Four weeks into the 1991 season and we have 4 undefeated teams: San Jose, Portland, Denver, and New York, and we have 4 teams seeking their first win. Hall of fame voting is underway, vote here if you have yet to do so. We also had 7 one score games so let's see what happened.
Gamblers 27 Generals 21
This is a rematch of World Bowls IX and XI, both won by Houston. The Gamblers got the ball first and marched down the field, scoring first on a Tony Dean 1 yard pass to Jett Black. Houston forced a three and out, then drove down the field again. This drive also ended on a Tony Dean TD pass, this one to Francisco Russell. Generals went three and out again, and this time the defense held Houston to a FG attempt, which was good for the early 17-0 1st quarter lead. New Jersey would bounce back with a pair of 2nd quarter Eric Davis touchdowns, one on the ground and one through the air.
That made the halftime score 17-14 and New Jersey got the ball to start the 3rd qtr, but went three and out. Houston then scored on the second Dean to Russell TD pass for a 24-14 lead. The Gamblers would extend the lead to 27-14 before the Generals went on a long drive, deep in Houston territory. Facing a 4th and goal from the 2, down 13 with just over 6 minutes left, New Jersey had to go for it, and the 4th down pass was knocked down by Richard Simons. New Jersey would later get an 85 yard TD pass from Ric Flair to Duncan Meyer, but the onside kick failed. The Generals would get the ball one last time, although Robert Rankin pinned New Jersey at their own 5 yard line with 1:49 to play. Ric Flair marched New Jersey down the field, getting as far as the Houston 22 before the clock ran out.
Gold 23 Thunderbolts 17
The Cleveland defense hasn't had the best 3 games to open this season, but today they bottled up Jake Peralta, who had 152 scoreless combined yards. Cleveland was able to generate nearly 300 offensive yards (Denver had 324) but 3 turnovers did them in. Denver QB Andrew Brewer tossed 2 TD passes to Brian Thornton as the Gold built a 23-10 lead that lasted until late 4th qtr. Cleveland got a TD pass from Michael McGowan at the 2 minute warning to cut the lead to 23-17. The Thunderbolts recovered the onside kick and drove down to the Denver 40 before turning it over on downs.
SaberCats 19 VooDoo 14
San Jose scored a FG on the opening drive and a TD on their second for a fast 10-0 lead. A huge kickoff return by Jose Little set up the VooDoo in San Jose territory, and Bruno Wilson marched New Orleans down the field for a 6 yard TD pass to Leonard Robles. The two point pass was good and just like that it was 10-8 SaberCats. Graham Peterson had a nice stat game today, rushing for 100 yards and a TD to go with 48 receiving yards, but his fumble set up the VooDoo in San Jose territory once again. The VooDoo got a TD run from Stanley Kerr to take a 14-10 halftime lead.
New Orleans turned the ball over 3 straight times in the second half, once on downs, once on an interception, and once on a fumble. That enabled San Jose to boot a pair of FGs for a 16-14 lead. New Orleans faced a 4th and 2 from the San Jose 24 with 10:44 to play and opted to go for it rather than try a FG. The pass was knocked down, and the SaberCats drove for a FG and a 19-14 lead. The VooDoo got into SaberCat territory one more time, although barely, and turned it over on downs again. San Jose then ran the final 1:49 off the clock to remain undefeated.
Hawaiians 23 Sun 20 (OT)
Southern California kick returner Billy Brown got the scoring started right away with a 102 yard return of the opening kickoff, and the rest of the first half saw only field goals as the Sun held a 13-3 halftime lead. Honolulu would get a 3rd qtr Derek Henry to Allen Grant TD pass and an early 4th qtr TD run by Robert Schuler to take a 17-13 lead. RB Gene Ingram led the Sun offense today with 50 rushing yards, 64 receiving yards and a TD catch with 1:26 left, giving Southern California a late 20-17 lead. Derek Henry led the Hawaiians down the field for the game tying FG at the end of regulation, then did it again in OT following an INT by Sun QB Wilmer Kimble.
Blazers 17 Panthers 15
Michigan more than doubled Florida's offensive output (366-154) but Adam Scales tossed 2 interceptions and the Panthers special teams allowed a rare punt return TD. That punt return went for 70 yards by Robert Romero and that gave the Blazers an early 7-0 lead. James Hillis was the offensive star for Michigan, catching 6 passes for 143 yards and a TD that was sandwiched by a pair of John Bibler FGs to give Michigan a 13-7 lead.
Early in the 4th, Sidney Maggard found Ray Parker for an 11 yard TD that gave Florida a 14-13 lead. That lead lasted until Maggard was sacked in the end zone for 2 points by Ramon Carter. Michigan received the free kick up 15-14 and they faced a 4th and 3 from their own 40 with 2:45 to play. Time to punt right? Well not for Michigan, as they went for it and failed, setting up Florida at the edge of game winning FG range. The Blazers took the ball into the Panther's red zone and Gerald Harmon booted the game winner at the final gun.
