1982 Week 9 Roundup: No More Unbeatens

The league's final undefeated team, the Houston Gamblers, are undefeated no longer.

Timothy Hall, WLB, Oklahoma

The Oklahoma defense shut out Houston for the first 54 minutes, limiting them to 218 yards and forcing five turnovers in a 23-7 Outlaws victory.

Houston QB Mario Valencia had perhaps the worst day of his storied career. He finished with a QBR of 20.45, being picked off four times and completing just 17 of 44 pass attempts. Oklahoma WLB Timothy Hall had two of those interceptions and DT Andrew Wu recorded three sacks. Outlaws RB Patrick Hiebert had a rushing TD and a receiving TD. Three of Oklahoma's five scoring drives began inside the Houston 40.

The Gamblers (8-1) were looking to tie last year's franchise record for victories in a season. Oklahoma (3-6), after a 1-6 start, has back-to-back wins over playoff contenders Houston and the Chicago Blitz.

In other Week 9 games:

• The Southern California Sun trailed Charlotte, 20-10, with 5:34 to play, but rallied to beat the Hornets, 27-20, and earn their first victory of the season. Two interceptions by the SoCal defense led to the last 10 points. The Sun were the league's last winless team.
• The Honolulu Hawaiians took a two-game lead in the Pacific Division by edging Los Angeles, 16-15, the fourth consecutive loss for the Express. Los Angeles drove from its 18 to the Honolulu 41 with 1:23 to play, but a fourth-down pass was knocked down by Honolulu's Eugene Holland and the Hawaiians ran out the clock.
• The Michigan Panthers have a two-game lead in the Midwest Division after Cleveland and Chicago both lost. The Panthers took care of business with a 10-7 win over the Georgia Force on John Bibler's 26-yard field goal with 2:45 to play.
• Shreveport RB Nolan Ring had 56 yards rushing and 132 receiving and James Hooper kicked a 55-yard field goal on the game's final play as the Steamer edged the Chicago Blitz, 16-13. Shreveport had lost five of its previous six.
• Tampa Bay rookie SS Clifford Swank was credited with 11 tackles during a 21-12 win over the Florida Blazers that vaulted the Bandits over .500 at 5-4.
• The Birmingham Stallions scored 17 unanswered points in the final 7 minutes to pull away from the Pittsburgh Maulers, 34-17. QB Nolan Loos tossed four TD passes. Birmingham rookie TE Mario Burton has 46 receptions and five TDs on the season
• Baltimore SS David Dangerfield made 13 tackles and intercepted two passes during a 13-7 win over the San Jose SaberCats.
• Memphis and Portland combined for 35 points in the fourth quarter before the Storm finally prevailed, 27-24. The teams combined for nine interceptions, two by veteran Storm CB John Borkowski. Memphis WR Jerome Betancourt had four catches for 154 yards (38.5 per catch), including TDs of 63 and 69 yards, and is averaging 23.4 yards on his 37 receptions this season.

Week 10 Preview

The Washington Federals (7-2) will try to defend their Atlantic Division lead over the second-place Pittsburgh Maulers (6-3). The Michigan Panthers (7-2) host the Chicago Blitz (5-4) in a big Midwest Division game. The Cleveland Thunderbolts (5-4) at the Birmingham Stallions (5-4) looks interesting and may have postseason implications for both.

Record Book

• Baltimore QB Fred Murphy, who completed 71 percent of his passes last year and had a 98.44 QBR, has completed 47 percent this season for a 41.93 QBR. Murphy, Oklahoma's Gene Nowlin and Portland's Oscar Willis are tied for the league lead in interceptions (19).
• Birmingham CB Kelly Acosta has intercepted 10 passes this season. The USFL/WFL single-season record is 13, set by Pittsburgh's Bradley Martinez in 1978.
• Memphis RB Douglas Donald tied a league record with four rushing TDs against Oklahoma earlier this season. Six players have scored four rushing TDs in a game (Pittsburgh's John Murray twice).

1982 Week 8 Roundup: Then There Was One

 It came like a Thunderbolt out of the blue.

The Cleveland Thunderbolts scored in ways both conventional and unconventional to hand the New Orleans VooDoo their first loss, 19-7, as the season reached the halfway point.

