1980 Divisional Round Preview

Maybe THIS is the year for the Tampa Bay Bandits.

Tampa Bay accumulated a 57-7 record from 1976-79, only to fall short in the playoffs each time, including losses in World Bowls IV and V. This year's edition lost five regular-season games, but may finally be getting a few breaks, as evidenced by its 34-33 win over the Georgia Force in the wild-card round. Next up for Tampa Bay is the surprising Washington Federals.

A look at the four divisional round matchups:

Tampa Bay Bandits (11-5) at Washington Federals (11-5): The Bandits edged Georgia on Thomas Hummell's 52-yard field goal with 34 seconds to play. Veteran QB Michael White, cast aside by Pittsburgh and Houston, has nearly doubled his QBR with the Maulers last season (112.50 to 58.30). Washington won six of its last seven to claim its first-ever Atlantic Division title. Three-time All-Pro center James Smith is doubtful for the Bandits. DT Richard Fleming is doubtful for the Federals. Tampa Bay leads the regular-season series, 3-0, including a 51-10 romp in 1978.

Joseph Ring (35), Edgar Jones (10)

Shreveport Steamer (10-6) at New Orleans VooDoo (11-5): New Orleans won the South Division title on the final day of the regular season and earned a first-round bye. They got to watch a great wild-card game on TV as Shreveport outscored New Jersey, 18-0, in the fourth quarter to pull out a 35-34 victory. Second-year QB Edgar Jones found Joseph Ring for the game-winning TD pass with 1:08 to play. The teams split during the regular season, Shreveport winning, 31-14, in Week 6 and New Orleans winning, 33-28, in Week 11. The Steamer leads the regular-season series, 8-6. Shreveport has 14 players listed on the injury report this week, including center Noel Albert, while the entire VooDoo roster should be available.

Portland Storm (12-4) at Detroit Wheels (12-4): Portland outscored Cleveland, 16-0, down the stretch to pull away for a 33-12 win over the Thunderbolts in the wild card round. The Storm defense made life miserable for Cleveland QB Chester Dougherty (15-for-44, 3 INT, 27.65 QBR). They hope to do the same to Detroit's Mario Valencia, who passed for nearly 6,000 yards and 45 TDs during the regular season. The Wheels lead the regular-season series, 3-2 and the teams have split playoff games in 1974 and '79. Billy McKissick, Detroit's 1979 All-Pro center, is questionable, as is three-time All-Pro CB David Peralta. All-Pro nominee RB Michael Leonard is doubtful for Portland.

Oklahoma Outlaws (11-5) at Memphis Showboats (13-3): The Outlaws continue to surprise people under rookie head coach RoyceR, beating Honolulu, 30-20, in the wild card round by outscoring the Hawaiians, 17-3, in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma RBs Patrick Hiebert and Aaron Levenson combined for 242 yards rushing. Memphis earned the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. The Showboats won both regular-season games, 24-19 and 45-31, but Oklahoma leads the series, 9-5. Memphis knocked the Outlaws out of the playoffs last season, 41-20. Oklahoma RDE Joe Braatz, an All-Pro nominee, is questionable. The entire Showboats roster is available.

1980 Wild Card Preview

The 1980 USFL/WFL season is in the books and the playoffs begin Tuesday with a couple surprise entrants.

The Cleveland Thunderbolts and Shreveport Steamer were both eliminated after Week 15, according to MFN's (flawed) AI. But, both will participate in the wild card round. None of the teams participating in the first round have ever won a World Bowl championship.

Cleveland Thunderbolts (10-6) at Portland Storm (12-4): When Denver lost its regular-season finale to Arizona and Cleveland surprised Detroit, the 'Bolts were back in the playoffs. Cleveland rolled to a 32-12 victory over Portland in Week 11 when Gary Spence kicked six field goals and Storm QB William Hill had one of his worst days  of the season (O TDs, 3 INT, 43.62 QBR). The Thunderbolts lead the regular-season series 2-1.

Oklahoma Outlaws (11-5) at Honolulu Hawaiians (12-4): Oklahoma made the playoffs in its first season under head coach RoyceR, a true MFN rookie (and, apparently, a quick learner). The Outlaws had won six in a row before dropping their Week 16 game to the Washington Federals.The Hawaiians won seven of their last eight, the exception being a defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Bandis. Oklahoma is 4-0 all-time against Honolulu, including a 29-27 decision in 1979.

Shreveport Steamer (10-6) at New Jersey Generals (11-5): Shreveport recovered from an iffy start to win five in a row and qualify for the playoffs for the fifth time in seven seasons. New Jersey won five of its last six to claim the East Division title. The teams last played in the 1978 regular season, New Jersey winning, 27-13, to tie the series 1-1. The Generals beat Shreveport, 24-10, in the 1975 playoffs.
 2,188 yards
Georgia Force (11-5) at Tampa Bay Bandits (11-5): The Bandits yawned their way to a fifth consecutive division title, winning four in a row after back-to-back losses to New Orleans and New Jersey. Georgia is back in the playoffs after finishing 4-12 last season, but the Force closed the regular season by losing three of four. The regular-season series is tied, 2-2, including Tampa Bay's 51-45 win in Week 8 this season.

Record Book

Oakland Invaders WR Christopher Curtis set a league single-season record with 3,587 total yards in 1980. Curtis caught 96 passes for 2,188 yards and 20 TDs and also had 932 yards in kickoff returns (35.0 average) and 457 punt return yards (8.6 average).

