Monday, October 22, 2018

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.
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