We started the week with 5 undefeated teams, and our game of the week was (5-0) Memphis @ (5-0) Houston. The Showboats and Gamblers have been battling each other for years, as it seems the division winner always gets a BYE, while the second place team often has a better record than most division winners. New Memphis GM tribewriter is trying to become the third different GM to lead the Showboats to a World Bowl title, and the second GM to win titles with multiple teams. The first GM to do that was Setherick, who won World Bowl IX with Houston and World Bowl XVI with his current team, Portland. Seth has the Storm at 6-0 this season, along with their World Bowl XVI opponent Baltimore, the aforementioned Showboats, and the New Orleans VooDoo.
Showboats 24 Gamblers 16
One thing different about Memphis under tribewriter's leadership is they no longer go for 2 points in the first half. Houston got the scoring underway with 2 early FGs for a 6-0 lead before David Allen and Arthur Devore hooked up for the first time with a 75 yard TD pass. That score gave Memphis a brief 7-6 lead before Tony Dean fired a TD pass to Anthony Fulks in the final minute of the first half for a halftime score of 13-7 Gamblers.
Memphis would add a FG for the only scoring of the 3rd qtr and a 6 yard TD run from Ricardo Thomas early in the 4th to take a 17-13 lead. Houston would cut that lead to 17-16, but Allen to Devore struck for the second time to give Memphis an 8 point lead with 7 minutes to play. Houston would only get one more possession, which ended with a turnover on downs just inside Showboats territory. Tony Dean passed for 314 yards but was only able to generate 1 TD for Houston. Memphis QB David Allen threw for exactly 300 yards along with the 2 TD tosses to Arthur Devore. Devore caught 5 passes in all for 146 yards while teammate Mark Glenn rushed for 122 and had 63 receiving yards.
Storm 34 Breakers 6
Our Champions are also 6-0, and it's getting time to dig through the archives and look for our longest winning streak. The Storm have won 18 in a row (not counting pre season) since their last defeat in Week 7 last season. Boston's defense kept them in the game during the first half, as the Storm only led 13-6 at the break. The lack of offensive success for the Breakers (69 total yards) tired their defense out as there was just little time to rest, allowing Portland to break the game open in the second half. Portland was led by Timothy Roquemore, who ran for 130 and a TD, and Oscar Willis, who tossed 2 TD passes.
Stars 44 Federals 20
The Baltimore/Washington rivalry isn't quite at the level of Memphis/Houston, but it's close. Both teams have ruled the Atlantic division, and have represented the National Conference in the last 3 World Bowls. The box score was dominated by the Stars, who doubled the Federals yardage for the game and crushed it on 3rd downs on both sides of the ball. Baltimore converted 10 of 19 3rd downs, while holding Washington to 2 for 12. Baltimore QB Jon Snow threw for 382 yards and 5 TDs, 2 of those to Jeffrey Zimmer. Zimmer and Timothy Harmon each caught 8 balls, Zimmer's went for 138 yards while Harmon had 100. Washington got 2 TD catches and 118 yards from Ronald Matthews.
VooDoo 38 Thunderbolts 13
If I told you before the game that one of these QBs would toss 4 interceptions, most of you would guess it would be New Orleans QB Bruno Wilson. Wilson entered the game with 15 INT through 5 games while Cleveland QB Michael McGowan had tossed 8. Don't feel bad though, I would have been wrong too, as the VooDoo defense intercepted 4 McGowan passes.
Whatever Smirt gave up to acquire Nicholas Dorey, he is getting his money's worth. Dorey ran 8 times for just 11 yards, but most of his carries came in short yardage situations. Dorey ran for 3 short TDs and 3 two point conversions, adding a TD reception (7 catches 132 yards), for an incredible 7 trips to the end zone today. Dorey now has 16 total TDs, and probably 10 conversions, though that's just a guess.
Wheels 26 Gold 23
Detroit got 3 TD passes from Gabriel Flanagan as the Wheels upset Denver today. Frederick Barron caught 2 of those TD passes, including the game winning TD with 1:11 left.