Week 15 Roundup: Partly Sunny, Partly Cloudy

The 1980 USFL/WFL playoff picture is now crystal clear ... sort of.

Gregory Shea, RB, Memphis

The six postseason teams for the American Conference are set. The defending World Bowl champion Memphis Showboats (13-2) have clinched the No. 1 seed heading into their regular-season finale at San Antonio. The Detroit Wheels (12-3) are a game behind Memphis, but lost to the Showboats in their head-to-head meeting this season.

The Portland Storm (11-4) and Denver Gold (10-5) split during the regular season. If Denver were to defeat Arizona in Week 16 and Portland were to lose to Birmingham, both teams would end up 5-1 in the division. Both teams would be 11-3 against common opponents. But Portland would be 9-3 in the conference vs. Denver's 8-4. So, what we are saying is, Portland has clinched the West Division. But Denver is in as the wild card, their first playoff appearance since 1974.

Oklahoma (11-4) made the playoffs in its first season under rookie head coach RoyceR. The Honolulu Hawaiians (11-4), under old-timer trslick, are in the playoffs for the first time since 1975.

The National Conference still has a couple division races to decide. The South Division title is on the line (despite what the standings read) when the Georgia Force (11-4) and New Orleans VooDoo (10-5) meet to wrap up the regular season. And, theoretically, a VooDoo loss could put the Shreveport Steamer into the playoffs — if MFN's AI is correctly interpreting the NFL tiebreaker system.

The Philadelphia Bell (10-5) and New Jersey Generals (10-5) are tied for the East Division lead entering their games vs. the Michigan Panthers and Baltimore Stars, respectively. The teams split during the regular season, but Philadelphia finished 5-1 in the division to New Jersey's 4-2, thanks to the New York Stars' upset of the Generals in Week 4.

Of course, the Tampa Bay Bandits (10-5) are in the playoffs (yawn). There is a party atmosphere in Washington (political pun unintended), where the Federals (10-5) have clinched their first Atlantic Division title, snapping Pittsburgh's string of six consecutive championships.

Some interesting notes from Week 15:

• Jose Fouche kicked a 28-yard field goal as the clock hit zero in overtime, giving the Detroit Wheels a 34-31 win over the New Jersey Generals. Mario Valencia's 29-yard pass to Bobby Logan set up Fouche's game-winner. That completion was preceded by an unnecessary roughness penalty against the Generals two plays earlier. New Jersey CB Mike Williams intercepted three passes.
• The Tampa Bay Bandits took a 38-14 lead after three quarters and went on to defeat the Honolulu Hawaiians, 44-35, in a battle of division leaders. Bandits WR Michael Popa caught seven passes for 196 yards and four TDs.
• In a potential playoff preview, the Oklahoma Outlaws took a 28-6 halftime lead against Portland and went on the beat the Storm, 38-18. Portland QB William Hill threw 70 passes, but none went for a TD, only the third time this season Hill has not thrown a touchdown pass. His Oklahoma counterpart, Dale Brown, fired four TD passes.
• The Chicago Blitz led Memphis, 31-14, with a minute to play in the third quarter but the Showboats rallied for a 37-31 victory on James Perry's 12-yard TD pass to Gerard Hall with 5:22 to play.
• Arizona WLB Joseph Graham had 9 tackles, a hurry, an interception, and a sack, but the Michigan Panthers won their fourth in a row by beating the Wranglers, 29-17.
• Tony Smith passed for 557 yards and five TDs as the San Antonio Gunslingers rolled past the Oakland Invaders, 42-19. San Antonio has won three of its last five, the exceptions being a 1-point loss to Memphis and an overtime defeat to Houston.

Week 16 Preview

The South Division title is on the line when the New Orleans VooDoo (10-5) hosts the Georgia Force (11-4). The Oklahoma Outlaws (11-4) are at Washington (10-5) in a battle of playoff teams. The Houston Gamblers (7-8) will try to finish at .500 for the first time in franchise history when they host the Chicago Blitz (7-8). The Los Angeles Express (8-7) will try to move to 14-0 all -time against the Southern California Sun (3-12).

Record Book

• Portland QB William Hill has already set the league record for passing yards in a season (7,347) and TD passes in a season (58).
• Washington RDE John Broussard has set a league record with 33 sacks this season. Georgia's Ryan Moore and Tampa Bay's William Lewis previously shared the record of 31. New Jersey's James Lockette and Oklahoma's Albert Cruz have 26 with one game to play.
• Oakland's Christopher Curtis has 2,178 receiving yards this season. He will likely finish among the top 10 all-time. Oklahoma's Dusty Heckman holds the record with 2,548. Curtis also has 20 TDs, which will rank among the top 10 all-time as well. He is only 115 yards shy of the record for total yards in a season, held by former teammate Jason Brooks (3,426).
• Three players have tied a league record by returning kickoffs 110 yards for TDs—Portland's James Orourke, Birmingham's Billy Baldwin, and New York's Allan Howard. Howard Cardenas of Philadelphia set a league record with an 83-yard punt return.
• Houston's Daniel McCormack needs one field goal of 50 yards or longer to tie his league record of 16, set last season. McCormack and Oakland's Lester Reed both have 50 career field goals of 50 yards or longer.
• Denver's Duane Cunningham needs one more rushing TD to tie his league record for a WR of 10 rushing TDs in a season.

