Any thoughts of us making progress in this new version came to a screeching halt, as we were back to week 1/2 levels of scoring with 446 points in 16 games, or roughly 29 combined points a game. We had just 1 game go over 40 combined points, but even that game had just 41 points.
Week 5 and we're down to just 1 undefeated team, the 5-0 Michigan Panthers. Are they the best team? Their record says so, although I don't even know what a good team looks like in this version. The Panthers do have a top 10 offense and defense, so it's no fluke they're winning. Best of luck to them as they hope to continue their good play.
We have a pair of 0-5 teams, Oakland and Chicago. Oakland is in rebuilding mode and their record is a reflection of having the league's bottom ranked offense and defense. Chicago on the other hand, has been unlucky, losing all but 1 game by 1 score or less. Good luck to the Invaders and Blitz as they try to get off the schneid.
Panthers 16 Stars 12
Michigan got a 2nd qtr TD pass from Will Allison and an INT return for a TD by Jess Woodward as Michigan defeats Baltimore to improve to 5-0 on the season. Baltimore got their points from 4 William Ferguson FGs as both offenses combined for 456 yards, 5 sacks and 4 turnovers.
Bandits 22 Breakers 19
This game might have produced the most points of the week, but it was still ugly. There were 8 combined turnovers in this game, 5 by Tampa Bay and they started coming early. Dwayne Byrd was intercepted on 3 of the first 4 drives but Boston couldn't take advantage, turning the ball over twice themselves in their first 4 drives. Byrd did take advantage of one of the Breakers turnovers with a 9 yard TD pass to James Morse for a 7-0 lead. From this point until 3 minutes to play in the game, Tampa Bay and Boston gained yards (606 combined) but also traded more turnovers and failed red zone opportunities. All told there were 8 red zone trips that produced 1 TD and 5 FGs. There were 8 total FGs after the Tampa Bay TD and before Boston tied the game with their TD as the score was 19-12 Bandits with time winding down in the 4th. Larry Henderson found Anthony Temple for the game tying 55 yard TD with 2:44 to play. Tampa Bay punted but got the ball back with 0:26 left and Byrd got the Bandits in FG range and Edward Walter's 53 yard kick split the uprights for Tampa Bay's 2nd win in a row.
Hawaiians 20 SaberCats 10
San Jose came into this game undefeated and Jake Plummer started out hot with a 29 yard TD pass to Harold Hedberg for a 7-0 lead. Plummer finished the game 22/26, 140 yards and that TD. Honolulu had their offense working again as Anthony Davis ran for 103 yards and Derek Henry completed 18/27, 232 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT. Both TDs went to Mark Schram who caught 6 for 161 yards total. The Hawaiians defense limited San Jose after the initial TD and they hand the SaberCats their first loss of the season to tighten up the Pacific division.
Federals 16 Steamer 7
Shreveport came into the game undefeated and their defense had yet to allow a TD, and at the half they still hadn't allowed a TD as they trailed Washington 6-4. Yes you read that correctly, Washington kicked a pair of first half FGs while Tristan Arnold was sacked twice in the end zone for safeties. Arnold was sacked 7 times total today but he did complete a 45 yard TD pass to Andrew Favela in the 3rd qtr to retake the lead after a Steamer FG gave them a 7-6 lead. George Marcil threw 3 INTs and the Shreveport offense could not cut the deficit, losing their first game of the season.
Gunslingers 13 Gamblers 9
Version 4.6 is a strange beast as our 3 time champion Houston Gamblers had 402 yards of offense, Tony Dean was not sacked and they had just 1 lost fumble, yet they could not crack the end zone, settling for FGs in 3 red zone trips. The Gamblers were also just 1/10 on 3rd down while the Gunslingers converted 10/17. San Antonio got a TD pass from Robert Fanelli to Arthur McGrath on their opening drive and FGs on their next 2 drives to take a 13-0 lead. Houston tried to comeback but their lack of red zone execution allowed San Antonio to win, making both teams 3-2.
Express 17 Blitz 10
Gary Sappington ran for 120 yards and his 17 yard TD run in the 2nd qtr gave Los Angeles a 7-0 lead. That was the only score of the first half but Chicago got a FG in the 3rd and a John Gates TD early in the 4th to take a 10-7 lead. Mario Price tied it with a 54 yard FG a few minutes later. With the clock winding down, Chicago was trying to get in FG position when Robert Krone fumbled after a reception and Fred Gargano picked up the loose ball and took it to the end zone for the game winning score. Los Angeles is now 4-1 on the season.
Storm 20 Outlaws 9
Oklahoma can run the ball quite well but the Outlaws are still struggling in the passing game. Eventually Raymond Settles will be a good QB once his attributes fully mature as he has a potential of 492/500 in the 5 main QB traits. In the meantime there will be more 2/11, 23 yard games where they manage just 3 FGs. Portland had been the top offense but they were held to 243 yards today, although they did score a pair of TDs. Emanuel Fugate had a 1st qtr TD pass and Jeffrey Frost had a 4th qtr TD run to put the game away for the 4-1 Storm.
