The Memphis Showboats 24 game win streak came to an end this week, thanks to a late defensive/special teams collapse and all the West Division does is win. We're six weeks in and only one division has a leader with more than a 1 game lead. The Midwest Division is much improved over 1986 but no division is playing as well as the 4 teams in the West. The Arizona Wranglers won the division last year but are in last this year despite a 3-3 record. Denver, Portland, and Oakland all sit at 5-1, setting up a wild west shootout for the division these last ten weeks. Houston and Cleveland are both 4-2 but are currently on the outside looking in, but ready to pounce should one of the West teams falter.
In the Pacific Division, Honolulu has lost 2 in a row to fall back to the pack while Los Angeles is 2-0 under the ownership of Zennarius. The Hawaiians currently have a 1 game lead over LA and the 2-4 Southern California Sun. In the Southwest, Houston has won 2 in a row and now find themselves just 1 game back of 5-1 Memphis. Michigan the Giant Slayer leads the Midwest at 5-1, one game ahead of 4-2 Cleveland. Chicago lurks behind them at 3-3. Of the teams I didn't mention, 0-6 San Jose is the closest to the division lead, 3 games behind Honolulu. Oklahoma is also 3 games behind, but overtaking Houston and Memphis is a tough ask, but not as tough as the 4 games San Antonio is behind. Detroit is 4 games behind Michigan in the Midwest.
In the National Conference, Jacksonville has a 2 game lead over Tampa Bay despite being shutout by Cleveland. This was the Bulls first loss of the year, and coupled with the Memphis loss, there are no unbeaten teams left. Florida (2-4) and Orlando (1-5) are struggling to keep pace.
The South Division also looks to be a tight race all the way to the end. Birmingham's win over New Orleans knotted them at the top with 4-2 records. Shreveport is right behind at 3-3 and Georgia is a tough luck 1-5.
The Atlantic Division looks familiar, with Baltimore and Washington tied at the top with 5-1 records. Pittsburgh (2-4) and Charlotte (1-5) have hit the skids lately.
The East also looks familiar with New Jersey (5-1) at the top, but the (NY) Stars have won 4 in a row after an 0-2 start to put some heat on the Generals. Philadelphia is playing great run defense but they have trouble scoring points while the Boston Breakers are struggling in all facets.
Panthers 28 Showboats 23
Michigan took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in 6 plays for the early 7-0 lead, thanks to this 45 yard Jerry Ruiz to James Hills TD pass. Memphis came right back to answer with this 52 yard TD pass from David Allen to Roger Starnes. The Showboats always go for 2 points in the first half and this attempt was intercepted, leaving the score 7-6 Michigan. The Panthers were then forced to punt, and you can't pin someone deep any better than Julius Horowitz did, pinning the Showboats inside their 1 yard line. One play later, Mark Lambert was stuffed in the end zone for a safety and a 9-6 Panthers lead. Memphis would score the next 2 touchdowns, making 1 of 2 two point conversions to take a 20-9 lead before Michigan closed the first half scoring with a late FG to make it 20-12.
The second half was mostly uneventful until 3:20 left in the game when Memphis kicked a FG for a seemingly safe 23-12 lead. Michigan went on an impressive 11 play 75 yard drive, culminating in an Adam Scales TD pass to Cristobal Robinson. Scales then found Charles Ahumada for the 2 point conversion to make the score 23-20 Memphis. There was only 1:33 left in the game so Michigan had to attempt an onside kick, which was successful. Michigan faced a 3rd and 10 when Scales found WR Peter Lewis for 49 yards and a first and goal at the 3. One play later, Scales found TE William Woodbury in the end zone for the go ahead TD. Charles Ahumada caught another 2 point conversion pass to make the score 28-23 Michigan. Memphis had 0:57 left to try for a TD but the offense stalled and the winning streak ends at 24.
Hats off to Memphis for the second longest winning streak in league history.
Thunderbolts 17 Bulls 0
Jacksonville lost 3 fumbles and Cleveland punter Thomas Brott left 8 of his 11 punts inside the 20 as the Thunderbolts shutout the previously unbeaten Bulls.
Gamblers 51 Hawaiians 14
For this game at least there was no slow start for Houston. The Gamblers scored 21 in the first quarter en route to a 34-7 halftime lead. Houston intercepted 6 passes while 2 time MVP Tony Dean tossed 6 TD's. The Gamblers had a pair of 100 yard rushers, Wesley Hull (16-145) and Chase Miles (19-117). WR Gabriel Ahrens had 2 TD receptions among his 5 for 135.
