Thursday, July 26, 2018

1979 Week 6 Roundup: From Zeros to Heros

Two of the three teams that were winless entering Week 6 are winless no more — and one pulled off this week's Upset Special.

The rebuilding Washington Federals got 463 yards passing and three TDs from QB Joe Richardson as they knocked off the South Division-leading Shreveport Steamer, 32-21. Richardson twice completed third-down passes during a 13-play Washington drive that ended in Cory Martin's clinching 8-yard TD run with 6:36 to play after Shreveport had pulled within 26-21.

Cory Martin, RB, Washington
During that 13-play drive drive, Washington (1-5) was penalized three times for overusing an offensive play and Shreveport (4-2) was penalized four times for overusing a defensive play. During the game, the Steamer was penalized an astounding 17 times for defensive overuse, while the Federals were penalized 12 times for offensive overuse.

Martin, the rookie second-round draft pick, had 52 rushing yards and 113 receiving yards for Washington, which had lost 11 of its last 12 games over two seasons.

Georgia (1-5) picked up its first win by beating the Charlotte Hornets, 54-34. Charlotte led, 24-13, midway through the second quarter but the Force outscored them, 41-3, before the Hornets (1-5) managed the game's final TD.

Force QB Phillip Anderson threw for 559 yards and six TDs, three to TE Willian Malone. RDE Donald Schultz had four sacks. The Force and Federals play each other Saturday in Washington.

In other Week 6 games:

  • The Oklahoma Outlaws pulled out a 33-26 win over the Houston Gamblers on Derrick Cunningham's 63-yard interception return with 26 seconds to play. Dale Brown's 70-yard TD pass to Dusty Heckman with 1:37 remaining had tied the score, but Oklahoma missed the PAT. Heckman had 286 yards receiving, the fifth time in six games this season he has topped 200 yards in a game.
  • Pittsburgh QB Michael White threw a 65-yard TD pass to WR Robert Richards on a Denver defensive overuse penalty with 18 seconds to play, giving the Maulers a 17-13 win over the Gold.
  • The Florida Blazers (4-2) moved into second place in the Southeast Division by rolling past the Michigan Panthers, 40-14, after trailing 14-6 early. Blazers RBs Jordan Devers and Jamie Giles combined for 266 yards rushing and 135 yards receiving.
  • A defensive overuse penalty on Boston gave Philadelphia a key first down as the Bell ran out the final 2:16 to preserve a 17-12 victory over the Breakers. Philadelphia has won four in a row against Boston after having dropped five in a row.


Week 7 Preview

A playoff rematch from last season is scheduled for Saturday when the Oakland Invaders (5-1) travel to Los Angeles to face the Express (3-3). Los Angeles beat Oakland, 23-13, on its way to a 1978 World Bowl championship. First place in the Southwest Division is at stake when the Memphis Showboats (5-1) host the Oklahoma Outlaws (6-0). The Chicago Blitz (3-3) and Michigan Panthers (3-3) will try to remain in contention in the Midwest Division when they meet in the Pontiac Silverdome.

Record Book


  • The longest run from scrimmage is 99 yards, by Boston's Matthew Brinkley when he scored a TD against the New York Stars in 1974. Brinkley rushed for just over 3,000 yards in five seasons with the Breakers and Denver, but was not brought back by the Gold this season and remains a free agent.
  • The highest average per catch in a game for a receiver with five or more receptions is 58.4 (5/292) set by Birmingham's Miguel Owens (then with Cleveland) against Southern California in 1976.
  • Shreveport kicker James Hooper tied a USFL record this season with three field goals of 50-plus yards in a game against Georgia.









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