As I stated in Week 6 blog (it was going to be a combined blog for weeks 6/7) we scored 552 points this week with 7 games totaling 40 or more. We must have had some good weather, bad defense, or whatever but Week 8 saw us back to "normal" scoring levels. Since I am behind, let's just get to it.
Memphis scored a league season high 52 points as Erik McNamee showed off his arm and his wheels. QBs will take off and run in 4.6 and McNamee had a 73 yard TD run to open the scoring. McNamee then went on to light up the New Orleans defense for 6 TD passes and 342 yards. Thomas Ballard (2-125), Richard Harris (4-101) and Wayne Ross (5-22) caught 2 TDs each while Steve Ransome chipped in 94 rushing yards. San Jose had a pair of 100 yard rushers while New York might not have 100 yards rushing as a team this entire season. Frank Huber ran for 110 yards and a TD while Rodney Richardson ran for 104, and if that wasn't enough, Jake Plummer was almost perfect. Plummer completed 27/31, 318 yards and 4 TDs, with Harold Marshall catching 3 of the scores and topped 100 receiving yards (7-107). New Jersey got 330 yards passing and 4 TDs from Don Ferguson and 116 rushing yards from Kurt Cobain to lead the offense. The Generals made life rough for Boston QB Adam Scales, holding him to 7/25, 47 yards, 2 INTs and 4 sacks. Houston got 2 TD passes from Tony Dean and 188 yards rushing from Francisco Russell and the Gamblers defense kept Oklahoma off the scoreboard. The Outlaws ran the ball well but continue to hide their passing game until they feel comfortable unleashing Settles. Jacksonville didn't play a great offensive game, but they made less mistakes than Philadelphia. Derek Joyce threw 3 TDs and 2 INTs while the Bulls also lost a pair of fumbles for 4 turnovers, but Joyce was not sacked. Bell QB Tony Romo wasn't so lucky, getting sacked 6 times and throwing 4 INTs to go with 2 lost fumbles. Southern California QB Sean Ogden threw 3 TD passes but also 3 INTs as the Sun lose a close game against Honolulu. The Hawaiians got 2 Derek Henry TD passes and 117 rushing yards from Anthony Davis, and their defense allowed nothing after they took a 24-21 lead in the 4th. Michigan jumped out to a 21-3 2nd qtr lead before Cleveland chipped away. They got a FG to end the half, pulling within 21-6, then got a pair of John Crisp 4th qtr TD passes and a 2 point conversion to tie the game late. Cleveland got the ball back with less than a minute to play and Crisp was intercepted trying to avoid OT. That gave the Panthers instant FG range and Jonathan Ruch's 51 yard FG at the gun gives Michigan the win. Los Angeles had 380 yards of offense but couldn't crack the end zone, and they found themselves trailing 13-12 after Detroit got a 7 yard James Fischer TD run late in the 3rd. The Wheels turned it over twice in the 4th qtr though, and the Express got a 5th Mario Price FG inside the 2 minute warning to escape with the win. Denver is still without Andrew Brewer, but Hassan Hullinger had the Gold up 27-7 at the half and things looked great. San Antonio played much better defense in the second half, forcing a pair of turnovers and allowing no more points, but the Gunslingers could only manage 3 FGs and the comeback fell short. Portland had 410 offensive yards and Emanuel Fugate had a pair of TD passes in the Storm's win over Tampa Bay. The Bandits Dwayne Byrd threw for 260 yards but also had an INT and was sacked 4 times and he had no support from the running game. Chicago got 115 yards rushing and a TD from John Gates but the Blitz still trailed Charlotte 12-7 after 3 quarters. Ronald Brown had a 4th qtr TD pass and the 2 point run was good as Chicago took the lead for good and they hold on for their first win of the season. Baltimore played turnover free football and the Stars defense made life rough for the Washington offense, intercepting Tristan Arnold twice and sacking him 5 times. Arizona and Oakland got together for their 2nd game this season and the Invaders fubled away their chance at their first victory of the season. The game was tied 10-10 early in the 4th when Vincent Worley was sacked, fumbled, and returned for a TD. Curtis Prevatte pulled the trifecta (sack, fumble rec, TD) and that was the winning margin for the Wranglers. Pittsburgh only had 180 total yards, but they forced 3 Birmingham turnovers and turned 2 short fields into TDs. The Stallions had 270 total yards but Norman Maldonado threw 2 INTs and they turned it over on downs twice in the 4th qtr as the Maulers hang on for victory. Former WR turned RB Glen Hampron ran for 107 yards and a TD as Georgia hosted Orlando. The Force led 10-6 in the 4th when Trey Lyons had the Renegades in the red zone seeking the go ahead TD. Lyons was intercepted however, and Georgia holds on for the win. Florida ran 51 times for 192 yards to control the clock despite 4/11 passing by Willie Graham. Shreveport didn't have much offensive success today, turning it over 3 times (1 INT, 2 lost fumbles), and their lone TD was a defensive score.
