World Bowl XXII is all set and it's a repeat of World Bowl XXI. Congratulations to the Houston Gamblers and Washington Federals for advancing again to our league's ultimate game. Despite falling short of their goal, the Portland Storm and New Jersey Generals had great seasons. They both won their division and were #3 seeds, but perhaps the extra playoff game did them in? That may have been a small factor but there is no denying the best 2 teams in the league are playing for the title. Houston and Washington both finished the regular season 15-1, earned the #1 seed and enjoyed the home field advantage that comes with that.
If Houston wins the World Bowl again, 2 records will be broken. Currently Houston is tied with Memphis having won 5 World Bowls, and a 6th win would break that tie and give the Gamblers the most trophies. At the same time, Washington is tied with New Jersey for most World Bowl losses with 4, and a loss tomorrow breaks that tie.
How did Houston and Washington win?
Houston Gamblers 18 Portland Storm 10
Houston got the ball first and the Gamblers drove into FG range, where Earl Castro's 30 yard FG giving the Gamblers a 3-0 lead. A couple of drives later, Melvin Driggers got Portland on the board with a 22 yard TD pass to Richard Robinson and the Storm led after 1, 7-3. The 2nd quarter was a puntfest until the end of the half when Tony Dean had Houston advancing toward the red zone. The drive stalled as the clock for the first half was winding down and Earl Castro's 2nd FG made the halftime score 7-6 Portland.
The second half started like the 2nd quarter, with multiple punts before Melvin Driggers was intercepted by Thomas Hutson, setting up Tony Dean in Storm territory. The Portland defense hung tough, keeping Houston out of the end zone, but the Gamblers still took a 9-7 lead on an Earl Castro 25 yard FG. Portland answered with a nice drive of 8 runs and 2 passes to get inside the red zone as we entered the 4th quarter. On 3rd and goal from the 6, Melvin Driggers third pass of the drive fell into the hands of Houston's Joel Clark for an interception keeping the score 9-7. Despite that INT, on Portland's next drive they went pass heavy and Driggers responded but the drive stalled in the red zone. Donald Atkins 34 yard FG gave the Storm a 10-9 lead with 10 minutes to play.
Tony Dean answered that by finally getting the Gamblers into the end zone, finding Jett Black for the 54 yard score and a 15-10 lead. Houston went for 2 and failed, so a Portland TD could win the game instead of tie. The Storm's next 2 drives had bad starting position, one from their 19 and one from their 2. The game clock was nearing the 2 minute warning, so Portland went for it on 4th and 10 from their 18, turning it over on downs. Houston took over in the red zone and Castro added another FG to push the lead to 8. Portland's Jim Voss fumbled the ensuing kickoff but Harry Moorman was there to fall on the loose ball to give Melvin Driggers one last chance to tie the game. Driggers quickly got Portland on the cusp of the red zone but he was intercepted by Albert Bruner to seal another World Bowl trip for Houston.
Washington Federals 16 New Jersey Generals 3
For the third straight season, Washington and New Jersey meet in the National Conference Championship, with the Federals winning the first 2 in New Jersey. This game was played in Washington D.C. and the Generals would love nothing more than to turn the tables on the Federals. Washington dented the scoreboard first, getting a 7-0 lead on a Jonathon Fuller 2 yard run. Don Ferguson finally got the Generals offense moving on their 3rd drive but had to settle for an Al Borland FG to start the 2nd qtr, cutting the lead to 7-3.
Both defenses were stout today but Washington busted a big play to get a 1st and goal from the 2 as Scott Bieber found Matthew Cuevas for a 77 yard gain. The New Jersey defense kept Washington out of the end zone, but a short John Bazile FG extended the Federals lead to 10-3.
The second half began and Washington punted. New Jersey drove into Washington territory before Ferguson was intercepted by Robert Mann. Bieber got the Federals deep into Generals territory, getting a 1st and goal from the 7, but once again the New Jersey defense holds but Bazile added another FG for a 13-3 lead. As the 4th quarter clock approached 4 minutes, New Jersey went for a 4th and 6 from their own 11 which failed, setting up another FG from John Bazile and Washington's lead was up to 16-3. Ferguson then threw his 2nd INT to officially seal the deal as Washington heads to their 3rd consecutive World Bowl.
