Gold 35 Gamblers 33
Denver WR/RB Jake Peralta obliterated the single game post season rushing record with 272 yards and 3 TDs while also adding 110 receiving yards and a 4th TD to lead Denver to an upset win at Houston. Gamblers QB Tony Dean threw for 315 yards and 3 TDs but also had 2 interceptions in the loss.
The big plays in this game started early as Houston took the opening kickoff and were driving for a score when Tony Dean was intercepted deep in Denver territory by Noel Gerrard. The Gold took over on their own 5 and on the first play Andrew Brewer found Peralta in the flat and he ran all the way to the end zone for a 95 yard TD, the second longest offensive TD in our postseason history. Houston would answer with a FG and the score after a quarter was 7-3 Denver.
Houston took the lead 10-7 early in the 2nd on a Tony Dean 14 yard TD pass to Jett Black. Houston would add 2 field goals before halftime, the second one set up by a Charles Weymouth fumble in Denver territory, to take a 16-7 lead.
Denver and Jake Peralta got the second half started on the right foot as Peralta broke a 75 yard TD run to get the Gold within 2 points. Houston would answer that with a FG, extending the lead to 19-14. Peralta struck again a little later for a 76 yard TD run and the XP gave Denver a 21-19 lead. Houston would go three and out before Peralta's 3rd long TD run of the quarter, this one covering 68 yards, extending the lead to 28-19.
That's the score heading to the 4th but just before this quarter ended, Gold QB Andrew Brewer tossed an interception to give Houston the ball at the Denver 32. Tony Dean would find Hugh Chance for an 8 yard TD pass, cutting the Denver lead to 2 points, 28-26. Denver would extend that lead back to 9 points on a Brian Thornton 10 yard TD run. Tony Dean answered that score quickly with his 3rd TD pass of the game, 51 yards to Hugh Chance. That was Chance's 2nd TD of the quarter and it gave him 104 receiving yards for the game. The score was 35-33 Denver with 3:14 to play but Houston would only run 1 more offensive play the rest of the game. Denver punted, then Dean threw his second INT of the game and the Gold ran out the clock.
Storm 24 Showboats 10
Oscar Willis threw for 258 yards and 2 TDs, one to Timothy Roquemore as Portland defeats Memphis to advance to the American Conference Championship. Roquemore also ran for 104 yards and a TD as the Storm offense controlled the ball for nearly 38 minutes, almost doubling the yardage of Memphis.
There was an exchange of punts to begin the game before Portland dented the scoreboard first on a Willis to Roquemore 4 yard TD pass for the 7-0 lead. Memphis would punt again and the Storm marched down the field, going 80 yards in 6 plays and taking a 14-0 lead on Roquemore's 6 yard TD run. Memphis would answer with a 67 yard TD pass from David Allen to Arthur Devore and the first quarter ended 14-7 Portland.
Portland would add an Alan Grossi FG for a 17-7 lead, then they had the back breaking drive to close out the half. The USFL records department doesn't track longest drive stats but the Storm embarked on an 18 play, 84 yard TD drive that took 8:06 off the clock. The 18th play was a 1 yard Willis to Peter Jessee TD making the score 24-7 Portland at the half.
The second half saw just a Memphis FG to give us the final score of 24-10 and when the Showboats turned it over on downs with 3:50 to go, the game was essentially over. Portland will host Denver for the right to play in World Bowl XVIII.
