Monday, July 30, 2018

1979 Week 7 Roundup: Here Comes the Express

The Los Angeles Express is rolling down the tracks again.

Santiago Smith, WR, Los Angeles Express
The defending World Bowl champions stumbled to a 1-3 start, but have won three in a row after an impressive 41-24 dismantling of the West Division-leading Oakland Invaders (5-2). The Los Angeles defense forced five turnovers, including two interceptions each from starting QB Les Lacy and backup Jimmy Barahona.

WLB Robert Falkner was credited with 16 tackles and a sack for LAX (4-3). We don't know if 16 tackles is a league record because the "all time by game" search function for defense does not work. Express QB Gene Nowlin fired five TD passes, three to WR Santiago Smith.

Oakland never led, but was within 31-24 with less than 6 minutes to play. A Carlos Turner interception set up a Roger Ruzich field goal, then a Rufus Aguilar pickoff set up Nowlin's final TD pass to Smith less than a minute later.

In other Week 7 games:

  • The Sun maintained its tie with LAX for first place in the Pacific Division by outlasting the San Jose SaberCats, 34-31, in overtime. San Jose's TD and 2-point conversion with 34 seconds remaining forced OT. But Robert Ridley intercepted a David Schmitt pass and an unnecessary roughness penalty moved the Sun 15 yards closer. Five plays later, Alan Grossi kicked the game-winning field goal with just over 2 minutes remaining in OT.
  • The Oklahoma Outlaws (7-0) widened their Southwest Division lead to two games by scoring twice in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Memphis Showboats (5-2), 37-22. Patrick Hiebert ran for a 30-yard TD with 14:21 remaining, then turned a short gain into a 10-yard TD pass with 1:45 to play. Dusty Heckman had 231 yards receiving for Oklahoma, the sixth time in seven games he has topped 200 yards. Memphis CB Albert Arsenault picked off three passes.
  • Chicago's Matthew Eno kicked three field goals in the final 16 minutes as the Blitz rallied past the Michigan Panther, 22-17.


Week 8 Preview

The Pittsburgh Maulers (5-2) host the Oakland Invaders (5-2) in a battle of division leaders. Division leaders also meet in Shreveport, with the Steamer (5-2) hosting the Southern California Sun (4-3). The Los Angeles Express (4-3) is at Detroit (5-2). There is no love lost between these teams, as the Wheels knocked LAX out of the playoffs in both 1976 and 1977.

Record Book


  • New York Stars LG Earl Murtagh, formerly of Birmingham, has taken part in more plays (7,710) than any player in league history. Portland Storm RDE Earl Huggins is second (7,610).
  • Charlotte Hornets RT Harold White has allowed a record 124 sacks in his career, more than 40 more than Baltimore LT Michael Wilt (82).
  • Arizona RG Tyler Herman holds the USFL/WFL record for career penalty yards (402).








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