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| RDE Javier Woods (75), Southern California Sun |
The first two weeks of the 1979 USFL/WFL season have produced more than their share of surprises. Raise your hand if you thought the Southern California Sun would be all alone in first place in its division and the Detroit Wheels would be all alone in last place.
The Sun are indeed 2-0 after opening with victories over the Birmingham Stallions (34-0) and the Honolulu Hawaiians (16-5). This marks the first-ever 2-0 start for SoCal and is only the third time in franchise history the Sun have won consecutive games.
Southern California's defense limited Birmingham to 188 total yards as RDE Javier Woods recorded eight tackles and four sacks. Honolulu managed just 231 yards as CB Robert Ridley had nine tackles and intercepted a pass.
SoCal is at Denver on Thursday and will attempt to record the first three-game win streak in Sun history.
Detroit (0-2) fell to Tampa Bay, 43-21, in a rematch of World Bowl IV. The Wheels were then bested by their Midwest Division rival, the Cleveland Thunderbolts, 29-17.
The two-time World Bowl champs haven't lost back-to-back games since starting the 1975 season off at 1-3.
Tampa Bay scored 26 unanswered points in the second half, including Luis Gero's 72-yard TD pass to Frank Owens. Cleveland's Jim Zarate had three of the Thunderbolts' six sacks of Wheels QB Mario Valencia.
Other notable results from the season's first two weeks:
- Oklahoma Outlaws WR Dusty Heckman caught 12 passes for a league-record 418 yards and six TDs during a 75-13 Week 2 win over the Boston Breakers. The six TDs were one short of the record set by New Orleans VooDoo WR Thomas Canale vs. Orlando in 1974.
- Oklahoma Outlaws QB Dale Brown has thrown for 420 and 588 yards in his team's two victories.
- The Jacksonville Bulls are also 2-0 and tied for the division lead with wins over the Philadelphia Bell (33-30) and Georgia Force (27-24). LDE Daryl Barney has 10 tackles, 8 sacks, and 18 hurries in those two victories.
- The Chicago Blitz are also 2-0 after beating the Florida Blazers (55-7) and San Jose SaberCats (33-20). WR Chester Landes has 341 receiving yards and QB Daniel McKee has a 158.08 QBR.
- The Shreveport Steamer knocked off the defending World Bowl champions Los Angeles Express, 23-20, in Week 2. Shreveport's defense allowed only one first down in the final 13 minutes and sealed the victory via CB Robert Colbert's interception with 1:38 to go.
- Portland Storm coach Pernbronze spent extra time on the tip drill during practice, and it paid off when WR John Sanders caught a twice-tipped pass for a 36-yard TD to give his team a 29-28 Week 2 win over the Pittsburgh Maulers.
Week 3 Preview
The Florida Blazers (1-1), who surprised 1978 playoff entrant Orlando in Week 2, will try to keep the Detroit Wheels (0-2) winless. The Southern California Sun (2-0) will attempt to extend their win streak to a franchise-record three games when they travel to Denver to face the Gold (1-1). The Chicago Blitz (2-0) and Cleveland Thunderbolts (2-0) will attempt to break their tie atop the Midwest Division.Record Book
- Two games into this third pro season, Cleveland's Jim Zarate has 57 sacks, which ranks No. 16 all-time. Memphis LDE Nathan Branch is the career sacks leader with 91.
- Baltimore Stars WR Randy Christmas has the highest average per catch (20.7) of any player with more than 100 career receptions. Santiago Smith of LAX is not far behind (20.4).
- Only two active players have two interception returns for TDs in their careers, and they both play for the Cleveland Thunderbolts—RDE George Ye and CB Monte Cherry.