1980 Week 14 Roundup: Make That 13-1

The Houston Gamblers made history Tuesday.

The Memphis Showboats were ready to line up for the potential game-winning field goal, but time expired with ball at the Houston 16-yard line and the Houston Gamblers hung on to surprise the Showboats, 19-17, their first victory over Memphis after 13 consecutive losses.

Irvin Balzer, LDE, Houston Gamblers

Memphis had used all of its time outs before getting the ball back on their 36 with 49 seconds to play. QB Antonio Wilson completed a 32-yard pass to Sterling Willis and a 26-yarder to Jerome Wheeler, but time ran out after Wheeler's catch.

The Showboats (12-2) had won 11 in a row since falling to the Cleveland Thunderbolts in Week 2. The Gamblers (6-8) are 5-5 since setherick took over as head coach. Daniel McCormack kicked four field goals for Houston, three from 50 yards away or further. LDE Irvin Balzer recorded four of the Gamblers' eight sacks of Wilson.

That outcome marked the fourth time this season a USFL/WFL team beat one of its division opponents for the first time ever. The Philadelphia Bell had been 0-12 against New Jersey before knocking off the Generals in Week 2. The Washington Federals had been 0-12 against the Pittsburgh Maulers before beating them in Week 5. The Michigan Panthers had been 0-13 against the Detroit Wheels before beating them in Week 9.

The Pittsburgh Maulers are 13-0 all-time against the Charlotte Hornets with one game remaining this season, as are the Los Angeles Express against the Southern California Sun.

In other Week 14 games:

• Denver fell to Detroit, but the Gold (9-5) still hold on to the final American Conference playoff spot by one game over Cleveland (8-6), Arizona (8-6) and Oakland (8-6). Denver finishes with games at Southern California and at Arizona.
• The Shreveport Steamer (8-6) are one game out of the final National Conference playoff spot, trailing New Orleans (9-5) for the final wild card spot. New Orleans wraps up with games at Birmingham and  at home against Georgia. Shreveport hosts Georgia and is at Florida.
• Portland QB William Hill had a typical William Hill day—756 yards and seven TDs—in a wild 62-56 win over the Arizona Wranglers. Arizona led, 48-37, entering the fourth quarter but Hill fired three TD passes and Donald Dosch kicked a 53-yard field goal to give the Storm a 59-48 lead.
• The Washington Federals were on the plus side of a lopsided battle of division leaders, taking a 30-0 lead at halftime over Philadelphia and beating the Bell, 37-13. Joe Richardson threw five TD passes for Washington, which nailed down its first Atlantic Division title. 
• The Cleveland Thunderbolts are on their first three-game losing streak since dropping the first three games of the 1975 season. The San Antonio Gunslingers took a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter and held off the 'Bolts, 43-31. Jim Morrison recovered a fumble, intercepted a pass, and made five tackles for the Gunslingers, who forced four Cleveland turnovers.
• The Oklahoma Outlaws moved closer to the playoffs by scoring the last 10 points of the game to edge the Pittsburgh Maulers, 34-28. Oklahoma MLB Victory Lincoln recorded 10 tackles.
• The Michigan Panthers won their third in a row by knocking Chicago out of the playoff hunt, 22-16, on a Jerry Ruiz TD pass with less than 4 minutes to play. Blitz CB Dennis Canning intercepted three passes.
• Southern California MLB Edward Standley had a nice game with 12 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in a 19-13 loss to the Florida Blazers.

Week 15 Preview

The Philadelphia Bell (10-4) can smell their first East Division title, but need at least one more victory, perhaps this week against the Pittsburgh Maulers (6-8). The Detroit Wheels (11-3) could do Philadelphia a big favor by knocking off the New Jersey Generals (10-4). The Shreveport Steamer (8-6) face a must-win situation at home against the Georgia Force (11-3). The Tampa Bay Bandits (9-5) face the Honolulu Hawaiians (11-3) in a battle of teams that have already clinched division crowns. The Oklahoma Outlaws (10-4) are at Portland (11-3) in a game that could potentially impact playoff seeding.

1980 Week 13 Roundup: 10 Is a Magic Number

The magic number for reaching the playoffs in the USFL/WFL seems to be 10 wins.

Anthony Schaefer, K, Arizona

In the league's first six seasons, only four teams have won 10 games and missed the playoffs. They were:

1975 Oklahoma Outlaws (10-6)
1976 Oklahoma Outlaws (10-6)
1976 Arizona Wranglers (11-5)
1979 Orlando Renegades (10-6)

The 1976 Wranglers were unluckiest of all. They sat out the postseason by a half-game because West Division foes Portland and Oakland both finished 11-4-1. Both were eliminated in the playoffs, eventually won by Detroit.

So, if your team has won 10 games, you can feel good. Or at least pretty good.

