Got some sleep and I'm ready to resume the recap of the last 2 weeks. The Portland Storm are the West Champions and current #1 seed while the Denver Gold will be either the #5 or #6 seed
Portland Storm (13-1) Week 13 saw Portland defeat San Antonio 31-9 behind 162 rushing yards from Timothy Roquemore and 120 receiving yards from Richard Robinson. The Storm defense allowed 277 yards but kept the Gunslingers out of the red zone and end zone, thanks to a 1/12 3rd down success rate. Week 14 saw Portland again give up 277 yards, this time to Chicago but the Blitz converted 9/20 3rd downs. The better conversion rate did not translate into much as the Blitz never reached the red zone and settled for 3 field goals for the game. QB Oscar Willis threw for 425 yards and 5 TD passes, 3 to Richard Robinson. In all, Robinson caught 7 for 235 yards.
Denver Gold (11-3) Denver had an interconference game against Washington Week 13 and the Gold lost 30-21. The Gold had 350 offensive yards, led by Jake Peralta's 129 combined yards, and did not turn the ball over but the Denver defense was lit up by Scott Bieber. Week 14 saw the Denver defense get back on track, holding Charlotte to 189 total yards and allowing only 3 points. QB Andrew Brewer tossed 3 TD passes, 1 to Jake Peralta, who also ran in a score and had a combined 154 yards.
Oakland Invaders (4-10) Oakland traveled to Baltimore to face the Stars and the Invaders hung with them in the first half, trailing 14-13. Stars QB Jon Snow tossed 3 TD passes in the 3rd qtr to break open a close game, defeating Oakland 35-16. Week 14 saw Oakland bounce back after allowing Oklahoma to take an early 3-0 lead. QB Andrew Moreno threw for 365 yards and 2 TDs, both to Nelson Martinez. TE Christopher Sherrick posted 128 receiving yards and John Crisp returned 1 of 4 Outlaws turnovers for a TD as Oakland beat Oklahoma 33-3.
Arizona Wranglers (0-14) Rookie QB Zachary Kinkead is taking his lumps this season as his pass accuracy is still developing (currently 42/80). Kinkead has had some brutal games, including Week 13's 5/29 performance in a 27-6 loss to Southern California. Sometimes Kinkead shows his potential as he did on the opening drive Week 14, leading the Wranglers on a 14 play, 75 yard TD drive to take an early 7-0 lead on the white hot Pittsburgh Maulers. Kinkead was leading another long drive on the next possession, but was intercepted by James Lopez who returned it 78 yards for the go ahead TD. From that point, Kinkead lost confidence and the Wranglers offense went nowhere the rest of the game in the 31-7 loss to the Maulers. Arizona plays Oklahoma in Week 15 and the loser will get the #1 pick in the 1992 draft.
