Tuesday, May 29, 2018

1978 Week 10 Roundup: Invaders Still Undefeated


Chris Brooks, RB, Oakland Invaders (43)
Maybe it's still too early to talk World Bowl predictions. But, a conversation of that type certainly needs to include the Oakland Invaders.

The unbeaten Invaders (10-0) knocked off the two-time World Bowl champion Detroit Wheels, 21-14 on back-to-back huge plays to open the fourth quarter.

Oakland DT Henry Kellogg sacked Detroit QB Mario Valencia in the end zone for a safety that tied the score at 14-14. After Oakland's Christopher Curtis returned the ensuing kickoff to the 31, RB Chris Brooks took a short pass from QB Les Lacy and weaved his way through the Detroit secondary for the 59-yard game-winning TD. The Wheels could get no closer than the Oakland 42 the rest of the way.

Detroit DT Chad Brown had three sacks and CB Bradley Mondragon eight tackles.

In other Week 10 games:
  • Michigan QB Michael London threw for 465 yards and six TDs as the Panthers snapped a four-game losing streak and climbed back into the playoff race with a 51-30 win over the Southern California Sun.
  • The Birmingham Stallions also climbed back into the playoff picture by edging the Philadelphia Bell, 29-24, on Karl Moore's TD pass to Matthew Morgan with 2:56 to play.
  • The Oklahoma Outlaws pulled off an improbable 31-28 overtime win over the Arizona Wranglers. The Outlaws got the ball back with 31 seconds to play and QB Dale Brown promptly found WR Dusty Heckman for a 63-yard game-tying TD. The Outlaws won on their first possession of OT via Nathan Booker's 46-yard field goal.
  • Tampa Bay joined Oakland as the only unbeaten teams when the Bandits outlasted the San Antonio Gunslingers, 29-20. Edward Conner of the Bandits caught 10 passes for 179 yards and LDE William Lewis had four sacks.

Week 11 Preview

Portland (6-4) has stormed back into the playoff race with four consecutive wins. The Storm now hosts the unbeaten Oakland Invaders (10-0). Unbeaten Tampa Bay (10-0) faces a tough test against the Memphis Showboats (8-2). The Orlando Renegades (7-3) host the Birmingham Stallions (6-4) in a game with National Conference playoff implications. The Michigan Panthers (5-5) will try to avenge an overtime loss to the Detroit Wheels (7-3) five weeks ago.

Record Book

  • Oklahoma WR Dusty Heckman is the league's all-time receiving leader -- more than 1,000 yards ahead of second-place Robert Zapata of Orlando.
  • Pittsburgh's John Murray (58) and Cliff Thomas (45) are 1-2 in career rushing TDs. Third place is Tampa Bay's James Haigh with 31.
  • Detroit's David Peralta has six interceptions this season and a league-best 35 for his career.



at