A few results from Week 13:

• Anthony Schaefer's 57-yard field goal gave the Arizona Wranglers a wild 57-56 victory over the Los Angeles Express, eliminating LAX from the postseason chase. The Express led, 56-44, in the fourth quarter before Arizona scored the final 13 points. Los Angeles QB Nathaniel Cherry threw for 585 yards and seven TDs. Arizona QB Jerry Montalvo had TD throws of 58, 74, 1, 58, and 79 yards.
• James Ewing's 39-yard field goal as time expired gave the Memphis Showboats a 42-41 win over San Antonio. The Gunslingers had scored the go-ahead TD with 48 seconds to play, but Ronald Hensley's PAT was wide right, and QB Antonio Wilson got Memphis close enough with pass completions of 28 and 21 yards in the final minute.
• Matthew Eno's 40-yard field goal with 5 seconds to play lifted the Chicago Blitz to a 27-24 win over the Southern California Sun, putting the Blitz above .500 (7-6) and keeping them mathematically alive in the playoff hunt.
• Pittsburgh scored twice in the last 2 minutes, but fell to the Tampa Bay Bandits, 37-35, all but eliminating the Maulers from the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
• The Michigan Panthers surprised the Cleveland Thunderbolts, 48-10, behind Jerry Ruiz's six TD passes and a defense that forced five turnovers.
• The Denver Gold snapped their four-game losing streak by rolling past the New Orleans VooDoo, 51-10. 
• The Honolulu Hawaiians clinched the Pacific Division title with a 59-19 win over the Florida Blazers.
• Oklahoma RDE Albert Cruz had 11 hurries, 6 sacks, 7 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery during a 46-10 Outlaws win over the Charlotte Hornets.

1980 Week 12 Roundup: Maulers Still Alive

This may be the worst season in Pittsburgh's history, but the Maulers aren't quite ready to pull the plug on it yet.

John Murray, RB, Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh (6-6), seeking its seventh consecutive Atlantic Division title, pulled within a game of Washington (7-5) by pummeling the Federals, 49-26. Pittsburgh avenged a 26-3 loss in Week 5, the Maulers' first-ever loss to the Feds.

Washington scored first, but it was all Pittsburgh after that. Scott Deal passed for five TDs as the Maulers extended their lead to 49-12 before the hosts scored a pair of consolation TDs late. John Murray rushed for 184 yards, 96 on one TD run, the third-longest in league history behind Boston's Matthew Brinkley (99 vs. Boston, 1974) and teammate Cliff Thomas (97 vs. Washington, 1976).

Three of Pittsburgh's final four games are against playoff contenders and Washington has two games against contenders down the stretch.

In other Week 12 games:

• The Detroit Wheels took a 24-0 lead over Cleveland after one quarter, gave that lead away, then pulled out a 37-34 win when QB Mario Valencia capped an 82-yard drive with a 17-yard TD pass to Paul Lee with 58 seconds to play. The win gave Detroit a one-game lead over the Thunderbolts in the Midwest Division.
• New Jersey pulled within a game of Philadelphia in the East Division when the Generals' James Roberson scored from a yard away with 3:10 remaining to give his team a 25-19 victory over the Bell. New Jersey trailed, 19-7, late in the third quarter.
• The Portland Storm took over sole possession of first place in the West Division when they scored all of their points in the first half of a 30-13 win over the Oakland Invaders while the Denver Gold lost their fourth in a row, 42-20 to the Honolulu Hawaiians. RDE Keith Smith had three sacks for Honolulu.
• Kenneth Boyd caught an 80-yard TD pass from James Lightfoot to highlight the New Orleans VooDoo's 26-11 win over the Tampa Bay Bandits. New Orleans (9-3) has won six in a row to all but cement a playoff spot.
• Memphis QB Antonio Wilson passed for 654 yards and eight TDs, including a 97-yarder to Ernest McNeill, as the Showboats steamrolled the Houston Gamblers, 65-16, to extend their current win streak to 10 games.
• Arizona QB Jerry Montalvo threw for 679 yards and eight TDs as the Wranglers stayed alive in the postseason race with 56-23 pasting of the Birmingham Stallions.
• Boston CB Charles Bowles had 12 tackles and two interceptions, but the Breakers lost, 33-7, to the Michigan Panthers for their 10th consecutive defeat.
• Shreveport QB Edgar Jones, traded to the Steamer by the Baltimore Stars earlier this season, led an epic drive in the final minute that ended in James Hooper's 54-yard field goal as time expired that gave Jones' new team a 37-35 victory over his old team.

Week 13 Preview

Pittsburgh (6-6) will continue its desperation playoff push when the Maulers host the Tampa Bay Bandits (7-5). The Arizona Wranglers (7-5) will try to drive the final nail into the coffin of the Los Angeles Express (6-6). The Portland Storm (9-3) hosts the Georgia Force (10-2) in a battle of division leaders. The Denver Gold (8-4) will try to get back on track with a home game against the New Orleans VooDoo (9-3).

1980 Week 11 Roundup: The Stars Come Out

Joshua Nickols, SLB, New York

New York has the rest of the league seeing Stars again.

New York defenders picked off Michigan QB Jerry Ruiz six times, twice by SLB Joshua Nickols, as the Stars won their fifth in a row by rolling past the Panthers, 46-17, to highlight Week 11.

Eric Roberge threw four TD passes for the Stars (6-5), who are now just a game back in the National Conference playoff race as well as a game back of New Jersey in the East Division standings.

The Generals (7-4) are the only opponent on New York's remaining schedule that currently has a winning record. The others on the Stars' slate are Chicago, Shreveport, Orlando, and Boston.

