 |
| Antonio Wilson, QB, Memphis |
Memphis coach PrivateSnowflake had to mull his QB decision carefully. Wilson and James Perry had split time during the regular season and Wilson had thrown four interceptions in the American Conference championship game against the Cleveland Thunderbolts. When told he would start, Wilson certainly rewarded his coach's confidence in him.
New Jersey had taken a 31-27 lead with 8:18 to play when QB Stephan LeBelle and WR Clarence Collins connected for a TD for the third time in the game. Memphis got the ball back with 3:48 to play and Wilson directed a 76-yard, 6-play scoring drive in which he completed passes of 25 yards to Patrick Burke and 30 yards to Sterling Willis.
The game-winner came on a magnificent catch and throw. Wilson somehow found WR Jerome Wheeler in the back of the end zone and Wheeler, wearing two defenders on his back, managed to reach up, pull down the pass, and get two feet down before crossing the end line to complete the 21-yard TD.
The Generals had two more possessions, but could not advance past their 38.
The final TD had been preceded by a wild back-and-forth game that saw one tie and six lead changes.
Wilson ended the day with a 116.58 QBR. He was taken in the ninth round of the 1974 allocation draft by San Jose and started two seasons for the SaberCats. He spent two seasons on the bench there before being signed by Memphis as a free agent. The 14th-year pro will likely retire before next season.
LaBelle threw for 379 yards and three TDs, all to Collins. Wheeler, Willis, and Gerard Hall combined for 370 receiving yards for the Showboats. CB Albert Arsenault led Memphis with 10 tackles. New Jersey RDE Roy Sullivan recorded two sacks.
This was the third career league championship for PrivateSnowflake. He also won titles with the Cincinnati Bearcats in NCAA 2.0 and Oakland in the XFL.
