Aug. 25, 1963 - The Raiders, getting good performances from quarterbacks Cotton Davidson (pictured with coach Al Davis) and Tom Flores, halfback Clemon Daniels, and their kicking specialist, Mike Mercer, scored 3 touchdowns and 2 field goals in the fourth quarter today to rout the New York Jets, 43-16, in an exhibition game before 8,317 in Oakland. Management at Youell Field had hoped for 6,000 at best, but at the last minute more folks decided to patronize the event as a salute to the home club for its courage in shifting the game from segregated Mobile, Alabama. Several Negro players on the Raiders had said they would refuse to play in a segregated stadium. Flores, who sat out the 1962 season with a lung infection, left the bench in the second half to lead the surprising Oakland attack with two touchdown passes. After Davidson, Flores’s replacement last year, had left at the half with Oakland leading, 13-7, Daniels and Mercer added strong support to Flores’ sharp passing and put the game out of reach. Oakland coach Al Davis had praise for a flock of Raiders, starting with his kicker. “The best thing I saw today,” said Davis, “was Mercer’s field goals. We picked him up for a song when the Vikings cut him off. That man will help us.” Davis praised both his quarterbacks. “I appreciated Flores’ performance,” said Al, “but just the same, Davidson bore the brunt of a searching first half. The quarterback who comes in later has the advantage of knowing the opposition’s vulnerable spots.”
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