In other Week 11 games:

• David McBroom's 40-yard TD pass to Mario Spencer with less than 2 minutes to play capped a 73-yard, 100-play drive and gave the Honolulu Hawaiians a thrilling 32-31 win over the Los Angeles Express. LAX got as close as the Honolulu 35 in the final moments, but a holding penalty and a Robert Gutierrez interception sealed the victory. The Hawaiians hold a two-game lead in the Pacific Division with five games to play.
• The Memphis Showboats have the best record in the league (10-1) after taking apart the Pittsburgh Maulers, 33-6. Gregory Shea returned a kickoff 106 yards, the 15th kickoff return TD of his career. The Maulers (5-6) have set a franchise record for losses in a season.
• Washington RDE John Broussard had 6 sacks, 7 hurries, forced a fumble, and knocked down a pass during a 52-0 shutout of the Charlotte Hornets. The Federals (7-4) need one win to set the franchise record for victories in a season.
• The Houston Gamblers (5-6) are aiming for the first .500 finish in franchise history after outlasting the San Antonio Gunslingers, 23-20, in overtime. San Antonio scored with 4 seconds remaining in regulation to force OT, but Daniel McCormack kicked a 55-yard field goal to win it for Houston.
• In Week 10, Charlotte MLB Fernando Stone made 10 tackles and returned an interception 95 yards for a TD, a USFL/WFL record, during a loss to Pittsburgh. Thomas Wagers of Oakland returned a pick 70 yards for a TD against Denver in 1977.
• In Week 10, Michigan QB Jerry Ruiz passed for 720 yards and nine TDs, in a 76-20 destruction of the San Jose SaberCats. The 720 yards ranks No. 2 all-time, as does the nine TDs.

Week 12 Preview

The Philadelphia Bell (9-2) holds a two-game lead over New Jersey (7-4) in the East Division and could take a giant step toward their first division title with a win at home over the Generals. The Cleveland Thunderbolts (8-3) and Detroit Wheels (8-3) will attempt to break their tie atop the Midwest Division. The Portland Storm (8-3) will host the Oakland Invaders (7-4) in a key West Division game. The Washington Federals (7-4) can throw another shovel of dirt on the grave of the Pittsburgh Maulers (5-6). The Memphis Showboats (10-1) will try to go to 14-0 all-time against the Houston Gamblers (5-6). The Los Angeles Express (6-5) can keep their postseason hopes alive with a win over the Oklahoma Outlaws (7-4). The Denver Gold (8-3) hosts the Honolulu Hawaiians (8-3) in a battle of division leaders.

1980 Week 9 Roundup: Motor City Madness

There was a tremor (more like an earthquake actually) that shook the stretch of Michigan between Pontiac and Ypsilanti on Thursday.

Clifford Blackburn, Michigan

That came from the sheer force of the titanic upset that took place when the Michigan Panthers ended nearly seven seasons of misery at the hands of their crosstown rivals, the Detroit Wheels. Jerry Ruiz passed for three TDs and rookie CB Clifford Blackburn made 10 tackles as Michigan stunned Detroit, 38-35.

Michigan came into the game with an 0-13 all-time record against Detroit. The Panthers were 1-7, the Wheels 7-1.

Detroit led through three quarters, but Ruiz directed scoring drives of 80 and 74 yards. He found Roy Weeks for a 46-yard TD with 5:31 to play and Weeks ran 3 yards for the clincher with 1:49 to go.

That outcome marked the third time this season a USFL/WFL team beat one of its division opponents for the first time ever. The Philadelphia Bell had been 0-12 against New Jersey before knocking off the Generals in Week 2. The Washington Federals had been 0-12 against the Pittsburgh Maulers before beating them in Week 5.

The Los Angeles Express is 13-0 all-time against the Southern California Sun and the Memphis Showboats are 12-0 against the Houston Gamblers.

In other Week 9 games:

• The league's last unbeaten team fell by the wayside as the Memphis Showboats outscored the Denver Gold, 47-38. Memphis took a 28-3 lead after one quarter but fell behind, 29-28, at halftime. Memphis never trailed again after Antonio Wilson's 39-yard TD pass to Ernest McNeill early in the third quarter.
• New Orleans VooDoo QB James Lightfoot passed for 605 yards and seven TDs, including four scores on a span of four drives during the second and third quarters a 59-16 rout of the New Jersey Generals. 
• The Birmingham Stallions picked up their second win of the season by rallying past Atlantic Division leader Washington, 27-24. Keith Marsh returned an interception 25 yards for a score and Bernard Warner hit Gregory Frick with a 58-yard TD pass for Birmingham, which trailed, 24-13, in the final minute of the third quarter.
• The Cleveland Thunderbolts took over the No. 6 playoff seed in the American Conference by topping the Oklahoma Outlaws, 26-14. Cleveland's defense forced Oklahoma QB Dale Brown into three interceptions.

Week 10 Preview

The New Jersey Generals (6-3) find themselves trailing surprising Philadelphia in the East Division and now must face the Cleveland Thunderbolts (6-3). The Detroit Wheels (7-2) host the Memphis Showboats (8-1) in a battle of division leaders. The Portland Storm (7-2) could pull into a first-place tie with Denver (8-1) in the West Division with a victory over the Gold this week. A victory for the New Orleans VooDoo (6-3) over the Florida Blazers (2-7) and a victory by the Shreveport Steamer (5-4) over the Georgia Force (7-2) would leave Georgia and New Orleans tied for first place in the South Division with Shreveport only a game behind.

1980 Week 8 Roundup: Are the Blitz Back?

It may just be that the Blitz are back.

