Week 14 is in the books and our playoff picture is still developing. All but 2 games this week had some sort of playoff implications, and we are looking at a lot of important games in the last 2 weeks. Half of the 12 spots are spoken for, but there is still seeding and BYES to determine as well.
Storm 30 Hawaiians 6
Portland overcame 3 lost fumbles thanks to Melvin Driggers and the Storm defense. Driggers completed 30/44 for 431 yards and 3 TDs, all to different receivers. Driggers spread the ball around to 9 different receivers, with 6 gaining between 41-81 yards. RB Jose Moses caught 1 of the TD passes and his 53 rushing yards gave him 130 combined yards (5-77-1 receiving) for the game. Honolulu opted to go with a new QB today, replacing Derek Henry with 8th year pro Edwin Clarkson. He didn't fare too well, completing 21/36 for 128 yards, an INT and 3 sacks.
The Portland win secures a first round BYE for the Storm, and they remain on track for home field advantage. The Hawaiians loss means Honolulu must now set it's sights on the wildcard, as San Jose wins the Pacific.
Panthers 20 Stars 12
Michigan QB Larry Henderson threw 2 first quarter TD passes and the Panthers defense intercepted Baltimore QB Jon Snow 4 times to make that stand up for the win. RB Orville Barker had 137 combined yards for the Stars, but 3 of Jon Snow's 4 interceptions came in the final 16 minutes of the game to thwart the comeback attempt. In fact, Snow's 4 INTs put him in 2nd place in the league with 26, surpassing Henderson's 25. Henderson threw just 1 today, completing 25/39 for 308 yards and 2 TDs.
The Michigan win puts the Panthers on the brink of winning the Midwest division. Baltimore is eliminated according to MFN, although there may be a chance for the Stars if they win their last 2 games and either the Maulers or Bell lose both.
VooDoo 30 Bell 20
Last week Philadelphia benefited from some late turnovers, but this week they were done in by them. The Bell were led by RB Jamie Epperson, who ran for 46 yards and caught 7 passes for 127 yards and a TD, but QB Robert Hernandez threw 2 interceptions in the 4th. New Orleans got a boost with the return of RB Thomas Thomas, who ran for 106 yards and a TD. The VooDoo also got a big game from Nicholas Dorey, who caught 3 for 124 yards today.
The win gives New Orleans a 1 game in the South over Birmingham and Shreveport. Despite the loss, Philadelphia is in according to MFN thanks to Baltimore's loss.
Generals 27 Stallions 7
New Jersey overcame 2 Don Ferguson interceptions and 2 lost fumbles by Sam Beckett to defeat Birmingham and claim the East division title. Rookie RB David Koresh had exactly 200 combined yards, rushing for 72 and catching 6 for 128 yards, although he failed to score. That was left to Ferguson, as aside from his 2 INTs, threw for 364 yards and 3 TDs. The Generals defense intercepted 3 Willie Benge passes and held the Stallions to just 2/16 on 3rd down.
New Jersey will earn a BYE if they defeat Florida next week, and will be no worse than the #3 seed. Despite the loss, Birmingham is still in play for the South division title.
Blazers 16 Gold 10
It was 15 degrees and snowing in Denver, but that didn't bother Florida QB Sidney Maggard. Only 3 Maggard passes hit the ground, as he completed 27/31 for 286 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT to lead the Blazers to a hard fought win over defending champion Denver. The Gold have been hit hard with injuries, especially on offense, but they gave Florida all they had. WR Dennis Harris caught 10 passes for 146 yards and a TD, but Andrew Brewer tossed a pair of interceptions as Denver could only score 10 points today.
Florida's win sets up an important game with New Jersey this week. A win over the Generals would put the Blazers in a good spot for a BYE, but they will be no worse than the #3 seed. Despite the loss, Denver is still alive for the #6 seed. They will need to win their remaining games and hope for help among the quagmire of current 7-7 teams.
Steamer 22 Bandits 10
Jeffrey Morris ran for 74 yards and a TD and K William Neal made 5 FGs as Shreveport eliminates Tampa Bay from the post season. Shreveport QB George Marcil completed 20/24 for 220 yards, 0 TD and 0 INT and the defense intercepted 3 Antonio Martinez passes, giving him a league leading 32 on the year.
The loss eliminates Tampa Bay from the post season. Shreveport stays alive with the win and has a must win game this week against New Orleans. If they lose to the VooDoo, the Steamer will be eliminated.
SaberCats 27 Sun 20
It's been a strange, streaky season for Southern California. The Sun started out 0-6 before winning 5 of 6 for a 5-7 record after 12 games. Last week, they led playoff bound Philadelphia late before turnovers cost them the game. This week, they led playoff bound San Jose until late turnovers cost them the game. In the end, it was the Jake Plummer to Mark Hsu connection that ultimately did the Sun in, as the pair connected 6 times for 139 yards with 3 TDs.
San Jose clinches the Pacific with this victory and they will likely be either the #3 or #4 seed.
Maulers 23 Hornets 3
Pittsburgh dominated Charlotte on both sides of the ball as the Maulers clinch a wildcard spot. Pittsburgh held the Hornets to just 95 total yards, sacking Robert Ament twice. QB Will Allison completed 27/40 for 304 yards and 2 TDs to lead the offense. RB Chris Goldberg had 143 combined yards, rushing for 68 and catching 5 for 75 yards and a score.
