Where We Are
 |
| Les Lacy, QB, Oakland Invaders |
There have been some surprises in the first half of 1975, and there are certainly more to come. I don't think anyone would have expected half of last year's playoff teams to be nowhere near contention after eight games (assuming the Florida Blazers' downward spiral continues). While we may have expected improvement out of Oakland and New Jersey, we probably didn't expect the Invaders to be 8-0 with an average margin of victory of 24.63 points or the Generals (6-2) to hold a three-game lead in the East Division.
Will Oakland go 16-0? The Invaders still have to play the Portland Storm (twice) and Chicago Blitz. The Pittsburgh Maulers (6-2) play Jacksonville (6-2) this week, then don't see a plus-.500 team the rest of the season. Detroit (4-4) still has a chance to return to the postseason, but must play Chicago twice. The Birmingham Stallions (7-1) have made all the right moves and go into the second half with a six-game win streak.
The real entertainment will come in the Southwest Division, where the resurgence of the Oklahoma Outlaws and Houston Gamblers has their fans talking about a three-team battle down the stretch. The San Antonio Gunslingers must still play Oklahoma (twice) and Chicago. Oklahoma must still play San Antonio twice and Houston twice. Houston has the toughest row to hoe. The Gamblers play Oklahoma twice in the next three weeks and also have games remaining against New Jersey, Oakland, and the Pacific Division-leading Honolulu Hawaiians.
Week 8 Roundup
- San Antonio Gunslingers WR Donnie Baker had a day to remember, catching 13 passes for 346 yards and TDs of 85, 79 and 3 yards during a 46-40 win over the San Jose SaberCats. Thomas Canale of the New Orleans VooDoo set the USFL single-game record with 384 yards on nine receptions in a 1974 game against the Orlando Renegades.
- Denver Gold RDE Dennis Rivas returned an interception 63 yards and recorded three sacks and five tackles in a 51-3 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
- Shreveport's David Ryan intercepted two passes (something you don't see every day from a DL) in the Steamer's 35-23 win over the New Jersey Generals.
- The Detroit Wheels defense (sort of) shut down Portland Storm QB William Hill (236 yards, 3 INTs), but the Storm's defense preserved a 13-10 victory when Jose Fouche (sort of) missed a 55-yard field goal attempt with 1:26 to go. Did that one look short to you, eyeballll?
- Honolulu CB Walter Gabbert's interception with 11 seconds to play clinched a 13-10 victory for the Hawaiians over the Southern California Sun.
- Jacksonville recovered a Florida fumble at its 21 late in the fourth quarter to claim a 17-13 victory and hand the Blazers their fourth consecutive loss.
Week 9 Preview
The long-awaited battle of the league's superpowers takes place Saturday when the Chicago Blitz (8-0) host the Oakland Invaders (8-0). MFN rates Oakland a 1-point favorite. Two more of the best the league has to offer collide when Jacksonville (6-2) travels to Pittsburgh (6-2). The Oklahoma Outlaws (5-3) play at Houston (4-4) in the first of many second-half games in the Southwest Division with playoff implications.
Coach's Profile
 |
| UKRAIN |
Team: Charlotte Hornets
Playing MFN Since: 4/13/17
Hometown (town, state): Kharkiv, Ukraine
Current residence (town, state): Kharkiv
Day Job: Accountant
Favorite teams (all sports): Titans, Eagles, Ravens
A real-life sports experience: School basketball team
A fantasy sports experience: Playoff
How did you become interested in American football? Soviet television showed reviews of the German League in American football. With the advent of torrents, I watch NFL and NCAA.