Max Howard, RB, Chicago Blitz

The Chicago Blitz were one of the league's powers during the early days of the USFL/WFL. Chicago was 14-2 and 15-1 during the 1974 and '75 seasons, qualifying for World Bowl I. Then the team fell on hard times.

Those hard times may soon be over. Chicago stopped (well, sort of stopped) Cleveland's 2-point conversion attempt with 41 seconds to play and claimed a 20-18 victory over the Thunderbolts. Back-to-back wins over the Detroit Wheels and Cleveland demonstrate Chicago making up ground on the Midwest Division's two heavyweights.

Paul Bullard's 9-yard TD run gave Cleveland a chance to tie, but Bullard dropped the conversion pass attempt from QB Chester Daugherty.

Chicago rookie RB Max Howard rumbled for 139 yards on the ground, giving him 320 yards in the last two games. WLB William Kennedy had eight tackles as the Blitz (4-4) pulled within one game of the second-place 'Bolts (5-3) in the division standings.

In other Week 8 news:

• The quarterbacks that struggled so often when V 0.4.3 was introduced appear to be catching on to the new codes. Six QBs in the USFL/WFL exceeded 500 passing yards during Week 8: Gene Nowlin, Los Angeles (503 yards, 5 TDs), Doug Fluty, New Jersey (514 yards, 5 TDs), Jerry Ruiz, Michigan (516 yards, 4 TDs), James Lightfoot, New Orleans (534, 6 TDs), Luis Gero, Tampa Bay (575 yards, 6 TDs), and William Hill, Portland (587 yards, 6 TDs).
• The Pittsburgh Maulers have suddenly fallen off a cliff. Larry Ackman had two of New Orleans' five interceptions of Scott Deal as the VooDoo thumped the Maulers, 59-20. New Orleans (5-3) is back in the playoff hunt and only a game behind the Georgia Force in the South Division. Pittsburgh (4-4) has never lost more than five games in a season.
• The unbeaten Denver Gold found a way to shut down Oakland's prolific offense, beating the Invaders, 46-19. Oakland was averaging 49 points per game, but committed three turnovers and was 4-for-20 on third-down conversions. LDE George Turner had a pair of sacks for the Gold. FS Philip Shurtz had 10 tackles for Oakland.
• The Memphis Showboats and Washington Federals combined for 22 points in the final 5 minutes of regulation time. The craziness finally ended when James Ewing kicked a 36-yard field goal in overtime to give the Showboats a 37-34 win. Memphis QB James Perry completed passes of 27 and 16 yards to set up Ewing's game-winner.
• Kerry Justin's interception set up Dustin Henry's game-winning field goal with 30 seconds to play as the New Jersey Generals edged the Michigan Panthers, 38-35.
• The Baltimore Stars, previously the league's last winless team, topped the Boston Breakers, 30-22. CB James James had 11 tackles for Baltimore.
• Oklahoma CB Jason Wilkinson intercepted three passes during the Outlaws' 29-18 win over the San Antonio Gunslingers.
• Christopher Meade of the New York Stars kicked seven field goals during a 28-10 win against Charlotte, one shy of the league record.

Week 9 Preview

The nation's eyes will be fixed on the Liberty Bowl this week, when the defending World Bowl champion Memphis Showboats (7-1) host the league's last undefeated team, the Denver Gold (8-0) in a titanic showdown. Two teams climbing the ladder meet when the Philadelphia Bell (6-2) hosts the Chicago Blitz (4-4). Philadelphia needs one more win to tie last season's franchise record of seven in a season. The New Orleans VooDoo (5-3) are at the New Jersey Generals (6-2) in a game that could have postseason implications. A similar game sees the Cleveland Thunderbolts (5-3) hosting the Oklahoma Outlaws (5-3).

Record Book

• Houston Gamblers QB William Watts was sacked 19 times by the Pittsburgh Maulers in Week 4. That broke the single-game record of 17, set by Charlotte's George Melton against Jacksonville in 1978. Watts was released by the Gamblers and signed with New Orleans.
• There have been three punt returns for TDs this season, by New Jersey's Chad Ochocinco, Allan Howard of the New York Stars, and Philadelphia's Howard Cardenas. There was only one punt return for a TD during the league's first six seasons, by Bruno Fredericks of the New York Stars vs. Baltimore in 1974.
• James Hooper of the Shreveport Steamer set a USFL/WFL record with eight field goals in Week 6 vs. New Orleans, a 31-14 Shreveport win. The previous record was seven, by Winston Hampton of LAX vs. Baltimore in 1974.
• Four punters this season have set a league record by placing seven kicks inside the 20 in a single game. They are Orlando's Richard Griffin, Tampa Bay's David Manion, Charlotte's Thomas Desantiago, and Baltimore's Stephen Jones.

History Lesson

It occurs to me that many of our coaches may not be old enough to remember the real USFL and WFL. I thought a little history of each team might be entertaining to some.

The Shreveport Steamer began the 1974 season as the Houston Texans, then moved to Shreveport toward the end of that season. The most famous Steamer alumnus is veteran talk show host Larry King, one of the team's broadcasters in 1974. There were some notable players on the roster, including fullback Jim Nance, wide receiver Don Maynard and ambidextrous quarterback D.C. Nobles. Shreveport was 7-12-1 and 5-7 during the league's two seasons. The average attendance (13,000) was about half what was predicted when the franchise was launched, leading to financial troubles that plagued the Steamer as well as the rest of the league.

