Players of the Week
American Conference
Offense: Brandon Rocha, QB, Memphis Showboats. Rocha threw for 306 yards and three TDs, completing 22 of 30 passes while just taking one sack in a 39-19 victory over the Michigan Panthers.
Honorable Mention: Curtis Scott, RB, Arizona Wranglers; RB Gregory Shea, Memphis Showboats; WR Russell Clausen, San Jose SaberCats; Winston Hampton, K, Los Angeles Express.
Defense: Eugene Pacheco, DT, Portland Storm. Pacheco recorded 4 tackles, 5 sacks, forced 2 fumbles and recovered one. His strip sack early in the fourth quater set up the Storm offense for a second consecutive short-field TD following sacks, taking their lead from 9 to 22 in a 35-13 win over the New Jersey Generals.
 |
| Eugene Pacheco, DT, Portland Storm |
Honorable Mention: James Goss, DT, Honolulu Hawaiians; Kenneth Back, LDE, Portland Storm; Brady Kizer, SS, Cleveland Thunderbolts; Chuck Johnson, CB, Detroit Wheels; Richard Hartnett, MLB, Oklahoma Outlaws; Jerry Collins, WLB, Southern California Sun.
National Conference
Offense: Jonathan Keefe, QB, Boston Breakers. Had 337 passing yards, 5 TDs, no interceptions or fumbles, and a 143.75 passer rating during a 44-17 victory over the Oakland Invaders.
Honorable Mention: Joseph Cantwell, QB, Birmingham Stallions; Joe Richardson, QB, Washington Federals; Stephen Hale, WR, Orlando Renegades; Shawn Trevino, WR, Jacksonville Bulls; Cliff Thomas, RB, Pittsburgh Maulers; Randy Christmas, WR, Baltimore Stars.
Defense: Robert Newton, CB, New Orleans Voodoo. Made 3 interceptions and 7 tackles in a 23-12 win over the Jacksonville Bulls.
Honorable Mention: Jim Southard, MLB, Orlando Renegades; Jesse Draper, MLB, Philadelphia Bell; Nathan Sherrard, RDE, Jacksonville Bulls; Martin Wildermuth, MLB, Birmingham Stallions; Jim Byrne, DT, New Jersey Generals.
Notes
- The New York Stars surprised the Philadelphia Bell, 23-7, to pull into a second-place tie with Philadelphia in the East Division. Both teams are two games behind the Boston Breakers, who finally played like the bullies of the block during a 44-17 win over the Oakland Invaders.
- The Stars' win earned them a spot on national TV this week. New York will be a 9-point favorite this week when the Stars host the Tampa Bay Bandits on Sunday Night Football. The Monday Night Football game will be a West Coast affair, with the Los Angeles Express traveling to Oakland to face the Invaders.
- The crazy game of the week took place in Denver. The Gold fell behind the Arizona Wranglers, 30-7, at halftime. Denver then reeled off 32 unanswered points in the third quarter to regain the lead, 39-30. Arizona QB Ralph Trowbridge threw a TD pass to draw the visitors within 39-37, then drove Arizona 77 yards, thanks to a facemask penalty and completions of 2, 10 and 46 yards. With 56 seconds to go and the ball inside the 1, Trowbridge avoided a sack and hit WR James Rawlins with the game-winning toss.
- The Monday Night showdown for Midwest Division supremacy wasn't much of a showdown, as showdowns go. The Chicago Blitz shut out the Detroit Wheels, 23-0, at Soldier Field. Chicago's defense allowed 177 net yards, intercepted two passes, recovered two fumbles, and had Detroit QB Henry Prieto doubting his manhood: 12-for-34, 140 yards, 24.14 QB rating.