Cleveland CB Brady Kizer returned a fumble 33 yards for a TD and WR Jose Beamon returned a kickoff 96 yards for a TD. The Cleveland defense limited the VooDoo to 13 yards rushing as WLB Richard Randall made 13 tackles.

The New Orleans loss left Houston (8-0) as the only unbeaten team in the USFL/WFL. The Gamblers rolled past the Florida Blazers, 38-9. Cleveland (5-3) pulled into a second-place tie with the Chicago Blitz in the Midwest Division, one game behind the Michigan Panthers. The Thunderbolts were coming off a 13-10 loss to the San Jose SaberCats.

In other Week 8 games:

• Oakland RB Stephen Demmer had his second 110-yard kickoff return of the season as the Invaders surprised the Portland Storm, 17-7. No other player in USFL/WFL history has returned two kickoffs for 110 yards each. Portland (6-2) still holds a two-game lead in the West Division.
• Michigan CB Robert Kimball intercepted two passes and the Panthers forced 12 Birmingham turnovers in beating the Stallions, 26-14. The win enabled Michigan to take sole possession of first place in the Midwest Division.
• Washington RB Cory Martin ran for 239 yards and two TDs and caught a TD pass as the Federals whipped the Southern California Sun, 47-6. Martin's performance was No. 8 on the league's all-time single game rushing list.
• Jacksonville QB Charles Evans was 37-for-51 passing for 430 yards and four TDs as the Bulls outlasted the Memphis Showboats, 37-28. Memphis WR Jerome Betancourt caught five passes for 190 yards (38 yards per catch).
• The Denver Gold scored twice in the last 4 minutes, but New Jersey held on for a 30-25 victory that improved the Generals to 7-1. Stephan Labelle fired three TD passes and the New Jersey defense intercepted Denver QB Dustin Nichols four times.

Week 9 Preview

The Honolulu Hawaiians (5-3) carry a one-game lead in the Pacific Division into their game at Los Angeles (4-4). Division leaders meet when the New Orleans VooDoo (7-1) hosts the Washington Federals (6-2). The Oakland Invaders (4-4) are at the Denver Gold (4-4) in what may turn out to be a vital game in the West Division.

1982 Week 7 Roundup: Boston Makes 'Em Pay

Highlights have often been difficult to come by for the Boston franchise, but Friday will be a day Breakers fans remember for a while.

Boston's defense came up big time and again in the fourth quarter as the Breakers (2-5) stunned the Atlantic Division-leading Pittsburgh Maulers, 20-9.

William Putnam, K, Boston

The Maulers (5-2) piled up nearly twice the net yardage (362 to 188), and ran 84 plays to Boston' 53, but couldn't get the yards they needed late in the game. They gave the ball up on downs on four consecutive fourth-quarter drives.

Pittsburgh, trailing 10-9, decided to go for it on fourth-and-6 from its own 23 with 8:10 to play. Boston DT David Brooks sacked Maulers QB Ryan Tate as he tried to scramble out of the pocket, ending that drive and setting up James Lightfoot's 16-yard TD pass to veteran WR William Ramsey that widened the gap to 17-9.

The Maulers went for it again on fourth-and-6, this time from their own 29 with 6:07 to play, and Eric Metcalf dropped Tate's pass. Four plays later, William Putnam kicked a 42-yard field goal that made it 20-9.

Reserve QB Scott Deal's fourth-and-1 pass from the Maulers 33 was knocked down by MLB David Burt with 2:43 to go. Pittsburgh's final drive moved as close as the Boston 14, but four consecutive passes ended that possession.

Breakers CB Charles Bowles and SS Earl Little combined for 21 tackles.

Boston had been 0-3 all-time against Pittsburgh, losing 37-13 (1980), 37-10 (1977), and 61-21 (1975).

