It's been a little while since Portland walked off the field in Honolulu, hoisting the World Bowl trophy along the way as the latest League Champions. Today marks the beginning of our 21st season of USFL/WFL football, and all 32 teams start with a clean slate. How will your newest free agent signees do? Which rookies will establish themselves as stars? Will a team come out of nowhere to make the playoffs this season? It's only Week 1, so these answers will have to wait, but let's check the action and see what transpired.
Storm 17 Wranglers 0
Arizona is under a massive rebuild after an aggressive free agency/draft but they get tested right out of the gate, facing our defending champs Portland. The Storm defense picked up right where they left off last season, shutting out the Wranglers and holding them to just 104 yards. Portland's offense wasn't great today, but they did more than enough to win the game, led by Melvin Driggers' 227 passing yards and 2 TDs. The Storm used a RBBC that ran for 142 yards and the receiving stats were spread out as well. The Wranglers might have been shutout, but they didn't turn the ball over and they only allowed 17 points. Last season, Arizona allowed Portland to score 55 the first time and 31 in the rematch, so progress at least.
Federals 17 Hawaiians 9
Last season, the Washington Federals made it to World Bowl XX, losing to Portland. They're looking to get back there, and they start the season against Honolulu and the reigning Offensive ROY Anthony Davis. A.D. did not disappoint, gaining 51 yards on the ground with a TD, while adding 102 receiving yards on 11 receptions. The rest of the Hawaiians offense didn't do much however, and the Davis TD was their only score until the final 2 minutes of the game when the Hawaiians defense recorded a safety. Washington QB Scott Bieber struggled last season but was often picked up by his teammates. Bieber started off this season completing 22/30, 293 yards, 2 TD and an INT. Matthew Cuevas caught both scores as part of his 4 catch, 161 yard game and RB Robert Trammell had exactly 100 combined yards to lead Washington to victory.
Generals 32 Gold 24
New Jersey was the top seed in the conference last season, losing to Washington in the conference championship game, while Denver were World Bowl XIX Champs before suffering through a miserable 1993. This game saw 4 lead changes before the Generals pulled away a bit in the 4th quarter, holding on for the win. Denver QB Andrew Brewer threw 3 TD passes and nearly produced a pair of 100 yard receivers (Brian Thornton caught 5-103-1, Frederick Barron 4-99-2) but he also threw 2 interceptions. New Jersey QB Don Ferguson spent 1992 on the Washington bench before surprisingly leading the league in passing yards last season. Ferguson completed 32/47, 347 yards and 2 TDs with 4 pass catchers getting between 64-86 yards each. Al Borland chipped in with 4 FGs as New Jersey wins against the World Bowl XIX champs one week before playing World Bowl XX champs Portland.
Showboats 32 Bulls 7
Memphis lost to Portland in last year's conference championship game and they got 1994 off to a good start by handily defeating Jacksonville. The Showboats defense allowed just 220 yards and forced 3 turnovers, 2 of those interceptions, and they sacked Emanuel Fugate twice. Offensively, Erik McNamee ran for 143 yards while Norman Maldonado threw for 280 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT. Mark Glenn caught 7 passes for 116 yards and 2 TDs and Gary Ridgeway booted 4 FGs.
Stallions 35 Maulers 14
Birmingham scored 35 points the hard way today, and the 35 was the most in the league. Usually, 35 points is simply 5 TDs, but the Stallions had 4 TDs, a 2 point conversion and a pair of FGs for their 35 today. Defensively they shut down the Pittsburgh running game, while Maulers QB Will Allison only saw 4 passes hit the ground. Allison completed 21/27 with 2 TD and 2 INT, one of which was returned for a TD by Birmingham CB David Firkins. Offensively, Birmingham had a good run/pass balance with Walter Lemay running for 90 yards and 2 TDs and Francis Scultz running for 70. Willie Benge threw for 181 yards and a TD and an INT. Pittsburgh got 2 TDs on their first 3 drives before the Stallions defense really tightened up.
SaberCats 13 Hornets 10
San Jose has a new owner this season, and I think the rest of the league is curious how TexansFan uses All World WR Mark Hsu. The previous owner funneled the offense through Hsu, who set league records in receiving yards and TDs in 1993. If this game is any indication, the SaberCats will spread the ball around more, as Hsu caught 2 for 28 scoreless yards. Neither offense played particularly well, especially in the second half. They played to a 10-10 halftime tie and the only second half points came on a 31 yard Robert Rodriguez FG with 5:06 left to give San Jose the win.
