1981 Week 5 Roundup

Five weeks into the season, the Baltimore Stars and Oklahoma Outlaws remain the only unbeaten teams in the USFL/WFL.

Albert Cruz, RDE, Outlaws

The Outlaws did it with defense in Week 5. Although Oklahoma's high-powered offense managed only two field goals and a safety, the New Orleans VooDoo managed only 143 total yards as the Outlaws won, 8-0.

WLB Timothy Hall compiled 10 tackles and a sack for the Outlaws (5-0) and RDE Albert Cruz had two sacks. The VooDoo (2-3) were hurt by poor field position all day during their debut under new head coach 02Tahoe. New Orleans began only one drive beyond its own 35.

The VooDoo did prevent future Hall of Fame WR Dusty Heckman from catching a pass. Heckman had caught a pass in every game since Week 5 of the 1978 season before that 60-game string came to an end against the San Jose SaberCats in Week 2.

In other Week 5 games:

• Honolulu RB Ronald Boatman continues to dominate opposing defenses, rushing for 115 yards and catching eight passes for 28 more and a TD as the Hawaiians rolled past the New Jersey Generals, 40-16. Boatman ranks No. 6 in the league in rushing (62/407/6.6) and is far and away its No. 1 receiver (60 catches, 228 yards).
• Five of the top six receivers in the league so far are RBs: Boatman (60), Portland's Michael Leonard (43), San Jose's Daniel Bailey (39), Ernest Lynch of the New York Stars (37) and San Antonio's Travis Tucker (33).
• Denver CB Lucius Vernon returned an interception 55 yards for a TD as the Gold maintained first place in the West Division with a 26-7 win over the Los Angeles Express.
• Charlotte CB Robert Mason made 10 tackles and three other players picked off Pittsburgh passes as the Hornets defeated the Maulers for the first time ever, 17-9. Charlotte had been 0-14 all-time against Pittsburgh. The Mauler drove to the Hornets' 26-, 23-, and 16-yard lines in the fourth quarter, but were turned away every time.
• Birmingham's Bernard Warner was 21-for-25 passing and threw for three TDs as the Stallions overpowered the Shreveport Steamer, 31-10, to force a four-way tie for the South Division lead at 2-3.
• In Week 4, Jacksonville RB Edward Fields ran for 219 yards and a TD during a 31-3 win over the Orlando Renegades. That is the highest rushing output for a league RB this season. The all-time single-game record is 305 yards, by Philadelphia's Jose Medina in 1974.

Week 6 Preview

The Cleveland Thunderbolts (4-1) host the Portland Storm (3-2) in a battle of 1980 playoff teams. The Detroit Wheels (4-1) are at Memphis (4-1) in another playoff reunion. The Showboats advanced to World Bowl VII by defeating the Wheels, 41-27, in last season's American Conference championship game.