In other Week 7 games:

• Los Angeles kicker Roger Ruzich missed two field goal attempts in the game's final 1:04 as the Honolulu Hawaiians escaped with a 13-10 victory and pulled into a first-place tie with the Express atop the Pacific Division. Ruzich, who had been 15-for-17 this season, misfired from 53 yards away with 1:04 to go and from 52 yards out on the game's final play. The Hawaiians had tried to give the game away by continuing the pass the ball with 58 seconds to play and a 3-point lead, and an interception by the Express set up Ruzich's failed final attempt.
• The Portland Storm seized a two-game lead in the West Division by shutting down the Denver Gold, 27-3. The Portland defense limited Denver QB Dustin Nichols to 184 yards passing and intercepted him twice.
• Mario Valencia threw for 409 yards and six TDs as the undefeated Houston Gamblers destroyed the San Antonio Gunslingers, 52-3. Gamblers WR James Connelly had 116 yards rushing and 146 receiving and rookie WR Gabriel Aherens caught three TD passes. Houston MLB Roderick Carver made eight tackles, intercepted a pass, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble
• Oakland CB James Fraga was credited with 15 tackles, second-most in a single game by a player this season, but Philadelphia QB Roy Rhyne threw a 64-yard TD pass to WR Jim Nicholls and Robert Albertson kicked four field goals during the Bell's 19-7 victory.
• New Jersey rookie RB Magic Johnson ran for 114 yards and a TD during a 33-5 win over the Arizona Wranglers.

Week 8 Preview

The Memphis Southmen (5-2) at the Jacksonville Bulls (4-2-1) looks like an interesting matchup, as does the Denver Gold (4-3) at the New Jersey Generals (6-1) and the Birmingham Stallions (4-3) at the Michigan Panthers (5-2).

Record Book

• Ruzich may have been the goat Friday, but he kicked seven field goals against Pittsburgh earlier this season. That is one short of the league's single-game record of eight, shared by New Jersey's Dustin Henry and Shreveport's James Hooper, both in 1980.
• Houston's James Connelly had 334 total yards against San Antonio in Week 7, highest this season. and the most since Detroit's John Risinger had 449 against Jacksonville in 1979.
• Oakland Invaders RB Stephen Demmer returned a kickoff 110 yards for a TD against Houston earlier this season, tying the league record. There have been 16 110-yard returns in league history.

1982 Week 6 Roundup: Return of the Maulers

The Pittsburgh Maulers' long hibernation is apparently over.

QB Ryan Tate threw TD passes of 59 and 56 yards and Cliff Thomas rushed for 80 of his 145 yards on one carry as the Maulers improved to 5-1 by pulling away from the Southern California Sun, 24-3, in Anaheim.

Cliff Thomas, RB, Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh won the first six Atlantic Division titles and appeared in World Bowl II, then missed the playoffs the last two seasons.

Thomas and John Murray have been stars from the day they were taken with the 10th and 18th round picks in the 1974 allocation draft. They have already combined for nearly 700 yards rushing and 350 yards receiving in six games. The Maulers rank sixth in the league in total yards allowed per game (248) as LDE Eric Read has five sacks, tied for fourth in the league.

SoCal rookie WLB Roderick Vanbrunt was credited with 11 tackles and intercepted a pass, but the Sun remained the league's only winless team.

In other Week 6 games:

• The New Orleans VooDoo (6-0) are one of the league's two unbeaten teams after shutting down the Birmingham Stallions, 17-2. The Stallions were limited to 117 total yards and avoided being shut out only due to a safety with just over 2 minutes to play. New Orleans RDE Jeffrey Alfaro had two sacks, WLB Paul Rivera made seven tackles and forced a fumble and CB Larry Ackman also had seven tackles. 
• Houston is also 6-0 following a 21-10 win over the Denver Gold. The Gamblers scored back-to-back fourth-quarter TDs on 88- and 81-yard drives.
• New Jersey CB Kerry Justin intercepted three passes, returning one for a TD, during the Generals' 30-9 dismantling of the Jacksonville Bulls. Justin has five pickoffs this season, tied for second in the league with Houston's Roderick Carver behind Birmingham's Kelly Acosta (7).
• Washington WR Allan Boyer caught nine passes for 224 yards and two TDs as the Federals stayed within a game of the Pittsburgh Maulers in the Atlantic Division with a 19-10 win over the Baltimore Stars.
• Charlotte RB Jerry Roux had 69 rushing yards and 84 receiving yards and a TD during the Hornets' 24-10 victory over the Georgia Force.
• Daniel Hall's 25-yard field goal with 9 seconds to play capped a 16-play drive and gave the Detroit Wheels a 12-10 win over the Los Angeles Express. Detroit rookie WR Billy Brink had 80 rushing yards and 30 receiving yards.