Express 13 SaberCats 10 (OT)
Los Angeles racked up 370 yards of offense to just 152 for San Jose but 5 Express turnovers (3 INT, 2 lost fumbles) kept the SaberCats in the game. San Jose got the ball first in OT and promptly turned it over. Los Angeles didn't do much after the Joseph Taylor INT of QB Michael Temples, but they took over already in FG range and the (Mario) Price was right. Price nailed the 41 yard FG for the win.
Steamer 9 Sun 6
Shreveport won the FG kicking contest 3-2 over Southern California.
Bandits 31 Bell 3
This was a tale of QB's having opposite days. Tampa Bay QB Melvin Driggers tossed 4 TD's and 0 INT's while Philadelphia QB Robert Hernandez threw 0 TD's and 5 INT's. Tampa Bay WR Thomas Whitley had a nice stat line, 3 catches for 123 yards and 2 TD's.
Gold 23 Wheels 3
This game was closer than the score indicates as midway through the 4th quarter, the score was 9-3 Denver. Detroit forced a lot of incompletions in this game, as the Gold connected on just 16 of 37 pass attempts but as usual Detroit struggled mightily on offense. Denver scored 2 late TD's to make the score look bad, but the victory keeps them in the 3 way quagmire atop the West.
Invaders 12 Gunslingers 3
Oakland won the FG kicking contest with San Antonio 4-1. Both kickers missed a FG try as well.
Storm 20 Outlaws 15
Oklahoma fought hard in this game, winning the turnover battle (2-0), time of possession (36:46 to 23:13), and red zone trips (4-2). With 3:35 left in the game, Outlaws QB Shane Falco tossed a 10 yard TD to David Lopez to give them a late 15-14 lead. That was Oklahoma's lone TD in those 4 red zone trips however, while Portland crossed the goal line on both of theirs. Portland got a 2 yard TD run from James Pritchard with 0:50 left for the game winning score.
Wranglers 24 Blitz 13
Total yardage was close, though the Blitz struggled in the run game. Chicago chucked up 60 pass attempts, completing 43 in sort of a ball control pass attack as they had 37:37 time of possession. Chicago only mustered 10 points in 4 red zone trips. Arizona used the big play, including 47 and 49 yard Joseph Jones to Eric Duncan TD passes to propel them to victory, making both teams 3-3.
(NY) Stars 10 Force 6
All of the scoring came in the second quarter of this defensive struggle. Both teams committed 2 turnovers and failed to crack 280 total yards of offense. Georgia continues to be stingy on defense and will be a tough team to beat if they can figure out a way to score 20 points a game. The Stars of New York are on a 4 game winning streak leaving them just 1 game behind New Jersey. It's been some time since the Generals have had a threat in the East, how will they respond?
Generals 37 Breakers 3
We'll get a chance to see how they respond, as the Generals travel to New York next week. New Jersey wasn't looking ahead though, as they took care of business against Boston. Ric Flair threw 3 TD passes and Rudi Johnson had a double-triple (16-102 rushing, 7-104-1 receiving). The Generals even looked competent in the red zone for a change, scoring 3 TD's in 6 trips. Still not great, but considering the 0-11 with 7 FG's coming in, I'll take it.
Stallions 28 VooDoo 11
Birmingham's offense played a very good game with an 11 play 84 yard TD drive, 10 play 80 yard TD drive, 10 play 70 yard FG drive and a 6 play 75 yard TD drive. New Orleans topped 300 yards of offense and both teams killed it on 3rd down, VooDoo were 8-14 and the Stallions 7-11. The biggest difference was the running game. Both teams rushed 24 times but Birmingham more than doubled the VooDoo in ypc, getting 153 yards to 70. They are currently tied atop the South at 4-2 and you can bet Smirt has November 15, 1987 circled on his schedule for the rematch in the Superdome.
Federals 27 Maulers 6
Washington had 418 total yards to 237 for Pittsburgh and both teams combined for 7 turnovers. The Federals had significant advantages in yards per carry and per pass attempt/completion. Washington also kept Pittsburgh out of the red zone all game.
Stars 37 Hornets 9
It was an Atlantic Division round robin in Week 6 and just like Washington, Baltimore flexed their muscles. Both teams struggled on 3rd down conversions, but that's the only area Baltimore struggled. The Stars more than doubled the yardage of Charlotte 422-200 and scored 3 TD's in 4 red zone trips. The score was 21-6 after 3 quarters before Baltimore won the 4th, 16-3.
Blazers 41 Renegades 12
Florida took out their frustrations on Orlando today, jumping out to a 14-0 lead after 1 and 24-3 at halftime. Blazer WR Arthur Strickland caught 9 passes for 160 yards and 2 TD's. QB Sidney Maggard bounced back from last weeks 3 INT fiasco with 4 TD passes and 343 yards.
