1980 World Bowl VII Wrapup

Winning back-to-back championships should be difficult, but PrivateSnowflake is making it look easy.

Nathan Branch, LDE, Memphis (92)

Old warhorse Antonio Wilson threw for 475 yards and two TDs and Gregory Shea ran for 94 yards and two more scores as the Memphis Showboats pulled away from the New Orleans VooDoo for a 34-23 victory in World Bowl VII at the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Memphis became the second team in league history to win back-to-back championships, joining the 1976 and 1977 Detroit Wheels. PrivateSnowflake hast also coached the University of Cincinnati Bearcats to consecutive titles (and is seeking a third) in the NCAA 2.0 league.

New Orleans led, 16-14, midway through the second quarter before Memphis scored the next 20 points to go on top, 34-16, before the VooDoo managed a consolation touchdown in the final seconds.  James Lightfoot passed for three touchdowns for New Orleans, which also lost to Detroit in World Bowl III.

Antonio Wilson, QB, Memphis

The 36-year-old Wilson directed the Showboats offense to 585 total yards. Sterling Willis caught 10 passes for 216 yards. LDE Nathan Branch recorded four sacks and SLB Lamar Reynolds led Memphis with seven tackles. New Orleans SS Robert Johannes led all defensive players with 10 tackles.

Wilson has 15 years pro experience and is seriously contemplating retirement (40 percent). The Showboats cut him loose after last season, but picked him up again when Wilson decided to keep lacing up the cleats and no other team offered him a contract. He finished the season with a 109.76 QBR while splitting time with James Perry. Willis averaged 22.6 yards per catch during the regular season.

The Showboats have 16 players who will start next season with 10 or more years of pro experience. Will they ever begin showing their age? That will be the question on the minds of 31 other coaches when the 1981 season begins.