Cleveland FS Michael Rodriguez knocked away an attempted 2-point conversion pass in the end zone with 33 seconds to play, preserving the Thunderbolts' 24-22 victory over Detroit that snapped the Wheels' winning streak at 27.
Detroit has won the last two World Bowls and has not lost a regular- or post-season game since falling to Cleveland, 26-19, in Week 12 of the 1976 regular season. The Wheels have won 34 in a row against teams not named "Cleveland Thunderbolts." The last non-Cleveland team to beat them was the Portland Storm, in Week 4 of the 1976 regular season.
The Wheels, trailing 24-16, took the ball on their own 20 with 1:47 to play and scored in eight plays, QB Mario Valencia hitting WR John Risinger for a 29-yard score on a defensive overuse penalty. On the 2-point conversion attempt, Valencia tried to lob a ball to the double-covered Hanna in the right back corner of the end zone, but Rodriguez was able to tap the ball away and preserve the win.
The Cleveland defense made life miserable for Valencia all day (18-for-38, 2 sacks, 3 INT, 64.14 QBR). Thunderbolts MLB Geoffrey Knight provided what proved to be a crucial 2 points in the third quarter when he stuffed Detroit RB Robert Costello for a safety.
In other Week 2 games:
- Looks like the San Jose SaberCats are back. San Jose, coming off three consecutive non-winning seasons, stunned the defending Pacific Division champion Los Angeles Express, 26-21. LAX appeared to have scored the winning TD with 5 minutes to play on a defensive overuse, but a holding penalty negated that score. The SaberCats defense came up big again with 1:50 remaining when CB Bryan Leisure intercepted a Gene Nowlin pass at the San Jose 24.
- A lot of Week 2 games came down to the final minutes. One was Houston at Memphis, where Showboats K James Ewing was good from 37 yards away on the final play of the game, giving his team a 36-34 win over the Houston Gamblers. Memphis started with the ball on its 25 and 1:21 to play, but QB Antonio Wilson came up big on a hot read, finding RB Sterling Willis down the middle for a 58-yard completion that set up Ewing's game-winner.
- James Hooper kicked a 49-yard field goal on the game's final play to give the Shreveport Steamer a 27-26 win over the New Orleans VooDoo in a big South Division game. One play earlier, Shreveport had gained 17 yards on a New Orleans defensive overuse penalty.
- QB Luis Gero was 28-for-36 passing and threw four TDs as the Tampa Bay Bandits stomped repeatedly on the groin of the New York Stars, 55-19.
- Oklahoma QB Dale Brown passed for 579 yards (No. 13 on the league's all-time single game list) and five TDs as the Outlaws bounced back from last week's shutout loss at Orlando to beat the Florida Blazers, 42-10.
- The Orlando Renegades, who surprised by shutting out Oklahoma last week, were surprised this time around by the Baltimore Stars, 16-14. Bernard Twiggs put Baltimore ahead via a 42-yard field goal with 3:59 to play, then the Stars defense shut down Orlando on its final two drives.
- Philadelphia RB Steve McKenzie rushed for 135 yards and a TD and CB Victor Benedict had 12 tackles during a 21-13 win over the Washington Federals. The Bell are off to a 2-0 start for the first time in franchise history and have won consecutive games for the third time in franchise history.
Week 3 Preview
The Baltimore Stars (1-1) and Pittsburgh Maulers (2-0) meet in a key early season Atlantic Division game. The Philadelphia Bell (2-0) will go for the first three-game win streak in franchise history when they host the Florida Blazers (1-1). The Birmingham Stallions (2-0) are at New Orleans (1-1) in an important South Division contest.Coach's Profile
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| Big Poppa, Oklahoma Outlaws |
Playing MFN Since: 02/09/2015
Hometown (town, state): Born in Waurika, Oklahoma; raised in Dumas, Texas, and Westlake, Louisiana
Current residence (town, state): LeBleu Settlement, Louisiana
Day job: Retired construction superintendent/heavy equipment operator
Favorite teams (all sports): New Orleans Saints/Dale Earnhardt Sr.
A real-life sports experience: I was on Bourbon Street the night the Saints won the
Super Bowl (it was awesome!).
Super Bowl (it was awesome!).
A fantasy sports experience: Did the Richard Petty Driving Experience in Orlando.
Coach's Corner: (tip for a new MFN coach): Don't go strictly by a player’s overall rating or trade value; look at their production and or their progression. Also … speed kills.