Week 7 Preview

The Denver Gold (4-2) will try to win at Portland (5-1) and force a tie atop the West Division. The Honolulu Hawaiians (3-3) would like to do the same with a victory over the Los Angeles Express (4-2). The Birmingham Stallions (4-2) are at Washington (4-2) in a battle of teams currently in second place in their divisions. The Philadelphia Bell (3-3) host the Oakland Invaders (3-3), two teams trying to stay above .500 and in the playoff race.

Coach's Profile

Cdog13157, Oakland Invaders

Cdog13157

Playing MFN Since: February 7, 2018
Hometown (town, state): St. Paul, MN
Current residence (town, state): Same
Day job: Student
Favorite teams (all sports): Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, OKC Thunder
A real-life sports experience: Not much, other than flag football.
A fantasy sports experience: MFN/fantasy football
Coach's Corner: (tip for a new MFN coach): If ur lazy like me, join more Rosters Only leagues than leagues with game plans.

1982 Week 5 Roundup: Time to Gallop

Nolan Loos, Birmingham

The Birmingham Stallions have broken out of the gate nicely.

Four seasons ago, head coach Wolveraider took over a team that was a bit of a mess in terms of age and salary cap. He resigned himself to taking his lumps for a while, traded away some veterans and expensive stars, and waited for his time to come. After a combined 13-35 record over the first three seasons of that process, Birmingham's time has apparently arrived.

The Stallions improved to 4-1 by outscoring the Detroit Wheels, 36-20, behind three TD passes from 11th-year pro QB Nolan Loos.

Birmingham's four victories have come at the expensive of three 1981 playoff teams. The other came against the Georgia Force, who missed last season's playoffs by one game.

Loos, who has a 100.08 QBR after five games, has been an interesting find off the free agent scrap heap.

Loos was taken by Philadelphia in the 34th round of the 1974 allocation draft, then released before the season began. He was a backup for three seasons with the Southern California Sun, then signed with (but never played for) Philadelphia again, New Jersey, Houston, and SoCal again before the Stallions stunned Loos (and his agent) with a four-year, $20.8-million offer in Day 2 of 1982 free agency.

CB Kelly Acosta, a first-round bust for Houston in 1980, has intercepted seven passes. SS Duane Dupree leads the team with 37 tackles. MLB Corey Dodson intercepted two passes against Detroit.

In other Week 5 games:

• John Bibler's 35-yard field goal as time expired lifted the Michigan Panthers to a 10-9 win over the San Antonio Gunslingers. The Panthers drove from their own 4 to the San Antonio 16 during an amazing 14-play drive that included nine pass completions by QB Jerry Ruiz, one on fourth down.
• A touchdown pass and a safety in the final 1:31 gave the New Orleans VooDoo a 23-20 triumph over the Chicago Blitz in a battle of division leaders.
• Chester Dougherty's 9-yard TD pass to Christopher Henderson with 1:57 to play lifted the Cleveland Thunderbolts past the Shreveport Steamer, 17-13, and into a three-way tie with Chicago and Michigan for the Midwest Division lead.
• Baltimore rookie WR Knob Creek caught eight passes for 162 yards and two TDs as the Stars earned their first victory, 29-21, over the Georgia Force. WR Jonathan Carlyle of the Force returned two kickoffs for TDs, covering 100 and 96 yards, and also caught a 75-yard TD pass.
• The Boston Breakers picked up their first victory of the 1982 season by edging the New York Stars, 10-3, on Shawn Whitmire's 41-yard TD pass to Joseph Clark with 37 seconds to play. Boston had snapped its 29-game losing streak with a victory over Orlando in last season's Week 16.
• Honolulu QB David McBroom was 26-for-33 passing for 493 yards and six TDs during a 59-3 rout of the Southern California Sun. WR Mark Moody averaged 34.8 yards on his five receptions, including TD receptions of 12 and 75 yards.
• Memphis CB Albert Arsenault made nine tackles, intercepted a pass, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble during the Showboats' 40-16 triumph over the Oklahoma Outlaws. Oklahoma QB Gene Nowlin was picked off three times and now leads the league with 16 intercepted passes.
• The Pittsburgh Maulers (4-1) maintained their Atlantic Division lead with a 24-0 shutout of the Florida Blazers that included Brandon Elam's interception return for a TD. Florida MLB Lyle Maldanodo made nine tackles, intercepted a pass, and forced a fumble.
• Denver WR Corey True had 138 yards rushing, 108 yards receiving, and a TD from both positions as the Gold (4-1) remained tied with Portland (4-1) atop the West Division with a 36-14 triumph over the Arizona Wranglers.

