New Jersey Generals 16 Philadelphia Bell 13
These East division rivals were facing off for the third time this season and the winner of the rubber match will advance to the Divisional round. New Jersey got the ball first and punted, but Generals FS Hank Hill intercepted Bryant Smith to give the ball back to the offense in scoring position. Al Borland was wide right on a 47 yard FG try and we remained scoreless. Philadelphia would get on the board first with a 55 yard Steve Matthews FG and a 3-0 lead that didn't last very long. On the very next play from scrimmage, RB/WR Jeff Lebowski lined up at TE and was open down the seam where Antonio Martinez hit him in stride for a 75 yard TD and a 7-3 Generals lead. Later in the quarter, Al Borland connected on a 35 yard FG and the score was 10-3 New Jersey as we head to the 2nd.
Not much of note happened in the 2nd quarter besides a pair of Al Borland FGs and the teams head into the locker room with New Jersey leading 16-3.
Philadelphia got the ball to start the second half and they kept the ball for half of the 3rd quarter, thanks to a 12 play, 75 yard TD drive. Bryant Smith found Ryan Davis for the 8 yard TD pass that cut the lead to 16-10. The rest of the 3rd was uneventful and Philadelphia cut the lead further after another FG by Steve Matthews early in the 4th.
Two punts followed and New Jersey was in the process of bleeding the clock when Steve Ransome lost a fumble to give Philadelphia hope. They had 1:44 left to drive into FG range but they ended up turning it over on downs and with that, New Jersey advances.
Jacksonville Bulls 16 Orlando Renegades 9
These Southeast division rivals were facing off for the third time this season and the winner advances to the Divisional round. The first 6 drives ended with a punt so we skip to the 2nd quarter where Jacksonville QB Derek Joyce was intercepted by William Kimble, giving Orlando the ball in scoring range. The Renegades couldn't put it in the end zone but they did get a FG for a 3-0 lead. The next time Orlando got the ball Anthony Graves lost a fumble to give Jacksonville the ball on the Renegades 40. Orlando's defense forced a FG attempt, which was good but Lloyd Benally was offsides. It had been 4th and 3 so Jacksonville took the FG off the board for a 1st and goal at the 4. Derek Joyce fired a 4 yard TD pass to Peter Lowe on the next play and the extra point gave the Bulls a 7-3 lead they took into halftime.
The 3rd quarter saw an exchange of FGs, making the score 10-6 Jacksonville to begin the 4th. On the very first play of the quarter, Orlando QB Trey Lyons was intercepted by Howard Pfeil, leading to a Jacksonville FG and a 13-6 lead. Orlando pulled within 13-9 thanks to a FG with under 5 minutes to play, and they opted to attempt an onside kick, which failed. Derek Joyce would throw an interception but Orlando turned it over on downs, leading to a Jacksonville FG and a 16-9 lead. Orlando would have 1:47 to get the tying TD but they went four and out, allowing Jacksonville to kill the clock and advance.
Pittsburgh Maulers 31 Shreveport Steamer 7
Pittsburgh QB Brian White threw 3 TDs today, all to Agustin Fiecke and the Maulers defense shut down the Shreveport passing attack. White and Fiecke hooked up on a 75 yard TD on the first play from scrimmage for a 7-0 lead and that was it for first half scoring. Pittsburgh turned the ball over on downs once and missed a FG attempt, but the defense held the Steamer to 103 total yards all game long. Almost all of that was on the ground as QB Paul Marcum was 12/19 for 14 yards, being sacked once for minus 10, giving the Steamer 4 passing yards.
The second half saw a Pittsburgh FG followed by the 2nd and 3rd TDs by White/Fiecke for a 24-0 Maulers lead. The lone Shreveport highlight of the game came on this 97 yard kickoff return TD by John Gates to get within 24-7. That was it though as Pittsburgh put the icing on the cake with a 1 yard John King TD run and they advance with a 31-7 victory.
