Nov. 26, 1964 - Pete Gogolak kicked a 32-yard field goal with three seconds left today to give the Buffalo Bills a thrilling 27-24 triumph over the San Diego Chargers at Balboa Stadium in a battle of AFL division leaders.
The field goal was set up by a pass interception by a Buffalo linebacker, Mike Stratton, on Buffalo’s 49. Running plays by Cookie Gilchrist, the league’s leading rusher, moved the ball into field goal position.
The Chargers had lost a seemingly insurmountable 24‐14 lead in the closing minutes after John Hadl was thrown for a safety and Charley Warner of Buffalo returned the ensuing kick 40 yards. The return set up a one‐yard touchdown plunge by the quarterback, Daryle Lamonica. Lamonica then followed with a run for a 2‐point conversion to tie the game.
There still was plenty of time for the Chargers to win it, however. Les Duncan returned Gogolak’s kickoff to the Charger 46.
Two players later, end Tom Day deflected Hadl’s pass, and linebacker Mike Stratton intercepted on the Bills’ 44.
On first down, Lamonica sent Gilchrist wide to his left. Joe Auer cut down Charger linebacker Frank Buncom, and Cookie boomed 18 yards to the San Diego 38.
Cookie ran over two Chargers for 11 yards and a first down on the 26. Thirty-three seconds remained. There was uproar in the stands, chaos in the press box, pandemonium in Buffalo, but poise on the playing field.
“We told Daryle to wait until about six seconds were left,” explained coach Lou Saban after the game. “We were confident Pete would kick it, but we didn’t want to give San Diego a possible kickoff return and field-goal try after he kicked it.”
Lamonica ran three more plays, all in the center of the field. When he finished, the ball rested on the 25 with eight seconds to go.
The count took four seconds. Gogolak’s kick took one. It exploded off Lamonica’s finger and high into the air. It seemed like eternity before the official gave his signal.
By the time he did, Lamonica wrestled Gogolak to the ground in a bear hug of happiness. When the handsome soccer-style kicker finally was freed from the good-natured pummeling of his teammates, he did a hand spring.
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