They are working that old black magic down in New Orleans again.
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| Kenneth Boyd, RB, New Orleans VooDoo |
Kenneth Boyd rushed for 110 yards, Ryan Tate threw four TD passes, James Sheckler caught eight passes for 159 yards, and Rick Edwards and Troy Tomas combined for 21 tackles for the VooDoo.
The VooDoo played their way into World Bowl III, fell to 1-15 the next season, then recovered to go 9-7 in 1978, barely missing the playoffs.
New Orleans finishes the regular season with games against Baltimore (7-7) and the Georgia Force (4-10). Shreveport finishes up with Philadelphia (6-8) and Birmingham (4-10).
In other Week 14 games:
- New Jersey is 12-0 all-time vs. Philadelphia after fending off the Bell, 31-26. The Generals extended their winning streak to eight games by running out the final 2:57 following a Philadelphia punt. Chad Ochocinco and Kenneth William each caught a pair of TD passes for New Jersey.
- Los Angeles is 12-0 all-time vs. Southern California after eclipsing the Sun, 37-16. The Express benched veteran QB Gene Nowlin and started former backup William Trombly, who passed for 427 yards and two TDs and ended the day with a 128.88 QB rating.
- The Oakland Invaders (6-8) are going to sit out the playoffs for the first time since 1974, the league's inaugural season. The Portland Storm ripped the Invaders, 40-19, as William Hill passed for 494 yards and five TDs. Oakland WLB David Monroe had 13 tackles, 3 hurries, a sack, and an interception.
- The Pittsburgh Maulers have only lost one game in their division since 1975, and maintained that streak with a 25-10 victory over the Baltimore Stars. If Pittsburgh defeats Charlotte in Week 16, the Maulers will be 12-0 all-time against both the Hornets and Washington Federals. Baltimore has beaten Pittsburgh three times — once each in 1974, '75, and '77.
- San Antonio CB Leon Crisman made nine tackles and picked off three passes as the Gunslingers stayed in the playoff chase with a 42-22 victory at Boston. If the playoffs began today, San Antonio (8-6) would claim the final wild-card spot. The Gunslingers, however, end the season with games against Oklahoma and the New York Stars.
- The Orlando Renegades are still clinging to playoff hopes after outlasting the Florida Blazers, 23-20, in overtime. Orlando drove from its 18 to the Florida 6 in OT, helped along by four defensive overuse penalties on Florida. Douglas Hernandez then kicked the winning field goal from 24 yards away. The Renegades (8-6) trail Shreveport (9-5) and New Orleans (9-5) by one game for the final National Conference wild-card spot.
Week 15 Preview
The Denver Gold (8-6), seeking their first playoff berth since 1974, can take another step toward that goal with a victory against the Charlotte Hornets (2-12). The Detroit Wheels (10-4) will try to improve to 12-0 all-time against the Michigan Panthers (5-9). The Arizona Wranglers (7-7) will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive against the Oakland Invaders (6-8). Division leaders clash when the Tampa Bay Bandits (11-3) travel to Pittsburgh to face the Maulers (12-2).Record Book
- Philadelphia CB Jason Hubbard has already set a USFL/WFL record this season by recovering six fumbles, most in a single season by any defensive player in league history.
- William Hill of the Portland Storm is the only QB in league history to pass for more than 6,000 yards three times in a single season. Hill (6,036 this season) is within shouting distance of the USFL/WFL all-time record (6,548) held by Birmingham's Agustin Crook. Hill is also six interceptions away from the single-season record of 39, set by San Antonio's Tony Smith in 1977.
- Jerry Ruiz of the Michigan Panthers needs seven TD passes in his final two games to tie the league record of 55 in a season, set by Detroit's Mario Valencia in 1976.
- Oklahoma's Patrick Hiebert needs four rushing TDs to tie the single-season record of 15, shared by Pittsburgh's John Murray and Chicago's Bruce Fine.
- San Antonio's Marshall Gibson needs 10 receptions in his final two games to break the record of 135, held by Orlando's Robert Zapata. Gibson is also just 274 yards away from the yardage record (2,548) held by Oklahoma's Dusty Heckman.
- Cleveland's Dan Carr is averaging 49 yards per punt, which would be a league record. Baltimore's Wesley Bradley averaged 48.6 in 1977.
- Houston's Robert Gutierrez and San Antonio's Leon Crissman both need three interceptions to tie the record of 13 set last season by Pittsburgh's Bradley Martinez.
