The Oklahoma Outlaws took control of the game in the 2nd quarter and never looked back as they defeat the New Jersey Generals 26-8, completing the 3rd perfect season in league history. The Outlaws did not allow a single TD in the post season, and they join the 1977 Detroit Wheels and 1986 Memphis Showboats as 19-0 League Champions. Oklahoma CB Michael Brown was named World Bowl MVP thanks to his 1/11 pass defense with 3 knockdowns and 2 INTs. That effort earned him a brand new 2002 Chevrolet Corvette, as is USFL custom.
Oklahoma Outlaws 26 New Jersey Generals 8
New Jersey got the ball first and both defenses started out on point as we had three straight punts. On Oklahoma's second drive they converted 3 of 4 third downs to get into FG range where Gerald Harmon booted a 35 yard FG for the early 3-0 lead. The first quarter ended with that score but New Jersey tied it early in the 2nd with a 43 yard Al Borland FG. Oklahoma was driving again, converting a 4th and 1, 3rd and 10, and a 3rd and 2 before Raymond Settles was intercepted on the next 3rd down by John Polen. Generals QB Antonio Martinez returned the favor a few plays later, getting intercepted by Michael Brown but the Outlaws offense stalled and opted to punt rather than try a 56 yard FG. Carlos Thomas caught a short pass from Antonio Martinez on first down but fumbled, giving Oklahoma the ball in the red zone. Three plays later Christopher Baker punched it in from the 1, increasing the Outlaws lead to 10-0 after the XP.
New Jersey's next drive started near the 2 minute warning and soon after passing that, Antonio Martinez was intercepted by Zachary Martinez, but he was flagged for pass interference. That just delayed the inevitable and opened the door for Michael Brown's new Corvette when he intercepted Martinez a few plays later with no flags. The bad news got worse when Raymond Settles found Clarence Murphy for an 8 yard TD to increase the lead to 17-3 at the half.
The 3rd quarter saw just an Al Borland 48 yard FG and we got to the 4th quarter with Oklahoma leading 17-6. Gerald Harmon increased that to 20-6 with a 50 yard FG early in the 4th, then he booted a 36 yarder in the middle of the quarter for a 23-6 lead. New Jersey was running out of time but they still drove all the way inside the Oklahoma 1, but a 4th and goal pass fell incomplete, leaving the score 23-6 with 3:46 to play. The Outlaws took over on the shadow of their goal line and Andy Sipowicz collared Paul Wickland in the end zone for a safety to get the Generals 2 points closer. New Jersey turned it over on downs after the free kick and Harmon kicked another FG for the final margin and the game was over.
The 19 game win streak is the 3rd longest in league history and if they win their first 9 games in 2002, they will break the record of 27 wins in a row set by the 1976-78 Detroit Wheels. The Wheels won their last 4 regular season games in 1976 then all 3 playoff games to win the World Bowl before going 19-0 in winning the World Bowl again the following year. Detroit won in Week 1 of 1978 for their 27th win in a row before losing to Cleveland Week 2. The 1986-87 Memphis Showboats won 24 in a row for the second best streak.
