Boston's defense came up big time and again in the fourth quarter as the Breakers (2-5) stunned the Atlantic Division-leading Pittsburgh Maulers, 20-9.
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| William Putnam, K, Boston |
Pittsburgh, trailing 10-9, decided to go for it on fourth-and-6 from its own 23 with 8:10 to play. Boston DT David Brooks sacked Maulers QB Ryan Tate as he tried to scramble out of the pocket, ending that drive and setting up James Lightfoot's 16-yard TD pass to veteran WR William Ramsey that widened the gap to 17-9.
The Maulers went for it again on fourth-and-6, this time from their own 29 with 6:07 to play, and Eric Metcalf dropped Tate's pass. Four plays later, William Putnam kicked a 42-yard field goal that made it 20-9.
Reserve QB Scott Deal's fourth-and-1 pass from the Maulers 33 was knocked down by MLB David Burt with 2:43 to go. Pittsburgh's final drive moved as close as the Boston 14, but four consecutive passes ended that possession.
Breakers CB Charles Bowles and SS Earl Little combined for 21 tackles.
Boston had been 0-3 all-time against Pittsburgh, losing 37-13 (1980), 37-10 (1977), and 61-21 (1975).
In other Week 7 games:
- Los Angeles kicker Roger Ruzich missed two field goal attempts in the game's final 1:04 as the Honolulu Hawaiians escaped with a 13-10 victory and pulled into a first-place tie with the Express atop the Pacific Division. Ruzich, who had been 15-for-17 this season, misfired from 53 yards away with 1:04 to go and from 52 yards out on the game's final play. The Hawaiians had tried to give the game away by continuing the pass the ball with 58 seconds to play and a 3-point lead, and an interception by the Express set up Ruzich's failed final attempt.
- The Portland Storm seized a two-game lead in the West Division by shutting down the Denver Gold, 27-3. The Portland defense limited Denver QB Dustin Nichols to 184 yards passing and intercepted him twice.
- Mario Valencia threw for 409 yards and six TDs as the undefeated Houston Gamblers destroyed the San Antonio Gunslingers, 52-3. Gamblers WR James Connelly had 116 yards rushing and 146 receiving and rookie WR Gabriel Aherens caught three TD passes. Houston MLB Roderick Carver made eight tackles, intercepted a pass, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble
- Oakland CB James Fraga was credited with 15 tackles, second-most in a single game by a player this season, but Philadelphia QB Roy Rhyne threw a 64-yard TD pass to WR Jim Nicholls and Robert Albertson kicked four field goals during the Bell's 19-7 victory.
- New Jersey rookie RB Magic Johnson ran for 114 yards and a TD during a 33-5 win over the Arizona Wranglers.
Week 8 Preview
The Memphis Southmen (5-2) at the Jacksonville Bulls (4-2-1) looks like an interesting matchup, as does the Denver Gold (4-3) at the New Jersey Generals (6-1) and the Birmingham Stallions (4-3) at the Michigan Panthers (5-2).
Record Book
- Ruzich may have been the goat Friday, but he kicked seven field goals against Pittsburgh earlier this season. That is one short of the league's single-game record of eight, shared by New Jersey's Dustin Henry and Shreveport's James Hooper, both in 1980.
- Houston's James Connelly had 334 total yards against San Antonio in Week 7, highest this season. and the most since Detroit's John Risinger had 449 against Jacksonville in 1979.
- Oakland Invaders RB Stephen Demmer returned a kickoff 110 yards for a TD against Houston earlier this season, tying the league record. There have been 16 110-yard returns in league history.