1980 Week 7 Roundup: Invaders Unstoppable Again

Somebody better figure out how to stop Oakland's 113 passing game, or we are all in trouble.

Les Lacy, QB, Oakland

Les Lacy threw for a league-record 836 yards as the Invaders stomped the Georgia Force, 72-21. Lacy completed 25 of 43 passes and his eight TDs were two shy of the league record. The former record of 709 passing yards was shared by Georgia's Philip Anderson (against Arizona earlier this season) and former Birmingham great Agustin Crook.

WR Christopher Curtis also set a league record with 490 yards receiving. Five of his 11 receptions went for TDs. The former single-game mark was 418, set by Oklahoma's Dusty Heckman against Boston last season.

The Invaders (5-2), operating almost exclusively out of the 113 personnel set, are averaging 49 points per game through seven games. They led the Force (6-1), 62-21, at halftime. Oakland scored a league-record  94 against Shreveport in its season opener and 61 against the Southern California Sun in Week 4.

In other Week 7 games:

• Rookie RB Max Howard rushed for 181 yards and a TD that accounted for 77 of those yards as the Chicago Blitz ended a nine-game losing streak at the hands of the Detroit Wheels with a 14-13 victory over the previously unbeaten Wheels. The Blitz ran out the final 5:14 with a 12-play drive that ended the game.
• The Memphis Showboats extended their Southwest Division lead over Oklahoma to two games by beating the Outlaws for the second time in three weeks, this time 45-31. The outcome was not decided until Memphis scored the clinching TD with 1:28 to play when Nathan Branch returned Outlaws QB Dale Brown's fumble 2 yards.
• Denver WLB Blaine Hernandez had a great day -- 8 tackles, 2 interceptions, and a sack -- as the Gold overwhelmed the San Jose SaberCats, 59-0.
• Baltimore Stars QB Fred Murphy and New York Stars QB Eric Roberge had a nice duel, passing for 423 and 438 yards during New York's 41-35 victory.
• Houston QB Andrew Reece passed for four TDs as the Houston Gamblers picked up the first win of the Setherick Era, beating the Michigan Panthers, 45-34.
• Robert Bonfiglio's 96-yard kickoff return gave the Charlotte Hornets a 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Bell. The Philadelphia loss allowed the New Jersey Generals to pull into a first-place tie atop the East Division.
• The Jacksonville Bulls won their debut under new head coach hectorg93, beating the Boston Breakers, 30-9, behind 190 yards rushing and two TDs from RB George Webb.
• The Los Angeles Express led, 28-7, after one quarter but had to recover an onside kick with 1:22 remaining to preserve a 35-33 win over the Cleveland Thunderbolts, who lost despite accumulating nearly 600 yards of offense.

Week 8 Preview

The Honolulu Hawaiians (5-2) are at the Detroit Wheels (6-1) in a battle of division leaders. Another battle of division leaders sees the Washington Federals (5-2) travel to Memphis to meet the Showboats (6-1). Yet another battle of division leaders occurs when the Tampa Bay Bandits (4-3) host the Georgia Force (6-1). The Denver Gold (7-0) will put their unbeaten streak on the line against the prolific offense of the Oakland Invaders (5-2). The New Orleans VooDoo (4-3) host the Pittsburgh Maulers (4-3) in a game that could later prove to have important application to the postseason aspirations of both.

1980 Week 6 Roundup: Good as Gold

For four seasons now, the Denver Gold have been building to this.

Dustin Nichols, QB, Denver

Under head coach AlexanDragon, Denver has finished 3-13, 6-10, 7-9, and 9-7. Last year's team missed a playoff spot only by an upset loss to the Chicago Blitz on the final day of the season.

Denver apparently isn't going to put itself into that position again. The unbeaten Gold (6-0) scored twice in the final 5:27 to rally past the Oakland Invaders, 29-21, and take over sole possession of first place in the West Division.

This is the fastest start in franchise history. The 1974 team, the last to make the playoffs, started off 3-4 before going on an eight-game win streak.

Gold DT Clyde Raines sacked Oakland QB Les Lacy at the 5-yard line, then picked up Lacy's fumble and powered into the end zone to give Denver a 23-21 lead. Invaders backup QB Jimmy Barahona fumbled on the next series, and Raines fell on this one as well. Five plays later, Denver QB Dustin Nichols found Michael Sonnenberg for a 32-yard TD with 3:06 to play that accounted for the final score.

Nichols passed for 358 yards and three TDs and Raines had 5 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries.

In other Week 6 games:

• Memphis RB Gregory Shea ran for three TDs in the first 21 minutes and the Showboats were never threatened while putting away Pacific Division leader Honolulu, 41-13.
• Georgia RDE Donald Schultz had 11 hurries, 8 tackles, and 5 sacks as the Force edged the Charlotte Hornets, 19-17, to remain unbeaten. Charlotte DBs Fernando Stone and Brian Queen both intercepted passes in the end zone.
• Houston CB Philip King intercepted three passes, but the Gamblers fell to the Arizona Wranglers, 31-21, in new coach setherick's debut.
• San Antonio QB Tony Smith connected with TE Harold Erdmann nine times for 231 yards and two TDs in a 66-27 win over the Southern California Sun.
• New Jersey WR Damon Rosato caught seven passes for 191 yards and two TDs as the Generals held off the Washington Federals, 34-31.The loss dropped Washington (4-2) back into a tie with the Pittsburgh Maulers atop the Atlantic Division.

