Week 2 Roundup

It Ain't Over 'Till It's Over

Yes, we're saying there's a chance.

David Tucker, WR, Gunslingers

The San Antonio Gunslingers were dead in the water against Baltimore, trailing the Stars, 22-14, and Baltimore holding the ball with less than 2 minutes remaining in regulation time. But, on third-and-eight, Baltimore gambled and failed when WLB Ronald McNeill intercepted a Victor Gorman pass at the Stars' 24. A facemask penalty on the Stars moved the ball to the 4. On fourth down, QB Tony Smith found WR David Tucker across the middle of the end zone for a TD. Smith then hit WR Marshall Gibson for the 2-point conversion, tying the score with 51 seconds to play.

Bernard Twiggs, K/P, Baltimore

Baltimore had to use kicker Bernard Twiggs as its punter because newly acquired punter Bernard Steele had not been activated for the game. Late in overtime, Twiggs, averaging 23.7 yards per punt, shanked one off the side of his foot that traveled only 9 yards to the Stars' 24. A sack would have forced a more difficult field goal attempt, but another face mask penalty on Baltimore moved the ball to the 16. Ronald Hensley split the uprights from 34 yards away with 1:11 to go in OT, and San Antonio was a 25-22 winner.

The Gunslingers, seeking a third consecutive Southwest Division title, found themselves all alone in first place at 2-0 after the Oklahoma Outlaws fell to the Portland Storm, 26-12.

In other Week 2 games:

• New York QB Eric Roberge was 14-for-18 passing and threw four TDs as the Stars surprised New Jersey, 28-19. Three of Roberge's TDs were to rookie WR Allen Howard. New York had scored only 10 points (and zero TDs) in its four previous games against the Generals, all losses.
• The Pittsburgh Maulers are already running away with the Atlantic Division. Pittsburgh defeated Charlotte, 38-10, a week after defeating Memphis by the same score. The Maulers are 2-0; everyone else in the Atlantic is 0-2. Pittsburgh CB Bradley Martinez made five tackles, intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble.
• The Honolulu Hawaiians moved into a three-way tie atop the Pacific Division with a 40-27 win over the San Jose SaberCats. Honolulu, which intercepted four passes, outscored San Jose, 37-7, during the middle two quarters.
• The Chicago Blitz bounced back from their Week 1 loss to beat the Los Angeles Express, 24-14, as Bruce Fine rushed for 107 yards.

Week 3 Preview

The Los Angeles Express and Honolulu Hawaiians will wrestle to break the three-way tie atop the Pacific Division. The Oakland Invaders will be at Portland to face the Storm. The teams split two regular-season meetings last season before Oakland won in the playoffs. Somebody is going to get their first win (maybe) when the Charlotte Hornets host the Washington Federals, the Orlando Renegades host the Southern California Sun, the Philadelphia Bell hosts the Shreveport Steamer, and the Denver Gold hosts the Houston Gamblers.