Week 5: Book 'Em

Week 5 Roundup

The state of Hawaii includes 137 islands and 15 islets, rocks, coral reefs and atolls, but only seven islands are inhabited. Fans on all seven were celebrating Tuesday after the Honolulu Hawaiians fended off the Los Angeles Express, 21-17, to take a two-game lead in the Pacific Division. Cue the theme from Hawaii Five-O as you watch the highlights.

QB Michael Laboy threw a pair of TD passes for the Hawaiians (3-2), which thrilled all 170 fans on Niihau. They cheered on Molokai for FS Brent Sylvain's two interceptions. On Lanai, they were digging DT Richard Worthen's three sacks.

But the noise echoed from Kauai to Oahu to Maui to the Big Island when Express QB Gene Nowlin, who had led a final march to the Honolulu 17, fumbled with 41 seconds to go, sealing the outcome.

In other games:

• Pittsburgh Maulers backup QB Brandon Rocha may earn the Waiver Pickup of the Year Award. Rocha, who took over when starter Michael White was sidelined with a neck injury after three games, fired seven TD passes and earned league player of the week honors in a 78-14 rout of the Charlotte Hornets. Rocha has QB ratings of 107.33 and 140.80 in his two starts, both wins. He was cut loose by Memphis in the preseason despite having accumulated 5,254 passing yards for the Showboats in 1974.
• Oakland RB Christopher Curtis accumulated 307 all-purpose yards (193 rushing, 114 receiving) and had three TD receptions in a 48-31 dismantling of the Arizona Wranglers. Teammate Scotty Gray added 142 yards rushing and three TDs on the ground as the Invaders improved to 5-0.
• The Cleveland Thunderbolts have won back-to-back games for the first time in their short history, building on last week's upset of the Detroit Wheels with a 34-24 win over the Tampa Bay Bandits. Cleveland rolled up 527 yards as Adam Velasco ran for 111 and Jerry Montalvo completed 17 of 21 passes, including three TDs.
• The San Antonio Gunslingers retained the I-10 Construction Zone trophy with a 38-11 win over their cross-state rival, the Houston Gamblers. San Antonio WR Donnie Baker caught 10 passes for 209 yards, including a 40-yard TD.
• The Chicago Blitz (5-0) have won four consecutive games by six points or fewer. Jacksonville's potential game-tying field goal with 2:16 to play was nullified by a holding penalty. The Bulls punted instead, and Chicago escaped with a 9-6 victory.
• The Boston Breakers handed the Florida Blazers their first loss, 21-14, clinching the win on Nicholas Wingfield's 22-yard TD run with 1:48 to go.
• The New Jersey Generals recorded their second shutout in five games, skunking the Oklahoma Outlaws, 16-0. LDE Freddie Gilbert had two sacks for New Jersey.
• Michigan QB Brandon Robertson was 24-for-36 and threw five TDs as the Panthers stormed past the Denver Gold, 38-11.
• Home teams were 12-4 in Week 5.

Week 6 Preview

A rematch of World Bowl I (sort of) is in the offing for Week 6 when the Florida Blazers (4-1), in their first game under new coach MarshCorn98, meet the unbeaten Chicago Blitz (5-0). Division leaders battle when the New Jersey Generals (4-1) host the Georgia Force (5-0). Another matchup of division leaders takes place when the Honolulu Hawaiians (3-2) host the San Antonio Gunslingers (4-1). And, somebody has to win (don't they?) when the Charlotte Hornets (0-5) face the New York Stars (0-5).

Booger's Bits

Arthur Smith, RDE, Arizona (52)

Booger926 posted this on the forums before the Week 5 games. I found some of this stuff pretty interesting, so I thought I would post it again and update it with the most recent statistics.

1) The BEST offensive team from scrimmage (Arizona Wranglers @ 516 yards/game) also has the NEXT-TO-LAST overall defense (460 yards/game) ... anyone remember the 1979 Chargers?
2) The third-best passing offense (Memphis Showboats @ 365 yards/game) also has the fourth-worst passing defense (330 yards/game) ... gee, you would think a passing team would be able to defend it.
3) Speaking of which, the  No. 1 rushing team (Oakland Invaders @ 216 yards/game) also is the worst team to try to run against (47 yards/game) ... play your strength.
4) The Georgia Force has the No. 2 QB in the league in passing yardage (Phillip Anderson, 1,912) even though he is rated 65 potential. (Editor's note: This must be by Booger's weights. Anderson's potential is higher by both my weights and the default).
5) RB Jaime Giles (Florida Blazers) is on a pace for 1,814 rushing yards even though his team is fifth in rushing attempts/game (36).
6) RDE Arthur Smith (Arizona) has now sacked every opposing starting QB except Chicago's Daniel McKee. Smith has 13 sacks in five games, including games of four and five sacks and is third in the league with 26 hurries.
7) CB Edward Alston (Oakland) is currently the favorite challenge of opposing QBs, having been thrown at 66 times this season, and ...
8) CB Edward Alston (Oakland) has established himself as an Island ... knocked down a league-high 16 passes, intercepted 3, and has a league-leading catch allowed percentage of 27.3. Beat me if you can. Survive if Alston lets you. The nearest threat among those having been tested at least 30 times is rookie Juan Bonnett of my Gamblers and Florida's Dillon Zimmerman, both with 29 percent allowed.
9) New Jersey Generals RG David Lapham is on a pace to allow 32 sacks this season (owners insight moment ... the right side is the best side to run toward, but if the OL in those positions are weak (>50 pass blocking), I, as a owner, will put my better pass rushing DL to the right side ... Lapham is 18 pass blocking ... just my opinion).