard QB sneak run for a touchdown. Pittsburgh would respond with Kicker Rusty Fricke getting a 55-yard field goal, yet Detroit responded with FB/LB Lynn Bradford getting a 17-yard TD run.

In the second quarter, the Drive increased its lead with kicker Novo Bojovic with a 50-yard field goal, yet the Gladiators refused to go down with Fricke getting a 30-yard field goal. Detroit would respond with Bradford getting a 2-yard TD run, yet Pittsburgh responded with FB/LB Mike Powell getting a 2-yard TD run (with a failed two-point conversion).

In the third quarter, the Gladiators drew closer with WR/DB Cornelius Ross returning a fumble 23 yards for a touchdown, yet the Drive responded with Burris completing a 32-yard TD pass to OS George LaFrance (with a failed PAT) and a 12 yard TD pass to WR/DB Gary Mullen.

Pittsburgh would respond with Totten completing a 19-yard TD pass to WR/DB Brian Gardner, yet afterwards, Detroit's defense held the Gladiators down for the rest of the game.

With the win, the Drive became the very first team in Arena Football history to win back-to-back Arena Bowls.

Scoring summary

1st Quarter
*DET - Safety
*DET - Burris 1 run (Bojovic kick)
*PIT - FG Fricke 55
*DET - Bradford 17 run (Bojovic kick)2nd Quarter
*DET - FG Bojovic 50
*PIT - FG Fricke 30
*DET - Bradford 2 run (Bojovic kick)
*PIT - Powell 2 run (Totten pass failed)3rd Quarter
*PIT - Ross 23 Fumble Return (Fricke kick)
*DET - LaFrance 32 pass from Burris (Bojovic kick failed)
*DET - Mullen 12 pass from Burris (Bojovic kick)
*PIT - Gardner 19 pass from Totten (Fricke kick)

External links

* [http://www.arenafan.com/statistics/?page=boxscore&gameid=65 ArenaFan Box Score]