ArenaBowl III

ArenaBowl III
26	39
Date	August 18, 1989
Arena	Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan
MVP	George LaFrance, OS, Detroit Cornelius Ross, WR/DB, Pittsburgh (Ironman of the Game);
Attendance	12,046
Winning coach	Tim Marcum
Losing coach	Joe Haering
TV in the United States
Network	Prime Network
Announcers	Dave Enet, Howard Balzer
	← II ; ArenaBowl ; IV → ;

Arena Bowl '89 (or Arena Bowl III) was the Arena Football League's third Arena Bowl. The game featured 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 quarterback Willie Totten in the end zone for a safety, while Drive quarterback Tony Burris got a 1-yard quarterback sneak run for a touchdown. Pittsburgh kicker Rusty Fricke made a 55-yard field goal, and Detroit responded with FB-LB Lynn Bradford's 17-yard touchdown run.

In the second quarter, the Drive increased its lead with kicker Novo Bojovic's 50-yard field goal, yet the Gladiators refused to go down with Fricke getting a 30-yard field goal. Bradford made a two-yard touchdown run, yet Pittsburgh responded with FB-LB Mike Powell's two-yard touchdown 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 touchdown pass to OS George LaFrance (with a failed PAT) and a 12-yard touchdown pass to WR/DB Gary Mullen.

Pittsburgh would respond with Totten completing a 19-yard touchdown 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 first team in Arena Football history to win back-to-back ArenaBowls.