World Bowl XVII looks a lot like World Bowl XIV as the Memphis Showboats and Washington Federals will meet at an undisclosed location to determine the 1990 USFL/WFL Champion. Washington is trying for their first championship in it's second try while Memphis is going for it's 5th title under a 3rd different owner. Memphis won World Bowls VI and VII under PrivateSnowFlake and they won World Bowls XIII and XIV under Infinity on Trial. Previous USFL Commissioner tribewriter took over the Memphis team earlier this season and the Showboats keep on winning. Washington won 3 straight road playoff games to earn their spot in World Bowl XVII, and are currently riding an 11 game winning streak.
Showboats 31 Storm 13
Memphis forced a Portland punt on the opening possession, but Glenn Jacobsen pinned the Showboats at their own 6 yard line. Memphis then drove 94 yards in 10 plays, taking a 7-0 lead on a Mark Lambert 4 yard TD run. The Storm answered with a 10 play, 82 yard TD drive capped off by a Jeffrey Frost 3 yard TD jaunt. The first quarter would end 7-7 and Memphis was forced to punt early in the 2nd. That Richard Huber punt pinned Portland at their own 4 and Jeffrey Frost promptly fumbled the ball away, setting up another short Mark Lambert TD run. The half would end 14-7 Memphis.
Both defenses started the 3rd quarter on fire, as Memphis went three and out, then Shawn Hicks sacked Oscar Willis, stripping the ball in the process. Lee Tharpe fell on the loose ball and the Showboats were in business. The Storm defense bailed out Oscar Willis by intercepting David Allen in the red zone and Willis responded by leading Portland on a 12 play, 87 yard TD drive. Willis found Timothy Roquemore for the 12 yard TD pass but Daniel McCormack missed the XP, so Memphis still led 14-13.
The Storm defense had some chances to get the ball back in good field position for the offense, but mental errors allowed Memphis to keep driving. Christopher Schneider intercepted David Allen in Showboats territory, but he was flagged for pass interference. A few plays later, with Memphis facing a 3rd and 13, Schneider was again flagged for PI. This drive did end in a Memphis punt, but the Storm got the ball on their own 8 yard line thanks to Schneider. That started a string of three straight three and outs before David Allen found Arthur Devore with a 57 yard TD pass to extend the Memphis lead to 21-13.
Portland then had another 3 and out before another Allen to Devore long TD pass. This one went 53 yards and Memphis now led 28-13 with 8:27 left in the game. Portland would turn it over on downs, effectively sealing the game for Memphis.
Oscar Willis completed 30/48 for 175 yards and a TD to Timothy Roquemore, who had 97 combined yards (49 rushing, 48 receiving). David Allen completed 25/36 for 240 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. Mark Lambert ran for 94 yards and 2 TDs and Arthur Devore caught 5 for 131 yards and 2 TDs.
Federals 29 VooDoo 20
No team in the league is as hot as the Washington Federals are and New Orleans found that out quickly today. VooDoo QB Bruno Wilson threw an interception on the opening drive and the Federals capitalized with a 20 yard TD pass from Scott Bieber to Joseph Andrews. VooDoo then go three and out before Bieber found Matthew Cuevas for a 57 yard TD pass to extend the lead to 14-0. John Bazile would add a FG later in the 1st and after 15 minutes of play, Washington led 17-0.
New Orleans finally started to move the ball on their 6th drive, as Bruno Wilson led the VooDoo on an 11 play, 66 yard TD drive. Nicholas Dorey ran it in from 1 yard out for the TD and followed it up with a 2 point run to cut the Federals lead to 17-8. Bazile would score the last 6 points of the half with 2 field goals, giving Washington a 23-8 halftime lead.
Washington got the ball to start the second half, and another Bazile FG extended the lead to 26-8. The VooDoo decided to go into comeback mode early, turning it over on downs at the edge of FG range. Washington missed a long FG attempt but they did take over 5 and a half minutes off the clock. New Orleans then drove into the red zone before Wilson tossed his second INT of the game, thwarting a potential scoring drive.
Wilson bounced back by throwing a 14 yard TD pass to Nicholas Dorey, but the 2 point pass was incomplete, making the score 26-14. Despite more than 14 minutes to play, New Orleans tried an onside kick and failed. That led to a short John Bazile FG and a 29-14 Washington lead. New Orleans would respond with a Wilson 4 yard TD pass to Magic Johnson, cutting the score to 29-20. Just like the earlier 4th qtr TD, the VooDoo 2 point try and onside kick try failed. The VooDoo defense held, getting the ball back and Wilson had them on the brink of making it a one score game, but a 4th and goal pass from the 8 yard line was knocked down by Robert Sanderson. Washington then ran the rest of the time off the clock to advance to World Bowl XVII.
Bruno Wilson was 34/65, 365 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. Nicholas Dorey had 1 TD rushing and 1 receiving, catching 5 for 99 yards. Scott Bieber was 31/48, 368 yards and 2 TD passes. James Dunn ran for 88 yards on 17 carries, adding 146 yards receiving on 13 receptions.
