San Diego Chargers

Vs.

Baltimore Colts

August 2, 1969

Johnny U Is Back! Unitas-Led Colts Rip Chargers, 26-6

SAN DIEGO- The news may not be greeted with enthusiasm in the Rams' camp, but Johnny Unitas is back, and it was a heartening sight to see the all-time All-Pro quarterback work his magic Saturday night in San Diego Stadium.

Unitas was on the field for only 11 minutes of the second quarter, but he demonstrated that he has regained his touch as the Baltimore Colts, without any apparent emotion, scored an eased-up, 26-6 victory over the Chargers.

The second largest crowd, 52,171, in San Diego football history turned out on a mild evening to see Earl Morrall, Unitas, rookie Jeff Beaver and then Morrall again handle a team that has legitimate AFL title credentials.

With the exception of one ground-oriented drive in the second quarter, the Chargers, behind John Hadl, couldn't sustain a serious offensive and had to settle for two field goals.

Unitas, showing no ill effects from the elbow injury that restricted his activity last season, completed 7 of 8 passes for 86 yards and his only miss was a drop- tight end Tom Mitchell failing to hold his pass in the end zone.

It was the opening exhibition game of the summer season and a renewal of NFL-AFL rivalry. And. the NFL, which lost the warm weather series, 13-10, last season, is off to a fast start

Minnesota buried Miami and, coupled with the Colts win, the NFL has jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

The defending NFL champion Colts, who lost considerable prestige in their last start- the 16-7 Super Bowl loss to the New York Jets in January- were the same efficient machine that dominated the league in 1968.

And, they were playing without All-Pro tight end John Mackey and only employed veteran halfback Tom Matte for one quar­ter.

With Mackey out and his replacement, Mitchell, a part-time participant, coach Don Shula was forced to use slender Willie Richardson at tight end for most of the game. Willie responded, holding 7 passes for 116 yards and making two difficult grabs in the Colts' first and last touchdown surges.

Baltimore never trailed after a scoreless first quarter, moving out to 19-6 at halftime lead and then putting the Chargers away in the fourth quarter.

Hadl, who went all the way, seemed a bit skitterish at times and was even debited with a safety when he was forced out of his own end zone after trying to pass on 3rd and 24 from the 2-yard line. He was 13 of 30 for the evening, 187 yards and two interceptions.

Morrall, who worked the first, part of the second and the last quarter, was 8 for 14, 126 yards and one interception. He also threw the only touchdown pass of the evening, a 4-yard lob to Preston Pearson for the final score.

The 36-year-old Unitas, his usual taciturn self, politely but quietly replied to questions concerning his passing arm.

"It's just a matter of getting my timing back," he said. "I can zip it when' I want to." He added that he doesn't have full exten­sion of the arm. "But, I don't need it," he concluded.

Unitas let it all hang out on one picture pass in the second quarter. He double pumped, drew the Charger secondary in, and then lofted an arching pass to Ray Perkins for a 48-yard gainer.

Both teams started slowly but the pace picked up in the second quarter. Morrall moved the Colts 67 yards to Tom Matte's 2-yard plunge and a 7-0 lead on the first play of the period.

The Chargers, capitalizing on Pearson's fumble of a punt; then countered on Dennis Partee's 17-yard field goal.

It soon became 14-3 as Pearson returned the ensuing kickoff 81 yards to the 16, a fine sprint, and Matte bolted over from the one. The safety followed and Partee clicked on a 35-yard field goal four seconds before the end of the half.

Beaver, the rookie Colt quarterback from North Carolina, took over in an artless, scoreless third quarter and Morrall prod­ded his team 80 yards for the only score of the fourth quarter.

The Colts probably should have had six more points as Lefty Lou Michaels blew easy field goals from the 14 and 17 yard lines.

Chargers pressure Unitas

Scoring Summary

Second Quarter

BALT- Matte 2 run (Michaels kick)

SD- FG Partee 17

BALT- Matte 1 run (Michaels kick)

BALT- Safety, Hadl forced out of endzone

BALT- FG Michaels 17

SD- FG Partee 35

Fourth Quarter

BALT- Pearson 4 yard pass from Morrall (Michaels kick)

Att- 52,172

RETURN