Arena Bowl '87 was the Arena Football League's very first Arena Bowl. In this match-up, it pitted the #2 Denver Dynamite (Arena Football)

Denver Dynamite (arena football)

This article is about the former Arena Football League franchise. For the Professional Arena Soccer League soccer club, see Denver Dynamite ....

 against the #1 Pittsburgh Gladiators

Tampa Bay Storm

The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....

. Both teams finished their seasons at 4-2, yet the Gladiators led in points for (268-261) and points against (199-252).

This is the only ArenaBowl game to be played outdoors, as the Civic Arena

Mellon Arena

Civic Arena is an indoor arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that is currently undergoing demolition. It was the first retractable roof major sports venue in the world, covering 170,000 sq. feet and constructed with just shy of 3,000 tons of Pittsburgh steel...

 opened its roof for the game.

Game summary

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

Whit Taylor

Whit Taylor , an assistant principal and athletic director at a Tennessee high school, is most widely known for his college and professional football careers. He was an all-Southeastern Conference quarterback for the Vanderbilt from 1979–1982, a period which included a trip to the 1982 Hall of Fame...

 completing a 26-yard touchdown pass to WR/DB Gary Mullen

Gary Mullen

One Night of Queen is a touring two-hour stage show, paying tribute to the stage theatrics and music of Queen. It is performed by Gary Mullen and The Works, a five piece band headed by Stars in Their Eyes winner and Freddie Mercury sound-alike Gary Mullen on vocals, with Davie Brockett on Guitar,...

 (with another failed two-point conversion) for the only score of the period.

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

Mike Hohensee

Michael Louis Hohensee is an American Arena Football League coach who is regarded as one of the best coaches in the history of the AFL. He was hired to guide the Soul's resumption of play after a two-year hiatus starting in 2011. He resigned on July 27, 2011...

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.

Scoring summary

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)

External links

• ArenaFan box score