Showboats 43 Outlaws 6
Memphis QB Norman Maldonado threw 5 first half TD passes and the Showboats defense forced 2 turnovers and held Oklahoma to 150 total yards as they defeat the Outlaws handily. Maldonado completed 17/29 for 503 yards, 6 TD and 1 INT overall and most of that yardage went to WR Mark Glenn. In the first half, Maldonado and Glenn connected on 4 long TD passes covering 75, 73, 78, and 55 yards. The pair hooked up on a 92 yard TD in the 3rd quarter and overall, Glenn finished the day with 7 catches, 409 yards and 5 TDs.
Gamblers 40 Force 10
Georgia got out to an early 10-0 lead before Houston flipped the script and went on a 40-0 run to win going away. Milton People led the Force on an 11 play, 80 yard TD drive the first time they had the ball, but his final stat line was a pedestrian 9/22, 66 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT. Tony Dean threw an early INT, setting up a Georgia FG, but he settled down to finish 25/39, 343 yards and 3 TDs. WR Jett Black caught 5 for 118 yards and a TD while RB Donald Turner had a combined 178 yards. Turner ran for 78 while getting exactly 100 receiving yards on 9 receptions. RB Lloyd Ellis caught Dean's other 2 TD passes and he had a combined 92 yards on the day.
Federals 13 Renegades 7
Scott Bieber didn't lead Washington to a ton of points today, but he did complete 31/36 for 251 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. Most of the Federals offensive yardage went through their RBs today, as Robert Trammell ran for 51 yards while leading the team in receiving, catching 13 for 84 yards and a TD. James Dunn had a combined 73 yards as the 2nd leading rusher and receiver for Washington. The Federals defense held Orlando to 209 total yards, forcing punts on all 5 Renegade drives in the second half.
Gunslingers 24 Blitz 15
San Antonio led Chicago 22-0 in the 3rd qtr as Charlie Shanks had a 64 yard TD run and Robert Fanelli fired a 58 yard TD pass to Eugene Bufkin. K Benjamin Regalado missed an XP, but he also made all 3 FG attempts. Chicago QB Ronald Brown and WR Ian Gordon tried to bring the Blitz back, as the pair hooked up for a pair of TDs and a 2 point conversion to get within 22-15. The last TD came after the 2 minute warning, and the onside kick failed. Chicago got the ball back deep in their own territory and the Gunslingers defense sacked Brown in the end zone for a safety.
Robert Fanelli was 20/28 for 202 yards and 2 TDs for San Antonio and RB Charlie Shanks complimented him with 134 rushing yards and that long TD run. The Gunslingers shut down the Chicago running game, but they did allow Ronald Brown to complete 28/38 for 263 yards and 2 TDs.
Invaders 29 Express 26
Los Angeles led Oakland 13-9 after 3 quarters of a "sleepy" type game. Once the clock flipped to the 4th, the offenses exploded, as we had 5 TDs in the final 15 minutes, including 3 straight plays with a TD. Oakland QB Andrew Moreno got the 4th qtr scoring started with a 40 yard pass to Nelson Martinez, giving the Invaders a 16-13 lead. Los Angeles QB William Mauriello then found Gary Sappington for a 35 yard score to give the Express the lead back, 20-16. With 6:25 to go, Moreno found Martinez again, this time for a 55 yard scoring strike as Oakland retook the lead 23-20. After the kickoff, Mauriello found Sappington for a 75 yard TD as Los Angeles briefly took the lead back again. On the next play following the kickoff, Moreno and Martinez hooked up for their 3rd score of the quarter, a 75 yard catch and run for the last score of the game.
For Los Angeles, Mauriello finished 27/38, 326 yards and 3 TDs, 2 of those to RB Gary Sappington, who led the team in receiving with 7 catches, 145 yards. Oakland QB Andrew Moreno completed 31/43, 429 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT. WR Nelson Martinez caught 6 passes, 3 for TDs and had 181 yards while teammate TE Jessie Heidt caught 9 for 126. RB Ronald McDevitt finished with 160 combined yards, 137 rushing.
Wheels 20 Thunderbolts 7
Cleveland missed a chance to take the lead in the race for the last wildcard by losing to Detroit today. The Thunderbolts missed FGs on their first 2 possessions and Tony Romo threw an interception on the 3rd. In the meantime, Detroit QB Gabriel Flanagan tossed a pair of first half TD passes as the Wheels got out to a 17-0 halftime lead. Detroit would extend the lead to 20-0 in the 3rd quarter before Romo got Cleveland on the scoreboard with a short TD pass. That's as close as the Thunderbolts would get, and the loss leaves them in a precarious position, as MFN lists them behind all other 7-7 teams in the wildcard race.
Bulls 19 Wranglers 13
Jacksonville QB Derek Joyce tossed 2 TD passes to WR Edward Meister to lead the Bulls to victory over Arizona. Jacksonville led 19-0 at the half, as Brian Johnson made a short FG and Fred Williams sacked Zachary Kinkead in the end zone for a safety. The Wranglers defense settled down, shutting out the Bulls in the second half and forcing 3 turnovers. Arizona chipped away, getting as close as 19-13, but their last 3 drives came up empty, allowing Jacksonville to hang on for the win.
Breakers 22 (NY) Stars 14
Boston QB Adam Scales completed 20/27 for 220 yards and 2 TDs, both to WR Bob Carder, who caught 5 for 124 in all, as the Breakers defeat New York. Stars RB William Hall continued where he left off last week minus the kick returns, but the Boston defense held the rest of the New York offense in check. Hall had 95 yards rushing with a TD and he also caught a TD among his 2 catches for 21 yards, returning his lone kickoff 27 yards. Boston forced New York QB Willie Bust into a bad game, 15/36, 136 yards with 1 TD and 3 INTs, 2 by Stephen Harris.