Week 7 Preview

The Oklahoma Outlaws (4-2) trail Memphis (5-1) by a game in the Southwest Division standings entering this week's showdown. The Showboats beat the Outlaws, 24-19, two weeks ago. The Los Angeles Express (3-3) REALLY needs a win at home against the Cleveland Thunderbolts (5-1). The Georgia Force (6-0) will have a hard time staying unbeaten when their next game is at Oakland (4-2). Detroit (6-0), also unbeaten, hosts division foe Chicago Blitz (2-4).

Record Book

San Antonio Gunslingers WR Lee Williams has returned three kickoffs for TDs during the team's first six games. Gregory Shea of the Memphis Showboats set the single-season record with six TD returns in 1977.
New Jersey LDE James Lockette has become the league's all-time leader in hurries (363), is second in sacks (92),

History Lesson

It occurs to me that many of our coaches may not be old enough to remember the real USFL and WFL. I thought a little history of each team might be entertaining to some.

The Honolulu Hawaiians were 9-11 and 4-7-1 in their two seasons in the World Football League. Former Dallas Cowboys running back Calvin Hill was their most notable player. The Hawaiians were one of only three WFL teams to make payroll every week. They played most home games on Sundays, while the rest of the league played primarily on Wednesdays. This was to prevent an NFL team from signing a stadium lease in Hawaii.

1980 Week 5 Roundup: A Federals Case

John Broussard, RDE, Federals

Who's the best team in the Atlantic Division? For six seasons, there was no debate. Now, perhaps, it's time to make a Federals case out of it.

The Washington Federals stunned six-time division champion Pittsburgh, 26-3, to highlight Week 5 action in the USFL/WFL. Washington had been 0-12 all-time against the Maulers and Pittsburgh was 34-3 vs. all division foes before this stunner.

The Washington defense was the star of the game, limiting Pittsburgh to 186 total yards.

RDE John Broussard, last season's Rookie of the Year, was credited with six tackles and five sacks, one of which resulted in a safety that closed the scoring. Veteran LDE Roy Stewart had four sacks. Stewart has 10 sacks this season, one fewer than in his five years with Honolulu. The Federals had 11 sacks in all. WLB Craig Edson led Washington with seven tackles. Nine of Pittsburgh's last 12 drives were three-and-out (or less-than-three-and-out).

Federals QB Joe Richardson fired three TD passes. All three went to Matt Ellis, one for 78 yards. Ellis finished the day with six catches for 182 yards.

In other Week 5 games:

• The previously undefeated Portland Storm made short work of previously undefeated Oakland, scoring 45 points in the third quarter of a 58-16 rout of the Invaders. Portland RDE Ernest Huggins had a fine all-around game with 9 hurries, 5 tackles, 2 sacks, and an interception. TE Ivory Villanueva caught eight passes for 148 yards and three TDs. QB William Hill passed for 515 yards and six TDs.
• Chad Ochocinco of the New Jersey Generals returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown during a 38-7 win over the Boston Breakers. That was just the second punt return for a score in league history, matching Bruno Fredericks of the N.Y. Stars against Baltimore in 1974.
• Lucio Grant's 45-yard field goal with 1:51 remaining lifted the unbeaten Denver Gold to a 27-25 win over the Los Angeles Express. 

• The Memphis Showboats took over first place in the Southwest Division with a 24-19 victory over the Oklahoma Outlaws behind three TD catches from TE Ernest McNeill.
• Anthony Schaefer's 47-yard field goal with 11 seconds to play lifted the Arizona Wranglers past the New Orleans VooDoo, 20-17.
• San Antonio CB Jim Jansen made 12 tackles and intercepted three passes, but the unbeaten Detroit Wheels still managed a 40-21 win over the Gunslingers to stay atop the Midwest Division.
• Charlotte QB Stanley Snyder threw four TD passes as the Hornets blitzed the Baltimore Stars, 42-10.
• The Georgia Force (5-0) have already won more games than they did all last season (4-12), beating the Jacksonville Bulls, 33-13, as three Georgia RBs combined for 228 yards rushing.

Week 6 Preview

The surprising Washington Federals (4-1) go on the road to face the New Jersey Generals (3-2). It should be a good game out West when the Portland Storm (4-1) hosts the Los Angeles Express (3-2). The Oakland Invaders (4-1) will try to bounce back from their lopsided loss to Portland when they travel to Denver to meet the Gold (5-0). Division leaders square off when the Honolulu Hawaiians (4-1) host the Memphis Showboats (4-1).

History Lesson

It occurs to me that many of our coaches may not be old enough to remember the real USFL and WFL. I thought a little history of each team might be entertaining to some.

The Southern California Sun was one of the World Football League's founding franchises. In September of the 1974 season, their owner was indicted on federal bank fraud charges. Players did not receive their final paychecks of the season and the front office was not paid for the final month of the season. The team was 13-7 during the regular season and lost to the Hawaiians in the playoffs. The team signed former USC stars Pat Haden and Anthony Davis before the 1975 season. Haden left the team in September to pursue his Rhodes scholarship at Oxford. Former Oakland Raiders QB Daryle Lamonica retired in September. Davis was in line to become league MVP when the WFL folded in October.