The Tampa Bay Bandits continued their dominance in the 1985 USFL season with a commanding 42-14 victory over the expansion New Orleans Brass at Tampa Stadium. From the opening whistle, the Bandits asserted control, with Gary Anderson breaking free for a 24-yard touchdown run just 15 seconds into the game following a Brass interception. Anderson added a second touchdown later in the first quarter, helping Tampa Bay establish a 14-7 lead that they never relinquished.
New Orleans struggled to find any rhythm offensively, managing only 232 total yards and turning the ball over three times. Despite a valiant effort by Ricky Porter, who scored the Brass’s only rushing touchdown, the team couldn’t keep pace with the high-powered Bandits. John Reaves, Tampa Bay’s quarterback, efficiently orchestrated the offense, throwing for 267 yards and three touchdowns, including a 23-yard scoring pass to Anderson and a 15-yard strike to Willie Gillespie.
Tampa Bay’s defense was relentless, forcing turnovers and shutting down New Orleans’s passing game. The Brass’s quarterback, Rusty Hilger, was held to just 172 passing yards and was intercepted three times. The Bandits improved to 5-1 on the season, firmly cementing their status as one of the league’s top teams, while New Orleans remains winless at 0-6, facing a challenging inaugural season in the USFL.
