It's too early in the season to get worked up over stats and point differentials, but after the Storm's 46-7 win over Oklahoma, they have a +101 point differential during their 3-0 start. They are clearly the best team through 3 weeks but the schedule gets tougher and there are 5 other teams with 3-0 starts plus a handful of very good 2-1 teams so we aren't crowning anyone just yet.
We had 2 games this week featuring a pair of 2-0 teams squaring off, so we'll take a look at those games first.
Gold 34 Gamblers 28
This game started back and forth before Denver seized control late 2nd/early 3rd to take a 31-10 lead before having to hang on as the Gamblers made a late run. Houston out gained Denver 499-371 and neither team turned the ball over, but the Gamblers lost due to red zone efficiency. The Gold scored touchdowns on all 3 red zone trips while the Gamblers had just 1 TD and 2 FGs from their 4 trips.
This loss wasn't Tony Dean's fault as he threw for 411 yards on 29/48 passing with 2 TDs, one to Jett Black who caught 6 for 117 yards total. Denver QB Andrew Brewer only threw for 236 yards but he had 3 TD tosses and got the win. The Gold were led by the resurgent James Peralta, who had a combined 223 yards today. Peralta was a beast in 1989, threatening seasonal records for receiving yards and TDs before having an average 1990. He's back this year, running and receiving as he ran for 69 yards with 154 receiving today.
Stars 16 VooDoo 14
New Orleans opted to play the analytics game in the first half by going for it on 4th down instead of punting, converting 5/12 4th down tries. Analytics has taken over baseball and recently has been creeping into the NFL and I've often heard that analytics say you should go for 4th down way more often than the conservative NFL coaches opt for. You can say a lot of things about Smirt, but conservative is not one of those.
The gamble did not pay off today however, as Baltimore took advantage of two short fields for 10 points, helping them to a 13-0 halftime lead. The VooDoo defense did their part today, as Baltimore QB Jon Snow came in with over 800 yards and 9 TDs through 2 games and was held to a season low 162. VooDoo QB Bruno Wilson nearly led New Orleans back with 2 second half TD passes, but the rally fell short. Wilson completed 37/59 for 338 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT and he completed passes to 10 different receivers. Nicholas Dorey was the closest any player got to 100 combined yards with 25 rushing yards and 7 catches for 71 yards and a TD.
Storm 46 Outlaws 7
Portland obliterated the Oklahoma running game, allowing negative 20 yards on 21 carries. The Outlaws had an efficient passing game and did not turn the ball over, but that lack of rushing put them behind the chains all day. No matter since Portland pretty much did whatever they wanted on offense. Timothy Roquemore ran for 172 yards and a TD, adding 72 receiving yards and a TD catch. QB Oscar Willis completed 27 of 39 for 389 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT. The other 3 TD passes went to Richard Robinson, who caught 8 for 215 yards overall.
Generals 23 Renegades 17
This was a defensive struggle as the teams combined for 454 yards and 7 interceptions. Orlando QB Bradley Austin threw 5 interceptions and New Jersey took advantage of the short fields all day. The Generals longest drive of the game was just 48 yards, and their lone TD drive went all of 21 yards. Four of Austin's 5 INTs came in the 4th qtr, helping New Jersey score the last 14 points of the game and steal a win.
It was the rookie show for New Jersey as K Al Borland made 5/6 FG attempts, including all 3 from 50+ and their lone TD was scored by Kurt Cobain. Sam Beckett ran for exactly 100 yards today and added a 2 point conversion.
Bandits 17 Blazers 10
Florida scored a TD and a FG on their first 2 possessions, then the Bandits forced them to punt the rest of the game until the last drive. Tampa Bay QB Melvin Driggers bounced back from last weeks game to throw for 2 TDs and 284 yards with no interceptions. The Bandits had trouble scoring during the first 3 quarters, trailing 10-3 heading into the final 15 minutes. Driggers first TD to Thomas Whitley came in the first minute of the 4th to tie the game and his TD pass to Garry Flower with 6:32 left put the Bandits ahead for good. Florida's Freddy Jones was the stat king, catching 10 passes for 134 yards.
Sun 12 Wheels 10
Southern California couldn't crack the end zone but 4 FGs from William Ferguson were enough to send Detroit home with their first loss of the season. The Sun had the ball 11 more minutes than the Wheels and were led by Gene Ingram's 98 combined yards. Detroit's Kent Olden had made 11 FGs in the first 2 games, but his miss from 33 yards loomed large when Detroit scored a TD inside the 2 minute warning. That TD got the Wheels within 12-10 but the onside kick failed and the Sun ran out the clock.
Thunderbolts 16 Hawaiians 13
Every red zone trip by both teams resulted in FGs and a late INT by Honolulu's Derek Henry set up Cleveland for the game winning FG at the gun. This game saw alternating scores as Cleveland scored first for a 3-0 lead then Honolulu tied it at 3. Cleveland scored on a 68 yard Michael McGowan pass to Mark Howe which was answered by Derek Henry with a 24 yard scoring toss to Brian Vizcarra.
