Unlike the latest NFL playoffs, our Divisional Round had no drama at all with four blowouts, including three shutouts. The top 2 teams in each conference have advanced to our final four, and they all have top 10 offenses and defenses.
Portland Storm 37 Michigan Panthers 13
It was an emotional day for Michigan as the only owner/GM the team has ever known stepped down immediately following the game. Hellbringer missed the playoffs nine of the first ten years of the league, but since then has led the Panthers to the playoffs in 10 of the last 14 seasons. While they never made it to a World Bowl in a loaded conference, they were a threat to the last 14 years.
Portland got the ball first and punted, as did Michigan. The Storm's second possession lasted 13 plays, covering 93 yards but they couldn't quite get it in the end zone. The box score says they had a 4th and 1 from the 0 yard line, so they were within inches of 7 but opted for 3. The Storm's next drive was a 12 play, 84 yard TD drive to give Portland a 10-0 lead early in the 2nd. Rigoberto Swanson did the honors with a 3 yard TD run, more about him later.
Michigan and Will Allison responded with a 10 play, 83 yard TD drive of their own. Harvey Williams caught Allison's 17 yard scoring toss to cut the lead to 10-7. Portland answered with an 8 play, 75 yard TD drive that ended with Rigoberto Swanson plunging in for his 2nd TD of the game. Portland got the ball back inside the 2 minute warning with a 17-7 lead and they seemed content with that. The Storm started the drive with a 13 yard run but opted to let the clock run. They ran the ball again on the next play and Rigoberto Swanson capped off his great first half with a 69 yard TD run, his 3rd score of the half. Swanson finished the game with 157 rushing yards on 14 carries.
Michigan got the ball to start the second half and they did kick a FG to get within 14 points, but that's as close as they could get the rest of the game. Portland racked up 30 first downs, 557 total yards including 311 on the ground. Jeffrey Frost ran for 103 yards on 17 carries to give the Storm a pair of 100 yard rushers as Portland finds itself in the Conference Championship Game for the 2nd straight season.
Oklahoma Outlaws 24 San Jose SaberCats 0
Oklahoma set the tone for this game early with some tough defense. San Jose Owner/GM Smirt is known for his offensive prowess across MFN and his SaberCats had the 5th best offense in the league this season, but the Outlaws forced 3 turnovers and a pair of three and outs on the first 5 drives, then rode that momentum to victory.
San Jose got the ball first and went three and out. Oklahoma RB Patrick Clark would lose a fumble though, giving the SaberCats the ball in Outlaws territory. William Jung caused the fumble and recovered it for San Jose, but just two plays later, Zachary Martinez did the exact same thing to Gary Sappington. This time Oklahoma put the ball in the end zone thanks to a 57 yard Raymond Settles TD pass to Paul Wicklund for a 7-0 lead. On San Jose's next drive, Jake Plummer was intercepted by Zachary Martinez, who returned it 46 yards down to the SaberCats 13 yard line. Patrick Clark then atoned for his fumble by accounting for all 13 yards on the short TD drive, running the score in from 9 yards out. The defenses settled in for the rest of the half as Oklahoma took a 14-0 lead into the locker room.
The 3rd quarter was much of the same until Patrick Clark's 2nd TD, a 4 yard run to give Oklahoma a 21-0 lead with 21 minutes to play. The Outlaws defense carried the rest of the game and Oklahoma advances to the Conference Championship Game.
New Jersey Generals 26 Charlotte Hornets 0
Nobody scored in the first quarter of this game, although New Jersey likely would have without this Don Ferguson interception. Ferguson had the Generals just outside of the red zone when James Brown ended the drive early. Several punts followed until New Jersey finally broke through for a TD. Don Ferguson found Happy Gilmore for a 51 yard TD and a 7-0 lead. A few more punts preceded the 2 minute warning, which saw New Jersey facing a 2nd and goal from the 4. Don Ferguson hit Anthony Booker for a 4 yard TD pass and a 14-0 halftime lead.
The second half started with 3 three and outs, two by New Jersey, although Charlotte was pinned at their own 6. A holding penalty took the ball back to the 3, then Andy Sipowicz collared Robert Ament for a safety with a sack in the end zone. Some more three and outs followed until an Al Borland 29 yard FG early in the 4th pushed the Generals lead up to 19-0. Charlotte kicked a FG with 4:32 left but a holding penalty wiped it out and they punted. Richard Cole lost a fumble on the next Hornets possession, resulting in a Jeff Lebowski 10 yard TD run to put the icing on the cake as New Jersey hosts the Conference Championship next week.
Don Ferguson had 354 passing yards and 2 TDs for New Jersey, with WR Happy Gilmore catching 1 of the scores among his 5 for 163 yards.
Shreveport Steamer 27 Washington Federals 0
This game was over with early as Shreveport scored on all 5 first half possessions and the Steamer defense held Washington to 109 total yards. Shreveport got the ball first and drove 75 yards in 12 plays, taking a 7-0 lead on Scott Randall's 8 yard TD run. The Shreveport defense forced a three and out before the Steamer offense was at it again. This time they drove 73 yards in 10 plays with Herbert Young scoring on a 2 yard run for a quick 14-0 lead. The defense got off the field in 6 plays, allowing the offense to add a FG for a 17-0 lead before the Steamer defense had a three and out. Scott Randall sealed the game with a 73 yard TD run, putting Shreveport in control 24-0. Washington would finally drive a bit, but Steve Jones was wide right on a 52 yard FG try. Shreveport would add a FG just before halftime to take a 27-0 lead into the locker room.
The second half was uneventful as Washington had zero offensive snaps in Steamer territory and the Shreveport offense was in clock killing mode. Shreveport heads back to New Jersey for the Conference Championship for the second consecutive season.
RB Scott Randall had 24 carries, 217 yards and 2 TDs. The 217 yards is the 3rd most in USFL post season history, behind Jake Peralta's 272 for Denver in 1991 and the 252 yards Jose Moses put up for Portland in 1993. Randall also caught 5 for 54 yards, earning top POTW honors.
