Players of the Week
American Conference
Offense: Brandon Robertson, QB, Michigan Panthers. Robertson was 24-for-34 for 433 yards and four TDs as the Panthers stunned the Portland Storm, 37-23, for their first win of the season while handing Portland its first loss.
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| Brandon Robertson, QB, Michigan Panthers |
Honorable Mention: Curtis Scott, RB, Arizona; Bradley Sharp, WR, Houston Gamblers; Chester Daugherty, QB, Houston Gamblers; John Sanders, WR, Michigan Panthers; Bruce Fine, RB, Chicago Blitz.
Defense: Arthur Smith, LDE, Arizona Wranglers. Smith had 9 tackles, 4 sacks, and 7 hurries during the Wranglers' 40-26 defeat of the Denver Gold to take over sole possession of second place in the West Division and move within one game of Portland.
Honorable Mention: Earl Washington, DT, San Antonio Gunslingers; Ryan Willey, LDE, Denver Gold; Jerry Shen, RDE, Chicago Blitz; Donald Goad, SS, Memphis Showboats.
National Conference
Offense: Lonny Wooding, RB, New Jersey Generals. Wooding ran for 166 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries (15 yard average per rush) and caught four passes for 132 yards as the Generals scored 30 points in the second half to rout the Philadelphia Bell, 40-9.
Honorable Mention: Jonathan Keefe, QB, Boston Breakers; Stephen Labelle, QB, New Jersey Generals; James Clarke, RB, New York Stars; Thomas Canale, WR, New Orleans Voodoo; Wendall Pinegar, WR, Birmingham Stallions;
Defense: Donald Sullivan, SS, New York Stars. Sullivan made 9 tackles, returned an intereception for a TD, forced three fumbles and recovered one as the Stars spanked the Charlotte Hornets, 58-7, for their second win.
Honorable Mention: Ryan Moore, DT, Georgia Force; John Borkowski, CB, Orlando Renegades; Gregory Hubbard, MLB, Baltimore Stars; James Cruz, CB, Washington Federals; Ramon Boldt, WLB, New Orleans Voodoo; William Oates, SLB, Tampa Bay Bandits.
Notes
- It didn't take new coach Hellbriner long to make an impact on the Michigan Panthers. QB Brandon Robertson passed for 433 yards and four TDs and the Panthers forced three turnovers while making none themselves as previously winless Michigan stunned the previously unbeaten Portland Storm, 37-23, at the Pontiac Silverdome. Safe to say, this is the biggest upset of the season (six games into the season). The Panthers' patchwork secondary stepped up to the challenge of Portland QB William Hill, intercepting Hill twice while allowing him to complete just 21 of 47 passes.
- The Southern California Sun also presented coach DannyG-96 with a game ball after his first career victory, edging the Oakland Invaders, 35-29. SoCal WR Thomas Dayton returned the second-half kickoff 103 yards for a TD, part of a 19-point third quarter for the Sun.
- Pittsburgh Maulers kicker Daniel Hall also went from zero to hero. Hall had single-handedly cost his team a Week 4 loss to the Georgia Force by missing an extra point and a field goal in the final 1:06. Fast forward two weeks and Hall kicks two field goals in the final 57 seconds, the last one from 50 yards out with 3 seconds to play, to give the Maulers a thrilling 27-24 Monday Night Football win over the Baltimore Stars. The Stars set up Hall's game-winner by fumbling with 42 seconds to go.
- James Peeler's 34-yard field goal with 52 seconds to play lifted the Houston Gamblers to a 39-37 win over Honolulu, the Hawaiians' third consecutive loss.
- The Arizona Wranglers scored the game's last 19 points to defeat the Denver Gold, 40-26, and pull within one game of Portland in the West Division.
- The Southern California Sun will see if they can continue their winning ways when they meet the scuffling Hawaiians on Sunday Night Football. The New Jersey Generals put their talented youngsters in front of a national TV audience for the first time when they host the World Bowl favorite Boston Breakers on Monday Night Football.
