New Orleans clinched the South a few weeks ago and are jockeying for a first round bye. Shreveport is now in last place after challenging the VooDoo for the division in 1990. Birmingham and Georgia would prefer not to mention 1990 as they combined for 4 wins, all by Georgia. 1991 won't end with a playoff berth for either team, but they have to be pleased with the improved performances of their teams.
New Orleans VooDoo (10-4) Week 13 saw New Orleans get out to a 16-0 lead but Bruno Wilson tossed 4 INTs and the New Orleans offense turned it over on downs 6 times, allowing Orlando to score the last 20 points of the game and steal a victory despite the Renegades amassing just 99 offensive yards. Week 14 saw a change in strategy as the VooDoo punted more instead of always going for it, and forcing the Force to drive the field worked out. Georgia had 330 yards of offense but lost the game 29-7 thanks in part to 4 turnovers. Offensively, New Orleans rushed for 283 team yards and 3 TDs, led by Stanley Kerr's 131 yards.
Birmingham Stallions (5-8-1) Birmingham held San Jose to 328 yards and 13 points but the offense could only gain 200 as they never even got to the red zone, let alone sniff the end zone. Three Gerald Hinton FGs were not enough to beat the SaberCats. Week 14 was a wild game with the Washington Federals. The Stallions got on the board first, thanks to a 72 yard run by Francis Schultz and a FG would make the lead 10-0. The Federals are a pretty good team and they eventually fought back to a 13-13 tie in the second half. Stephen Ponder then found Joseph Oliver for a 75 yard catch and run TD as Birmingham retook the lead. Washington WR Robert Sullivan caught 17 passes in this game but one was in his own end zone and he was tackled before he could get out, resulting in a Birmingham safety and a 22-13 Stallions lead. Washington would come all the way back, taking a 23-22 lead on a Scott Bieber TD pass to Anthony Favela with just over a minute left. Ponder would lead the offense 38 yards to the edge of FG range and Gerald Hinton nailed the 54 yard FG at the gun to stun Washington.
Georgia Force (5-8-1) Week 13 against Honolulu, QB Thomas Jacobi tossed 0 TD and 4 INT but Thomas Sanchez ran for 123 yards and 3 TDs as Georgia defeated the Hawaiians 24-17. The Force defense picked off Derek Henry 3 times in the game. Week 14 against division rival New Orleans didn't go as well. Jacobi threw 3 more INTs and the VooDoo ran for 283 yards in the 29-7 defeat. WR John Huynh had 102 yards and 105 yards respectively.
Shreveport Steamer (5-9) Everybody talks about west coast teams traveling east for a 10:00 am body clock game but nobody talks about eastern teams traveling west much. Shreveport had a Week 13 game in Los Angeles where they fell behind 20-3 before George Marcil threw 2 late TD passes to get within the final score of 20-18 but the onside kick failed and the Express ran out the clock. Hawaii has it worse than anyone concerning travel and they flew to Alabama for a Week 14 game. The Steamer allowed 397 yards passing on a league record tying 72 pass attempts by Derek Henry but Shreveport chewed up yards on the ground in the 27-13 victory. Orville Barker ran for 114 yards and George Marcil tossed 2 TD passes on only 7 completions to lead the offense.
