1979 Week 10 Roundup: Portland Leads Tight West Race

The West Division seems to have a vice around it that keeps squeezing the four teams tighter and tighter.

William Hill, QB, Portland Storm

The Portland Storm came back from a 14-point deficit to outlast the Oakland Invaders, 37-31, in overtime. That win gave Portland (6-4) a one-game lead (for now) over Oakland (5-5) and (5-5) and two games over Arizona (4-6).

The Storm trailed Oakland by two touchdowns midway through the third quarter, but QB William Hill fired TD passes of 75 and 55 yards to John Sanders to tie the score. The Invaders drove to the Oakland 10 before missing a field goal, the last serious scoring chance for either side in regulation time.

Hill and Sanders connected twice on the first drive of OT before Hill found Michael Leonard for the 51-yard game-ending TD.

Sanders caught 12 passes for 325 yards(No. 12 all-time) and four TDs, DT Fred Johnson recorded three sacks for the Invaders, who have lost four in a row to fall out of the division lead.

In other Week 10 games:

• The Philadelphia Bell are on some kind of hot streak. One week after knocking off Tampa Bay, the Bell shut down the previously unbeaten New York Stars and won, 19-14. DT Laverne Ashlock had three sacks for Philadelphia (5-5), which limited New York to 202 total yards on the way to its fifth victory in seven games.
• The New Jersey Generals have won four in a row after fending off the Tampa Bay Bandits, 26-23. Jim LeClair's fumble recovery with 1:20 remaining sealed the victory.
• The Honolulu Hawaiians won their fifth consecutive game, topping the Detroit Wheels, 24-12, at Aloha Stadium. Michael Laboy passed for three TDs in the first half to give the hosts a 21-0 lead.
• Oklahoma missed a 27-yard field goal attempt with 1:13 to play, but bounced back on Shawn Whitmire's 66-yard TD pass to Aaron Levenson in OT to edge the Houston Gamblers, 23-17.
• Larry Ackman intercepted three passes and Jeffrey Alfaro had 18 hurries as the New Orleans VooDoo won its third in a row, 40-20, over the Boston Breakers.
• Michael London threw four TD passes as the Florida Blazers drew within one game of Tampa Bay in the Southeast Division with a 37-21 win over the Jacksonville Bulls.

Week 11 Preview

The Pacific Division lead is on the line when the Honolulu Hawaiians (6-4) host the Los Angeles Express (6-4). The Oakland Invaders (5-5) will try to snap their four-game losing streak at home against the Denver Gold (5-5). The New Jersey Generals (7-3) are at the Oklahoma Outlaws (9-1) in what promises to be an entertaining matchup.

Coach's Profile

kennymc, Georgia Force

Playing MFN Since: 2016
Hometown (town, state): Greenville, Nevada
Current residence (town, state): Bandon, Oregon
Day job: Student
Favorite teams (all sports): Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, Golden State Warriors, Bandon Tigers, Pittsburgh Penguins
A real-life sports experience: Taking the handoff in a football game (as a DT).
A fantasy sports experience: Completely forgetting to log on and having Dak and Zeke on my bench.