Late in the 3rd, Cleveland took a 13-10 lead then Honolulu tied it at 13 midway through the 4th. Honolulu had the ball at their own 12 with 1:30 left and opted to attempt to drive the field, but Henry tossed his INT and that was the ballgame after Brian Haworth's 21 yard FG at the gun.
Panthers 15 Blitz 13
Michigan made life rough on Chicago QB Ronald Brown, sacking him 4 times and intercepting 3 passes as the Panthers take early control of the Midwest. Michigan still found themselves trailing 13-9 after 3 quarters, but scored a TD early in the 4th following one of those Brown INTs. That gave Michigan a 15-13 lead, but the 2 point try failed, meaning it would only take a Chicago FG to lose the game. The Panthers defense would not allow that to happen, and they hold on for the win and a 3-0 start.
Federals 39 Maulers 14
Washington nearly tripled the Pittsburgh yardage 623-209, as the rebuilding Maulers continue to take their lumps. Maulers QB Will Allison tossed 2 INTs but the defense had trouble stopping the powerful Federals offense today. James Dunn and Robert Sullivan were both the top 2 Washington rushers and receivers, Dunn with 94 and a TD rushing to go with 10 catches, 180 yards and another TD. Sullivan didn't score, slacker, but he did run for 64 yards while adding 122 receiving yards on 6 receptions. QB Scott Bieber threw for 450 yards in all, with 2 TDs on 29/45 passing.
Steamer 40 Stallions 13
The Orville Barker Show was on display in Shreveport today. The media was all over Birmingham WR Joseph Oliver, as he had monster games the first 2 weeks. The Shreveport defense shut him down (1 catch, 6 yards), but at the expense of leaving lesser coverage on RB Larry Ceasar, who caught 5 for 146 yards and a TD. Shreveport QB Shane Falco tossed 2 TD passes to James Brown, but the day belonged to Steamer RB Orville Barker.
Shreveport ran the ball 48 times total, and Calvin Sipe had 92 yards on 20 carries while David Oldham had 3 yards on his lone run. Barker ran 27 times for 284 yards and 3 TD today. The 284 yards is the 4th highest all time, and the most since 1985 when then Panther Nicholas Dorey ran for 288.
Hornets 29 Force 17
Charlotte QB Robert Ament threw for 283 yards and 2 TDs while the Hornets defense forced 3 Georgia turnovers. RB Henry Young had 124 total yards and his 30 carries helped Charlotte possess the ball for nearly 36 minutes. Georgia got oit to a 10-3 lead before Charlotte scored 16 in a row for a 19-10 lead. Georgia would cut that to 19-17 before Charlotte scored the game's last 10 points for the win.
(NY) Stars 33 Gunslingers 14
New York had a balanced offensive attack (196 yards rushing, 187 passing) and the Stars defense intercepted 3 passes while also shutting down the San Antonio running game to improve to 3-0. New York scored 1 rushing TD, 1 passing TD, and 1 defensive TD as Alfred Payeur returned 1 of his 2 interceptions for a TD. The Stars also got 4 FG from Ed Jetton.
Showboats 21 Breakers 3
Boston scored first, then Memphis ran their way to victory. The Showboats ran 33 times for 204 yards to set up 2 short TD passes, and David Allen tossed 3 overall. Two of those TD passes went to Arthur Devore, who led Memphis with 58 receiving yards. Mark Lambert ran for 104 yards to lead the Showboats runners. Boston had an efficient passing day but ran for less than 2 ypc and had the game's lone turnover.
Bulls 28 Bell 14
Philadelphia ran for 200 yards as a team, getting 132 and a TD from Jamie Epperson but the Bell passing attack generated very little. Jacksonville ran decently and their passing attack was able to generate yards and they scored TDs all 3 red zone trips in their victory today. Joseph Serio tossed 3 TD passes for the Bulls while Charles Ayers led the way with 112 receiving yards and one of the TDs.
SaberCats 20 Express 9
San Jose ran for 147 yards as a team although they fumbled 4 times, losing 3. The SaberCats defense forced 3 turnovers of their own however, and San Jose was in control of the game throughout. San Jose scored the first 13 points of the game and led 20-3 until midway through the 4th, when Los Angeles cracked the end zone. RB Graham Peterson led the way with 81 rushing yards and 47 receiving yards as the SaberCats move to 3-0.
Invaders 26 Wranglers 10
Arizona is still trying to find an answer at QB as they rotated Caldwell and Kinkead today. If today's stats are any indication, it will be Joseph Caldwell going forward, as he at least didn't turn the ball over. Zachary Kinkead is a rookie who should eventually develop into a decent QB, but he struggled mightily today, tossing 3 INTs. Once they figure that out, they need to work on their leaky defense, as Oakland faced little resistance throwing the ball. Arizona ran the ball much better than Oakland, led by Desmond Kirkland's 97 yards but Invaders QB Andrew Moreno was 31/35, 359 yards and a TD to Nelson Martinez, who caught 5 for 126 yards. RB Oliver Thomas had 85 receiving yards to go with his 42 rushing yards to lead the Invaders attack.
