Week 14: Invaders are Champions of the West

Week 14 Roundup

Jason Brooks, Oakland Invaders

Oakland was 4-10 when Wolveraider took over as head coach late in the 1974 season. The Invaders finished up with surprise victories over playoff-bound Portland and Denver, which should have given us all a small clue as to what would happen next.

The Invaders improved to 13-1 and clinched the West Division title Thursday with a 37-27 victory over the Portland Storm. The outcome was in doubt until Jason Brooks' clinching 9-yard TD run with 1:57 to go. It was a pretty good day for Brooks, who also bounced off the kicker on his way to a 105-yard return of the opening kickoff and scored another rushing TDs.

Brooks rushed for 139 yards and Christopher Curtis 136 as Oakland tore through Portland's vaunted defensive line and accumulated nearly 500 yards of total offense.The Invaders lead the USFL/WFL in rushing yardage (214 per game)

The teams meet again in Oakland in two weeks to conclude the regular season.

In other Week 14 games:

• The San Antonio Gunslingers earned their second victory over Oklahoma in three weeks, edging the Outlaws, 17-16, on Ronald Hensley's 38-yard field goal on the game's final play. The Gunslingers got the ball back on their own 5 with 1:39 to play and moved to the Outlaws' 19 on eight plays, including QB Tony Smith's 18-yard pass to WR Marshall Gibson that set up the decisive field goal. San Antonio clinched its second consecutive Southwest Division title.
• Oklahoma's loss allowed Detroit to slip into a tie with the Outlaws for the final American Conference playoff spot. The Wheels plundered the Denver Gold, 38-0, as MLB Bobby Wells returned a fumble 11 yards for a TD. Detroit (9-5) finishes it season at home against Chicago (14-0) and at Los Angeles (5-9). Oklahoma finishes its season at Memphis (4-10) and at home against Boston (6-8).
• The Cleveland Thunderbolts are only a game back of Detroit and Oklahoma after beating Florida, 10-3, snuffing out the Blazers' final drive on their 28. The 'Bolts are 8-3 after an 0-3 start, but end the season with road games at Portland (10-4) and Chicago (14-0).
• The unbeaten Blitz continue to toy with the rest of the league, holding out the carrot and then snatching it away. Chicago edged the Michigan Panthers, 16-14, an outcome that was in doubt until Chicago CB Robert Gonzales intercepted a pass with 22 seconds to go. Nine of the Blitz's 14 wins are by 6 points or fewer.
• Orlando appeared to be this Week's Upset Special, taking a 23-7 lead over Birmingham, but backup QB Karl Moore threw a 15-yard TD pass to backup RB Roy Weeks with 1:38 to play, giving the Stallions a 30-29 victory over the Renegades.
• New Jersey SLB John Joyce intercepted a Memphis pass with 13 seconds to go, preserving the Generals' 16-13 win over the Showboats.
• Paul Holder's 36-yard field goal as time expired gave the Jacksonville Bulls a 24-22 win over the Tampa Bay Bandits. The game-winner was preceded one play earlier by Ty Fleming's 49-yard pass completion to WR Johnny Aguilar.
• New York CB Robert Town intercepted a pass with 31 seconds remaining as the Stars snapped their 20-game losing streak with a 14-11 win over the Philadelphia Bell.

Week 15 Preview

The Shreveport Steamer (10-4) will try to put last season's nightmare finish behind them when they travel to Baltimore to face the Stars (8-6). Shreveport, you will recall, missed the 1974 playoffs when they were upset by the Washington Federals on the final day of the regular season. If the Stars win Saturday, and both teams end up 10-6, Baltimore would hold the tie-braker edge over the Steamer with both a head-to-head victory and a better conference record. The South Division crown will be on the line when the Birmingham Stallions (12-2) host the Georgia Force (13-1). The Chicago Blitz (14-0), still chasing an unbeaten season, will travel to Detroit (9-5), which is trying to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Coach's Profile

Hellbriner

User Name: Hellbriner
Team: Michigan Panthers
Playing MFN Since: Summer of 2017
Hometown (town, state): Menominee, MI
Current residence (town, state): Same
Day job: CNC machinist
Favorite teams (all sports): Washington Redskins, Blue Jays, and Michigan Wolverines
A real-life sports experience: Playing special teams my first year in football, 9th grade. I was on the kickoff team, and not really knowing what I was doing, I just ran down, and somehow plowed into the returner, laying him out hard. Everyone was excited and I had no idea how I did it!
Coach's Corner: (tip for a new MFN coach): Keep your playbooks fresh. Swap out plays that aren't working.