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| Neal Boone, WR, Gamblers |
The Houston Gamblers scored 14 unanswered points in the final 9 minutes to stun Oklahoma, 38-24, and knocked the Outlaws out of a first-place tie in the Southwest Division. Houston came into the game at 2-9; Oklahoma was 7-4. Houston was 1-14 all-time vs. division foes.
Rookie QB Walton Vasquez found WR Neal Boone in the back of the end zone from 10 yards away for the go-ahead TD, Boone's only catch of the day. The Gamblers forced three turnovers while not committing any. Two of those turnovers came in the final 4:16, leading to a pair of Daniel McCormick field goals.
Oklahoma's defeat gave San Antonio a one-game division lead. Gunslingers coach ToroTex reportedly sent a bouquet of yellow Texas roses to Houston coach Booger926.
In other Week 12 games:
- The Cleveland Thunderbolts pulled into a first-place tie with Detroit atop the Midwest Division by beating the Wheels, 27-19. Cleveland was clinging to a 20-19 lead when QB Chester Dougherty found WR Brent Reichman for a 17-yard score early in the fourth quarter. The teams meet again in Week 16.
- The Chicago Blitz, preseason favorites to win the World Bowl, are 7-5 and dangling perilously close to playoff elimination following a 31-13 loss at San Antonio. The Gunslingers scored all of their points in the second and third quarters, QB Tony Smith throwing two TD passes each to Steven Hooper and Kurt Taylor. All-Pro WR Donnie Baker suffered a concussion that will keep him out of this week's game against the Honolulu Hawaiians.
- The Orlando Renegades have won seven in a row under new coach setherick, having trounced the San Jose SaberCats, 63-34, while rolling up 810 yards total offense. Orlando QB David Judkins tied the USFL/WFL record for highest QBR (158.33) by completing 28 of 35 passes for 682 yards and seven TDs.
- The Tampa Bay Bandits (11-1) clinched a postseason berth by scoring 23 unanswered points in the final 20 minutes and beating the Birmingham Stallions, 50-35. Bandits WR Michael Popa caught 10 passes for 125 yards, RDE Stanley Dale recorded three sacks, and RB Ralph Allen had 98 yards rushing and 185 yards receiving.
- The Portland Storm stayed alive in the playoff race with a 24-13 win over the Arizona Wranglers, who have lost two of three after a 9-0 start. Norman Paulk's safety with 4:46 to play was the icing on the cake for Portland (8-4).
- Philadelphia nearly had its first win, but the Bell gave up the go-ahead TD with 2:09 to play, then inexplicibly punted with 1:41 to go in a 15-9 loss to the Florida Blazers.
- James Hooper's 40-yard field goal with 1:22 to play lifted the Shreveport Steamer to a 36-34 win over the Georgia Force. Shreveport has won 4 of 5 after a 1-6 start; Georgia has lost three in a row to fall into a first-place tie with the New Orleans VooDoo atop the South Division.
- The Memphis Showboats have won 3 of 4 under new head coach jmvda, including a 27-19 decision over the Baltimore Stars, the go-ahead TD coming on Joseph Cantwell's 60-yard heave to Gerard Hall.
Week 13 Preview
The Oakland Invaders (9-3) will try to force a tie atop the West Division when they travel to Arizona to face the Wranglers (10-2). The Los Angeles Express (8-4) can clinch the Pacific Division title with a win at the Southern California Sun (2-10). The Boston Breakers (6-6) are at the New Jersey Generals (6-6) in a key East Division game. The Pittsburgh Maulers (9-3), who have already wrapped up the Atlantic Division crown, host the red-hot Shreveport Steamer (5-7).Record Book
- Detroit Wheels QB Mario Valencia stayed on track to become the league's all-time single-season passing leader with 382 yards during his team's loss to Cleveland.
- Birmingham Stallions LG Earl Murtagh has been on the field for 4,261 career snaps, more than any player in league history. In fact, second place isn't even close. Portland Storm LG Kenneth Addison is at 4,056.
- Boston Breakers K Timothy Riley has 25 career field goals from 50-plus yards. No other kicker has more tha 14.
