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| Paul Rivera, WLB, New Orleans |
A fumble recovery for a TD early in the fourth quarter put the VooDoo ahead for good as they improved to 4-0 by rallying past the Michigan Panthers, 21-16, at the Superdome.
New Orleans LDE Thomas Mandell stripped Michigan QB Jerry Ruiz and RDE Paul Walker returned the fumble 23 yards for the TD, followed by a 2-point conversion, that turned a 9-7 deficit into a 15-9 lead. Ruiz was intercepted by WLB Paul Rivera on Michigan's next offensive play, setting up a field goal that made it 18-9.
In other Week 4 games:
- The Houston Gamblers improved to 4-0 by scoring the last 21 points to pull away from the Arizona Wranglers, 42-27. MLB Roderick Carver intercepted three passes, returning one for a TD, and made eight tackles. QB Mario Valencia passed for 299 yards and four TDs and WR John Risinger caught five passes for 111 yards and two scores.
- It appears the West Division is going to be as tight this year as most years. Arizona's loss, coupled with wins by Portland, Denver, and Oakland left three teams at 3-1 and the Invaders only a game back at 2-2. Steven Demmer's 58-yard TD run was the highlight for the Invaders in their 22-0 shutout of the Boston Breakers.
- Jacksonville MLB Philip Williamson made 10 tackles and picked off a pass during the Bulls' 23-20 win over the Florida Blazers. Williamson leads the USFL/WFL with 43 tackles.
- The Memphis Showboats scored the last 24 points to outdo the San Antonio Gunslingers, 27-9. Memphis RB Timothy Corral ran for a pair of TDs. San Antonio CB Jim Morrison was credited with 10 tackles and intercepted two passes.
- Chicago RB Max Howard ran for 149 yards and a TD on 19 carries (7.84 per carry) and caught five passes for 108 yards (21.6 per reception) as the Blitz (3-1) maintained first place in the Midwest Division with a 23-10 win over the Detroit Wheels.
- Charlotte RB Jerry Roux rushed for 70 yards and caught for passes for 76 more as the Hornets nipped the Tampa Bay Bandits, 18-16. Tampa Bay's Thomas Hummel was wide right on a 50-yard field goal attempt with 1:24 to play.
- The Georgia Force managed only 149 net yards, but claimed an oddball 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Bell via a second-quarter safety. Philadelphia K Robert Albertson missed a 48-yard field goal attempt on the game's final play.
Week 5 Preview
The Orlando Renegades (2-2) could force a first-place tie atop the Southeast Division with a win over the Jacksonville Bulls (3-1). The Portland Storm (3-1) host the Philadelphia Bell (3-1) in a battle of division co-leaders. The Arizona Wranglers (3-1) and Denver Gold (3-1) will both try to maintain their share of the West Division lead. Division leaders meet when the New Orleans VooDoo (4-0) travel to Chicago to face the Blitz (3-1).Record Book
- Pittsburgh Maulers QB Ryan Tate tied a league record when he was intercepted eight times against Los Angeles earlier this season. Former Los Angeles QB Gene Nowlin was intercepted by the Georgia Force eight times during a 1975 game.
- Former Portland Storm QB William Hill, now with Shreveport, ranks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 on the list for most pass completions in a game (55, 53, 50, 47, 45). He was 55-for-64 against Tampa Bay last season.
- The highest average per carry for 10 or more rushing attempts is 20.1 (11 carries, 221 yards) by Pittsburgh's Cliff Thomas against the Washington Federals in 1976.
- Denver's Michael Sonnenberg and Florida's Arthur Strickland have both returned punts for TDs this season. No player in USFL/WFL history has ever managed two punt return TDs in the same game and there were five consecutive seasons (1975-79) in which there were no punt return TDs.