Generals 26 Bell 7
Don Ferguson completed 31/46, 238 yards and 3 TDs, 2 to RB Kurt Cobain as the Generals roll Philadelphia. New Jersey held Philadelphia to 4 first downs, 124 yards, had 4 sacks and forced a pair of turnovers. David Koresh ran for 112 yards to take over the league lead in rushing as New Jersey improves to 4-1.
Blazers 15 Renegades 13
Florida won despite still not having an active kicker. I logged on and got one signed but the AI didn't put him in the depth chart. If we don't find an owner before the next game, I'll log in again and fix their depth chart. Florida got a 50 yard run by Manuel Aponte for a 6-0 lead, then they had an INT return for a TD by James McCormick for a 12-0 lead. Orlando got within 12-10 at halftime with a FG and a Trey Lyons TD pass to Jesse Carr, but Lyons threw 4 INTs today and a lost fumble gave the Renegades 5 turnovers for the game. Tough to overcome even against AI with a DE doing the kicking. Matthew Oneal made a 19 yard FG at the end of the 3rd for his first good FG in 11 tries (3/12 on XP). That was huge as Orlando got a FG early in the 4th to get within 15-13 but couldn't get any closer.
Maulers 20 Force 19
The first half was a kicking contest won by Georgia 2-1 for a 6-3 lead. The Force got a 65 yard punt return in the 3rd qtr by Daniel Franks and a Robert Hernandez TD pass for a 16-6 lead. Pittsburgh used the big play (they still have these in 4.6, sometimes) to get back in the game as Chad Magana broke free for an 84 yard TD to pull Pittsburgh within 3. Georgia added a FG before the 2 minute warning for a 6 point lead. Paul Marcum and Elias Williams decided to forgo the whole 2 minute drive thing and just score right away. Their 75 yard catch and run TD tied the game and the XP gave Pittsburgh the slim lead. The Maulers defense held the Force and win the game.
Showboats 10 Gold 3
We actually had a QB injury in this game as Andrew Brewer has a messed up ankle and should miss a few games. Hassan Hullinger came in the game to relieve him but neither QB could get into the red zone. Memphis got 110 combined yards from RB Steve Ransome and his TD pass from Erik McNamee was the difference in this defensive struggle. The Memphis win gives the Showboats sole possession of first in the Southwest.
Hornets 31 Thunderbolts 6
Charlotte had 430 yards of offense, 229 on the ground and the Hornets won the turnover battle 3-2 as they win big over Cleveland. Kenneth Olson ran for 107 yards to lead the RBBC while Mark McDuffie and David Delgadillo scored rushing TDs. Charlotte also got a TD pass from both Robert Ament and Jeremy McDonald while the defense held Cleveland to 142 yards as Charlotte improves to 3-2.
Bulls 17 (NY) Stars 3
New York continues to throw every down and the results continue to not be good as Damien Oleary completed 43/64, 281 yards and 5 INTs. Oleary was also sacked 4 times and lost 1 of the 2 fumbles for a grand total of 7 turnovers. Jacksonville only had 198 total yards and this was a 3-3 game late in the 4th when the Bulls finally took advantage of a couple of turnovers to score 14 points in 36 seconds around the 2 minute warning. Fredrick Whidden scored both times, first on a 5 yard pass from Derek Joyce, then on a 1 yard run as Jacksonville improves to 2-3 with the win.
VooDoo 20 Stallions 3
This was a 4.6 special as both teams combined for 352 total yards with just 1 TD the entire game. New Orleans led 9-3 late in the 4th when Donald Brown finally cracked the end zone with a 5 yard run. The 2 point conversion gave New Orleans a 17-3 lead and they would add on a FG as the VooDoo improve to 3-2.
Sun 23 Wheels 9
Detroit nearly doubled the yardage of Southern California 324-167, but Gabriel Flanagan was responsible for 4 of the Wheels 5 turnovers and the Sun took advantage. All 5 Southern California scores came as a result of turnovers, including a strip sack by Andy Epley that Jose Wright scooped up and took it into the end zone. The Sun also got a 1 yard Michael Johnson TD run while they held the Wheels out of the end zone all day.
Wranglers 21 Invaders 0
The one good thing for Oakland today was they committed zero turnovers, but it was an otherwise miserable game. The Invaders managed just 5 first downs and 65 total yards. They actually had 127 yards but allowed 7 sacks for minus 65 yards and converted just 1/10 3rd downs. Arizona had 384 total yards, 170 rushing but they scored 21 the hard way. QB Brian Carmichael completed 25/34, 236 yards and a TD, Brian Haworth booted 4 FGs and Chad Woodard sacked Vincent Worley in the end zone for a safety as Arizona gets their first win of the season.
