Thursday, August 16, 2018

1979 Week 15 Roundup: SeeingThe Finish Line

The playoff races in both conferences have come down to three teams fighting for two spots.

Dustin Nichols, QB, Denver Gold
In the American Conference, Portland and Denver remain tied for the West Division lead at 9-6. The teams split during the regular season, but the Storm holds a better division record (4-2) than the Gold (3-3).

William Hill passed for 530 yards and two TDs as Portland rallied from a 19-16 halftime deficit to edge the Houston Gamblers, 33-25. Hill has thrown for 6,566 yards this season, breaking the former record of 6,548 set by Birmingham's Agustin Crook in 1977 (when Crook was on the verge of retirement).

Dustin Nichols passed for 457 yards and six TDs in a 70-17 victory over the Charlotte Hornets that set a franchise record for points in a game. Denver has won four in a row for the second time this season and is aiming for its first playoff action since 1974, the league's first season.

The third American Conference potential entrant is the Memphis Showboats (9-6), who host Portland to conclude the regular season with the winner of that game clinching a postseason berth. Denver finishes with a game against the Blitz in Chicago. The Showboats beat the Gold in Week 1.

The National Conference is experiencing a similar scenario.

The New Orleans VooDoo (9-6) and Shreveport Steamer (9-6) are tied for the South Division lead. New Orleans won both head-to-head meetings this season and hosts the Georgia Force (4-11) in Week 16. Shreveport will also be favored in its season finale at Birmingham (4-11).

So will the Orlando Renegades (9-6), who wrap up against the Jacksonville Bulls (2-13). Orlando lost to Shreveport before beginning its current four-game win streak.

In other Week 15 games:

  • Philadelphia CB Jason Hubbard picked off three passes, including one with 1:34 remaining, as the Bell surprised the Shreveport Steamer, 27-26. Philadelphia (7-8) has set a franchise record for victories this season.
  • Boston WR William Delatorre caught 11 passes for 267 yards and three TDs as the Breakers claimed their first victory of the season by beating the Jacksonville Bulls, 24-20. 
  • The Detroit Wheels improved to 12-0 all-time against the crosstown rival Michigan Panthers with a 52-10 stomping at the Pontiac Silverdome. Henry Prieto passed for 513 yards and seven TDs for the Wheels. John Risinger caught eight passes for 281 yards and four TDs.
  • The New Jersey Generals have won nine in a row after shutting down the Florida Blazers, 23-3. Chad Ochocinco and Johnny Fever combined for 14 pass receptions for New Jersey.
  • The Baltimore Stars are 6-2 in their last eight games after knocking off New Orleans, 16-7. Baltimore SS Robert Johannes had seven tackles and an interception and LDE Dan Holbert recorded three sacks.
  • The Oklahoma Outlaws knocked San Antonio out of the playoff chase by beating the Gunslingers, 30-16. San Antonio QB Tony Smith was 17-for-45 passing with four interceptions.
  • The Tampa Bay Bandits scored the final 9 points of the game to pull away from the Pittsburgh Maulers, 30-19, in a potential playoff preview. CB Brian Newberry had eight tackles and an interception for the Bandits.

Record Book


  • San Antonio's Marshall Gibson needs five receptions this week to tie the single-season record of 135, held by Orlando's Robert Zapata. Boston's William Delatorre can also tie the record with eight receptions this week and Honolulu's Michael Hunter is only nine away.
  • Oklahoma's Patrick Hiebert needs two rushing TDs to tie the single-season record of 15, shared by Pittsburgh's John Murray and Chicago's Bruce Fine.
  • San Antonio's Leon Crissman needs two interceptions to tie the record of 13 set last season by Pittsburgh's Bradley Martinez.
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