Gamblers 14 Panthers 11
This was the 4th playoff game between these two teams, the last one was the 1988 American Conference Championship. Defense was the name of the game today, as there were 7 combined turnovers and just 2 TDs. Houston got the ball first and lost a fumble. Michigan was intercepted on their first drive before things settled down a bit. Tony Dean led Houston on a 13 play, 64 yard drive that ended on a 3 yard TD pass to Jett Black for a 7-0 Gamblers lead. The first quarter would end with that 7-0 score after Houston lost another fumble near the end. Michigan would throw another INT a few plays later, early in the 2nd and it was like deja vu from the first 2 drives.
Michigan finally got on the scoreboard with a 37 yard FG mid 2nd qtr and added another just before halftime to make the score 7-6 Houston at the break. In the second half, Panthers P Julius Horowitz did a great job of pinning the Gamblers in their own end of the field, leaving one at the 4 and two others at the 1 yard line. The second one led to a safety as Paul Declue sacked Dean in the end zone to give Michigan an 8-7 lead. The Panthers got the free kick and drove for a FG to extend their lead to 11-7 with just under 10 minutes to play.
Following an exchange of punts, Houston found themselves at their own 14 with 4:20 on the clock and needing a TD to take the lead. Nine plays later, Dean found Francisco Russell for a 1 yard TD pass to take the lead 14-11. Michigan had over a minute to work with but turned it over on downs after crossing midfield and Houston ran out the clock.
Nicholas Dorey had 178 combined yards for Michigan while Houston had a balanced attack.
Gold 24 Hawaiians 19
Denver never trailed in this game but they also never had a lead bigger than 9 points, so it was a close game throughout. Denver got the ball first and struck Gold quickly. Andrew Brewer found Richard Funkhouser on the 5th play from scrimmage with a 15 yard TD pass for the early 7-0 lead. Honolulu marched down the field on their first drive as well, capping it with a 2 yard TD pass from Derek Henry to Delmar Moeller to seemingly tie the game. Howard Bury missed the point after, leaving the score 7-6 Gold. Denver would also score a TD on their second possession, with Andrew Brewer hitting Matthew Kleusner in stride for a 14-6 Gold lead.
The first quarter would end with that 14-6 score and by halftime, the Hawaiians cut it to 14-12, thanks to two FGs by Howard Bury. The 3rd quarter was scoreless until 3:18 left when Jake Peralta made his presence felt. Andrew Brewer again hit the receiver in stride for a 43 yard TD to make the score 21-12 Denver. The Gold would later kick a FG to make it 24-12 before Honolulu made it interesting at the end. Derek Henry found Allen Grant behind the Gold defense and the 64 yard TD cut the lead to 24-19. There were just 29 seconds left however, and the failed onside kick sealed the win for Denver.
Federals 30 VooDoo 19
Washington got the scoring underway in the 1st quarter on the first of 3 Scott Bieber TD passes. Matthew Cuevas caught this 18 yard pass for the 7-0 Federals lead. Washington would add 2 John Bazile FGs for a halftime lead of 13-0 as the New Orleans offense sputtered to the tune of 4 punts and 2 turnovers.
The VooDoo held Washington scoreless in the 3rd qtr while booting 2 FGs to cut the lead to 13-6 heading into the final 15 minutes. The Federals would extend the lead to 20-6 on a Bieber 6 yard pass to Joseph Andrews. Following a three and out for the New Orleans offense, Bieber and Cuevas struck again. This 12 yard TD pass extended the lead to 27-6. New Orleans QB Bruno Wilson tried to bring the VooDoo back, and his 4 yard TD pass to Joe Daniels cut the lead to 27-13 with just over 8 minutes to play. New Orleans opted to try an onside kick, which failed . Washington would punt, then intercept a Bruno Wilson pass to set up a FG and a 30-13 lead with less than 4 minutes left. New Orleans would score again on a 6 yard Wilson pass to James Sheckler with just over a minute to play. The 2 point try and onside kick both failed, and that was essentially game over.
(NY) Stars 35 Generals 10
For the longest time, New Jersey had a stranglehold on both the East division and the National Conference, as they've been to a record 6 World Bowls, but those days are over. The New York Stars won the East in 1988 and 1989, and to add insult to injury, they eliminate New Jersey easily today, beating the Generals all 3 times this season.
New Jersey got the ball first, and that drive ended with a Ric Flair INT. Willie Bust took the ball and found Joseph Clark for the game's first score. Next NY drive, TD. Stars third drive, another TD. Stars fourth drive, you guessed it.
The Generals switched up their defensive plays in the hopes of stopping the Stars offense, but it clearly did not work. RB Cam Dalton ran for 177 and 2 TDs, and caught 6 for 67 more. Ernest Lynch added 70 rushing yards and 2 TDs as New York rushed for 256 as a team as they steamrolled the Generals.
