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.
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| Irvin Balzer, LDE, Houston Gamblers |
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.
