Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams, 1968

Kansas City Chiefs

Vs.

Los Angeles Rams

August 31, 1968

101-Yard Kickoff Return Helps Rams to Defeat Chiefs, 36-16

By Sam Goldpaper (NY Times)

Ron Smith has been changing National Football League uniforms almost as quickly as he returns kickoffs. In the four years since his graduation from Wisconsin, where he earned two letters in track, the 192-pound speedster has been with three teams.

Saturday night, Smith, now playing for Los Angeles, returned Jan Stenerud's kick 101 yards for a touchdown in the Rams' 36-16 exhibition victory over the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League. The crowd of 54,323 at the Los Angeles Coliseum watching Smith get sprung loose behind a wall of Los Angeles blockers, realized why he holds the N.F.L. record for the most kickoff returns in a season-43.

"A kickoff play is just like running any other play," said Smith, who began his pro career with the Chicago Bears, moved to Atlanta in 1966 in the expansion draft and remained with the Falcons until he was traded to the Rams last season. "It's a design play, just a matter of timing. This time the timing was perfect. I just followed a bunch of guys, knocking other guys down, until I got to the breakaway point!” Two other N. F. L. teams, Baltimore and Dallas, also won Saturday night interleague games. The Cowboys beat the Houston Oilers, 33-19, and the Colts outscored the Miami Dolphins, 22-13.

The Oakland Raiders defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 26-19, yesterday to give the A.F.L. an 11-9 lead in exhibition games against the N.F.L. Three games remain between the two leagues.