The USFL/WFL had their Conference Championship Games tonight and World Bowl XXI will feature the Houston Gamblers looking for their 5th title against the Washington Federals, who are seeking their first championship after losing 3 previous World Bowls. Neither team was the best in their conference during the regular season but both beat their nemesis in the playoffs. Houston and Denver met in Week 16 to determine home field advantage and the Gold won, which meant Houston had to travel to Denver for tonight's game. Washington was the #3 seed but were really the 2nd best team in the National Conference behind Baltimore, as the Stars gave the Federals their only 2 losses. Washington then won 3 straight road playoff games against division winners and once again winning the Conference Championship Game in New Jersey for the 2nd straight season.
Gamblers 26 Gold 7
Houston got the ball first and punted, then forced a Denver punt which pinned the Gamblers at their own 7 yard line. Tony Dean then led a 7 play, 93 yard TD drive with Ryan Dearing getting a short TD run for a 7-0 lead. Denver came back with one of those long drives like they had against Portland last week, going 75 yards in 11 plays, tying the game on a Frederick Barron 2 yard TD run and the XP. Tony Dean watched that from the sideline before he matched it exactly, leading Houston 75 yards in 11 plays, breaking the tie with a 15 yard TD pass to Jett Black.
The rest of the half and most of the 3rd quarter was a punt fest, with Houston increasing their lead to 16-7 with a sack of Andrew Brewer in the end zone. Joseph Taylor got the sack/safety and Tony Dean put the final nail in the coffin after the free kick, leading Houston 65 yards to a TD and a 23-7 4th quarter lead. The score was an 11 yard pass to Jett Black and the Gamblers defense kept Denver from making a comeback as they return to the World Bowl after a 6 year hiatus.
Fredrick Whidden ran for 101 yards for Denver but Andrew Brewer had a rough day, completing 15/35, 195 yards and 2 INTs. Tony Dean was 22/29, 305 yards and 2 TDs to Jett Black. RB Donald Turner didn't score, but he ran for 64 yards on 19 carries, adding 120 receiving yards on 6 receptions.
Federals 30 Generals 13
This was a rematch of the 1993 National Conference Championship Game, although Washington made sure they didn't need overtime this year. The Federals also gave the Generals their first shutout loss in years this regular season, but New Jersey scored first on an Al Borland FG. Washington answered quickly as Scott Bieber found James Larson for a 60 yard TD pass and a 7-3 lead. Don Ferguson then led the Generals on their best drive of the game, going 75 yards in 14 plays with Eric Davis catching a 17 yard TD pass. John Bazile would add a FG and the first half ended in a 10-10 tie.
In the middle of the 3rd, Scott Bieber broke the tie with an 81 yard TD pass to Andrew Favela. Don Ferguson then immediately threw an INT setting up another Bazile FG and a 20-10 Washington lead. Next New Jersey drive resulted in another Ferguson INT but the Generals defense forced a punt. Forrest Gump fumbled it away however, and Bieber made the most of this opportunity with a 9 yard TD pass to James Dunn, and the 3rd quarter ended with the Federals enjoying a 27-10 lead.
Each team added a 4th qtr FG, but the mistake filled 3rd did New Jersey in, and Washington gets back to the World Bowl for the 2nd straight season.Scott Bieber completed 19/32, 313 yards and 3 TD passes while ex Washington backup QB Don Ferguson continues to be haunted by his former team. He did complete 34/52 for 270 yards and a TD, but 3 INTs did not help the cause.