Hornets 17 Breakers 12
Charlotte got 2 TD passes from Robert Ament as the Hornets built a 17-0 lead. Charlotte held Boston to 206 offensive yards but had to survive a late Breakers rally for the victory. Boston QB Edward Swafford threw a pair of 4th quarter TD passes to pull the Breakers within 17-12 (the 2 point tries failed) but it was too little too late.
Express 16 Outlaws 13
Los Angeles won a defensive game against Oklahoma today as the teams combined for just 479 yards of offense. The game saw only field goals until the 4th quarter and the score was 9-6 Los Angeles midway through. That's when Oklahoma scored the game's first TD, a 1 yard pass from John Crisp to Kevin Reeves with just 1:14 to play. Tristan Arnold then fired a 44 yard TD pass to Roger Taylor in the final minute to steal a victory from Oklahoma.
Federals 19 Stars 3
Washington and Baltimore have been battling for Atlantic supremacy for the last several years and the Federals get the early upper hand with today's victory. Both teams are 3-1, tied with Charlotte for the division lead but Washington would love nothing more than a home playoff game and a BYE. Scott Bieber led the Federals to a TD on the game opening drive and the Federals defense made that stand up, intercepting Jon Snow 3 times and keeping the powerful Baltimore offense out of the end zone all day. James Dunn had a combined 135 yards to lead Washington and the TD was caught by Robert Sullivan.
Showboats 61 Wranglers 7
Memphis QB David Allen threw 4 TD passes on 23/28 for 316 yards. Arthur Devore caught 2 of those TD passes and Mark Lambert caught the other 2 to go with 118 combined yards. Mark Glenn ran for 87 yards and 2 TDs as the Showboats ran for 216 as a team. The Memphis defense intercepted 3 Arizona QBs a total of 5 times, as the Wranglers continue searching for someone to take control of the offense.
Storm 40 Invaders 11
Portland continued to dominate the opposition, as they hold Oakland to 200 total yards. They did allow Invaders QB Andrew Moreno to complete 33/48 passes but they sacked him 5 times and kept them out of the end zone. Oakland scored on 3 field goals and a safety, but the Invaders defense could not stop the Storm offense today. Oscar Willis was 21/28, 331 yards with 4 TDs to 4 different receivers. Timothy Roquemore had 98 yards rushing and a TD to go with his 77 receiving yards, and Portland got 100 yard receiving games from Richard Robinson and Jeffrey Frost.
Stallions 38 Force 16
This game was a little sloppy as the defenses gave up a combined 748 yards, but they also each intercepted 2 passes, recovered a fumble and allowed a combined 6 for 28 on 3rd down. Birmingham could not run the ball but Stephen Ponder overcame 2 INT's with his 4 TD passes to 4 different receivers. Michael Holt had 120 receiving yards, Joseph Oliver 113, and Larry Ceasar 98. Regardless of this outcome, both teams have improved a great deal over their 1990 versions.
Bandits 21 Steamer 9
Melvin Driggers continued his Jekyll and Hyde season, tossing 3 interceptions, but it wasn't all bad as he also threw for a pair of scores. The Tampa Bay defense bailed Driggers out by forcing 3 turnovers of their own and they held Shreveport out of the end zone, allowing just 3 FGs. The Bandits also scored 2 points, tackling RB Orville Barker in the end zone in the 4th qtr. The win gives the Bandits sole possession of 1st place in the Southeast.
(NY) Stars 31 Maulers 13
The box score was relatively even but the Stars got a pair of defensive TDs to lead New York to victory. New York only out gained Pittsburgh by 2 yards and they turned it over 3 times themselves. New York MLB Alfred Payeur was responsible for both defensive touchdowns, taking his interception 23 yards for a score and he forced the fumble that teammate Scott Joplin returned for a TD. New York RB William Hall had a combined 29 touches, rushing 19 times for 56 yards and catching 10 for 71 and a TD.
Blitz 23 Wheels 13
Chicago QB Ronald Brown threw for 275 yards and a TD while Jay Kinder had 72 rushing yards with a TD and 55 receiving yards to lead the Blitz to victory. Chicago got out to a 17-0 lead, then 20-3 before Detroit got within 7 points in the 3rd qtr. Most of the Chicago offense came in the first half, but they were able to add a 4th qtr FG to extend their lead to 10 points and their defense made sure that lead held up.
Renegades 24 Bulls 3
Orlando's defense held Jacksonville to 202 total yards, 2/13 on 3rd down and forced 7 turnovers. Offensively, Orlando got a 73 yard TD run by Dexter Elmer and a TD reception by David King, but the defense was the story. The Renegades forced Joseph Serio into a very bad day, 16/36, 140 yards and 4 INTs and they forced 3 fumbles, all of which they lost. The Renegades offense was not on top of their game today but they didn't need to be.
Gunslingers 13 Bell 3
San Antonio won the punt fest as each team punted 9 times and combined for 465 offensive yards. Willie Benge tossed a 1 yard TD pass to Michael Stott with 1:15 to go before halftime for the game's only TD. The Gunslingers would add a FG for a 10-0 lead and the defense did the rest, as San Antonio improves to 1-3 on the year.
