1978 Week 14 Roundup: Rising Again in the South

With two weeks remaining, the only question marks remaining in the USFL/WFL are the identity of the South Division winner and the National Conference wild card teams.

Shaun Sanders, DT, Birmingham (76)

The Birmingham Stallions (9-5) surged into first place in the South with their second win over the Shreveport Steamer in three weeks, this time by a 15-10 score. The Stallions did it with defense, as one of DT Shaun Sanders' two sacks resulted in a safety. Birmingham QB Roger Boyer ended the game with a 41.05 QBR, but backup QB Karl Moore fired a 22-yard TD pass to David Albrecht on the possession after the safety.

Shreveport (8-6) has lost five of its last seven, but clings to the wild card spot with games remaining at Pittsburgh (10-4) and at Boston (4-10). Birmingham, which has won five of its last six, finishes with games against New Orleans (7-7) and at Cleveland (11-3).

New Orleans (7-7) is technically still alive, but must win out against Birmingham and the Georgia Force (1-13) and hope for some help.

In other Week 14 games:

• Oklahoma QB Dale Brown heaved a 66-yard TD pass to WR James Rosenzweig on the final play of the game to give the Outlaws a 30-26 win over the Southwest Division-leading Memphis Showboats. Oklahoma had trailed, 23-10, entering the fourth quarter. The teams meet again in the final week of the regular season.
• The Orlando Renegades won their seventh in a row, six under new coach DemonMaster, by pounding the Pittsburgh Maulers, 26-14. LDE Chris McDuffie had a pair of sacks for Orlando, which scored the last 9 points after the Maulers had closed within 17-14 late in the third quarter.
• Baltimore DT Les Lynch had 6 tackles, 4 sacks, 12 hurries, and forced a fumble during the Stars' 20-3 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Baltimore WLB Gordon Shive intercepted two passes. Charlotte MLB Eduardo Sorenson had 9 tackles, 4 hurries, 2 sacks, and an interception as the Hornets lost despite allowing only 210 total yards.
• The Philadelphia Bell tied a franchise record with their sixth win of the season, a 38-19 triumph over the Georgia Force in which QB Roy Rhyne threw all four of his TD passes in the first quarter.
• The Denver Gold recorded their second surprise win in three weeks, knocking Arizona out of the playoff race with a 27-26 victory over the Wranglers. A sack by Denver DT Felipe Crowell and an interception by CB Donald Lopez snuffed out Arizona's final two drives as the Wranglers lost for the fifth consecutive week.
• The Los Angeles Express fell to the San Jose Sabercats in Week 2 and haven't lost since. LAX extended its win streak to 12 games with a 34-10 rout of the Southern California Sun behind three TD passes from QB Gene Nowlin.
• The New York Stars won to avoid becoming the first team in USFL/WFL history to go 0-16. Six teams in league history have finished 1-15. The NY Stars or Georgia Force could become Nos. 7 and 8 with two losses to end the regular season.

Week 15 Preview

The three-way battle for two playoff spots from the South Division will move a step closer to completion when the New Orleans VooDoo (7-7) faces division leader Birmingham (9-5). The Shreveport Steamer (8-6), trying to keep pace, travels to Pittsburgh to face the Maulers (10-4). The Detroit Wheels (10-4) and Los Angeles Express (13-1) meet in a potential playoff preview, as do the Orlando Renegades (11-3) and Tampa Bay Bandits (13-1). The Georgia Force (1-13) and New York Stars (1-13) meet in the Toilet Bowl Classic.

Record Book

• Tampa Bay Bandits QBs Tyrone Harvell (117.95) and Luis Gero (108.05) are 1-2 in career QBR among all qualifying USFL/WFL quarterbacks. Chicago's Daniel McKee (105.21) is third.
• San Antonio Gunslingers QB Tony Smith is the league's all-time leader in both TD passes (187) and interceptions (133).
• Arizona's Curtis Scott has the highest average per rush (6.5) of any RB in league history with 500 or more carries.
• Oklahoma LDE Joe Braatz is the league's career leader in hurries with 314.