Steamer 13 Bell 9
Shreveport WR Cedric Reynolds caught 5 passes for 159 yards as the Steamer score 10 unanswered points during the last half of the 4th qtr, turning a 9-3 deficit into a 13-9 victory.
Maulers 13 Express 6
Los Angeles had 379 yards of offense to only 257 for Pittsburgh but 2 lost fumbles and 2 INTs helped keep the Express out of the end zone and the win column today.
SaberCats 12 Gunslingers 9
San Jose and San Antonio staged a FG kicking contest today, as both offenses were allergic to the goal line. The SaberCats converted the first FG, and the teams alternated FGs until San Jose made the final one inside the 2 minute warning to give them the win 4-3...I mean 12-9. Despite the lack of offense, San Jose WR Glenn Kahl caught 3 passes for 124 yards.
Invaders 15 Panthers 14
Oakland scored first with an Andrew Moreno TD pass to Patrick Miller (7-124-1), but the XP was no good. The Invaders would add 2 FGs, one in the 2nd qtr and one in the 3rd to take a 12-0 lead into the final quarter. Michigan lost 3 fumbles for the game, but the Panthers offense came alive in the 4th qtr. QB Adam Scales tossed 2 TD passes, and after converting 1 of 2 two point tries, Michigan had a 14-12 lead with 7:47 to go. Oakland then went on a 14 play, 62 yard drive which ended with a FG and a 15-14 Invaders lead. That final drive took over 7 minutes off the clock, leaving Michigan with not enough time to get in FG range.
Blitz 19 Force 3
Chicago RB Jay Kinder ran for 128 yards and a TD while K Leon Rupe nailed 4 FGs to lead the Blitz to victory. Chicago forced the Force into 4 turnovers.
Blazers 27 Hornets 10
Florida forced Charlotte QB Robert Ament into 3 INTs and their QB, Sidney Maggard tossed 2 TD passes to lead the Blazers to victory.
Hawaiians 23 Sun 13
Honolulu lost their first game of the season last week, but they bounced back today behind 3 TD passes from Derek Henry. Two of those went to Brian Vizcarra, and the other went to Scott Stillings. Stillings caught 7 in all for 77 yards while adding 83 yards on the ground.
Wranglers 30 Outlaws 14
It wasn't pretty on either side, but it was simply minor blemishes for Arizona (2 turnovers) while Oklahoma hit nearly every branch on the ugly tree. Arizona had exactly triple the yardage of Oklahoma (435-145), held them to nearly 33% completion rate (9/26) and allowed 1 conversion on 12 3rd down tries. Arizona even doubled Oklahoma's time of possession. RB Dale Davis ran 34 times for 138 yards and WR William Johnston caught 3 for 111 and a TD.
Generals 54 Stallions 0
No lopsided victory can ever erase the painful memory of the 79-19 playoff loss New Jersey suffered on this very field in 1985, but it does help the cause in 1990. The Generals defense intercepted 4 passes, recovered a fumble, allowed just 7 completions in 39 attempts, 0-14 on 3rd down and a total of 40 offensive yards. That enabled the Generals to hog the ball for almost 46 minutes of game action. QB Ric Flair finished the game 35/45, 349 yards, 4 TD and 0 INT.
Bandits 41 (NY) Stars 16
New York had 374 offensive yards but just 16 points to show for it. Tampa Bay QB Melvin Driggers threw for 357 yards and 3 TDs, all to Thomas Whitley. Whitley was unstoppable today with 7 catches for 270 yards. Tampa Bay held a 21-3 halftime lead and a 34-6 lead after 3 qtrs.
Renegades 31 Bulls 17
Orlando QB Bradley Austin threw 2 TD passes and RB Ben Dehaven ran for 117 yards to lead the Renegades offense. Jacksonville QB Joseph Serio also tossed 2 TDs, but turnovers doomed the Bulls today. Serio also threw 3 INTs and the Bulls lost a fumble and the game, despite out gaining Orlando.