Invaders 19 (NY) Stars 17
This is the 4th and last one score game across the league in Week 1. New York had a 14-6 halftime lead thanks to a pair of Damien Oleary TD passes, but Oakland came back in the second half. Invaders QB Andrew Moreno threw for 264 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT, with his 65 yard scoring strike to Jessie Heidt giving Oakland the lead for good, 16-14. Lawrence Linville booted 4 FGs, the last extending the lead to 19-14. New York would get within 19-17 with 4 minutes to play, but the onside kick failed. The Stars defense held and the offense had one last chance. They failed to generate enough yards for a successful kick however, as the 59 yard attempt fell short, allowing Oakland to hang on for the win.
Bandits 24 Outlaws 6
Tampa Bay fans have to hope this is the Antonio Martinez they see all season, as the 1993 INT leader did not turn the ball over today, completing 12/20 for 167 yards and 3 TDs. Helping out Martinez was a productive running game, which the Bandits did not have last season. Wm Jones ran for 111 yards and Daniel Steward added 47, while the Bandits defense held Oklahoma scoreless until the 4th qtr when they had a 24-0 lead.
Gamblers 34 Gunslingers 11
San Antonio scored first for a 3-0 lead and they scored last on a TD and a 2 point conversion, but Houston won the in between 34-0 to claim victory today. Houston QB Tony Dean completed 28/42, 447 yards, 4 TD and 1 INT, with his favorite targets both getting over 100 yards. Hugh Chance caught 7 for 127 yards and a TD while Jett Black caught 5 for 126 yards and RB Donald Turner had a combined 126 yards and a TD (46 rushing yards, 80 receiving and the score).
Blazers 20 Renegades 3
Both QBs struggled, completing less than 50%, but Florida's Sidney Maggard threw 2 TD passes while Orlando QB Trey Lyons threw 2 INTs. Florida also had success running the ball with 117 yards on 35 carries while Orlando ran for less than 1 yard per carry. RB Ronald Kirby had a combined 95 yards and a rushing TD while RB Robert Romero had a combined 89 yards and a receiving TD to lead the Blazers offense.
Wheels 31 Force 13
The Detroit defense intercepted Thomas Jacobi 3 times while Wheels QB Gabriel Flanagan tossed 4 TD passes. The first 2 went to Matthew Houston as Detroit built an early 14-3 lead and the next 2 went to Roy Roberts to extend the lead to 28-3. Roberts finished with 4 catches, 162 yards and those 2 scores to help Flanagan throw for 371 yards today.
Bell 30 Breakers 10
Philadelphia is rolling with Joseph Serio at QB this season, and he completed 23/30, 280 yards and a TD, but the Bell running game stole the show. Philadelphia split their carries up, and the RBBC produced 203 yards on 28 carries, led by Charles Weymouth's 82 yards. Jamie Epperson chipped in 64 yards and 2 TDs on the ground while catching 9 passes for 81 yards as well. Boston put up some yards as well, gaining 328 on the day, but the Philadelphia running attack wore down the Breakers as the game went on.
Stars 27 Express 3
Both QBs struggled in this game as well as Jon Snow and David Tavarez threw 3 INTs each. In between the turnovers, Snow was much better, throwing for 387 yards and 3 TDs while Tavarez was scoreless with 217 yards. Baltimore got 97 rushing yards, more than twice as much as Los Angeles (43 yards) and John Warkentin caught 2 of Snow's TD passes.
Steamer 20 VooDoo 7
Shreveport intercepted New Orleans QB Joseph Jones 3 times while RB Jeffrey Morris ran for 169 yards and a TD to lead the Steamer to victory. Morris got the scoring underway on Shreveport's first play from scrimmage, taking the handoff and racing 85 yards to the end zone and a quick 7-0 lead. George Marcil only threw for 165 yards, but unlike Jones, he did not turn the ball over and his TD pass in the 3rd quarter gave the Steamer a 20-0 lead.
Thunderbolts 24 Blitz 12
Cleveland got 72 yards rushing and 2 TDs from Evan Hershey, while QB Tony Romo completed 23/28 for 251 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT to lead the Thunderbolts to victory. Chicago also moved the ball well and even played turnover free football, but the Blitz could not cash in touchdowns in the red zone, settling for 4 FGs on the day. Chicago had cut the lead to 17-12 with 6:30 to play, but Romo led Cleveland on a nine play, 71 yard TD drive to seal it.
Panthers 31 Sun 6
Michigan's defense shut down the Southern California offense today, holding the Sun to 160 total yards and intercepting 4 passes. Offensively, the Panthers used a RBBC to run for 158 yards on 38 carries and QB Larry Henderson threw for 313 yards and 4 TDs. Rookie WR Harvey Williams caught 10 passes for 158 yards and 3 TDs to put himself atop the early rookie rankings.