Week 6 Preview

The Denver Gold (4-1) will try to hand the Houston Gamblers (5-0) their first loss. The Jacksonville Bulls (4-1) are at New Jersey (4-1) in a battle of division leaders. The Birmingham Stallions (4-1) will try to earn a share of the South Division lead with a win at New Orleans (5-0).

Coach's Profile

Chandyo, New York Stars

Playing MFN Since: August 2016

Hometown (town, state): Fort Smith, Arkansas

Chandyo

Current residence (town, state): Same

Day job: Level 2 IT tech 

Favorite teams (all sports): Arkansas Razorbacks (football) and Baltimore Ravens. I only really watch football, but if I had to pick on the others, they would be Atlanta Braves (MLB), Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) and Columbus Crew (MLS). 

A real-life sports experience: I was able to finally attend a Baltimore Ravens game, a couple of years ago. It was the final game of the season, but, sadly, had to go to Cincinnati to watch it. Ihave attended several Arkansas Razorback football games. 

A fantasy sports experience: I've been playing fantasy football for about 8-10 years. Currently own/run two fantasy football leagues, One is a re-draft and the other is a dynasty. 

Coach's Corner: (tip for a new MFN coach): Don't be afraid to ask questions and speed is supreme.

1982 Week 4 Roundup: Getting That Mojo Back

They seem to be getting their old mojo back down in The Big Easy.

Paul Rivera, WLB, New Orleans

The New Orleans VooDoo struggled through an odd season in 1981. They went through four coaches and finished 5-11, the second-worst record in franchise history. Head coach greyghost1225 came out of semi-retirement in the offseason to right the ship and suddenly the VooDoo are back in their accustomed spot at or near the top of the South Division.

A fumble recovery for a TD early in the fourth quarter put the VooDoo ahead for good as they improved to 4-0 by rallying past the Michigan Panthers, 21-16, at the Superdome.

New Orleans LDE Thomas Mandell stripped Michigan QB Jerry Ruiz and RDE Paul Walker returned the fumble 23 yards for the TD, followed by a 2-point conversion, that turned a 9-7 deficit into a 15-9 lead. Ruiz was intercepted by WLB Paul Rivera on Michigan's next offensive play, setting up a field goal that made it 18-9.

In other Week 4 games:

• The Houston Gamblers improved to 4-0 by scoring the last 21 points to pull away from the Arizona Wranglers, 42-27. MLB Roderick Carver intercepted three passes, returning one for a TD, and made eight tackles. QB Mario Valencia passed for 299 yards and four TDs and WR John Risinger caught five passes for 111 yards and two scores.
• It appears the West Division is going to be as tight this year as most years. Arizona's loss, coupled with wins by Portland, Denver, and Oakland left three teams at 3-1 and the Invaders only a game back at 2-2. Steven Demmer's 58-yard TD run was the highlight for the Invaders in their 22-0 shutout of the Boston Breakers.
• Jacksonville MLB Philip Williamson made 10 tackles and picked off a pass during the Bulls' 23-20 win over the Florida Blazers. Williamson leads the USFL/WFL with 43 tackles.
• The Memphis Showboats scored the last 24 points to outdo the San Antonio Gunslingers, 27-9. Memphis RB Timothy Corral ran for a pair of TDs. San Antonio CB Jim Morrison was credited with 10 tackles and intercepted two passes.
• Chicago RB Max Howard ran for 149 yards and a TD on 19 carries (7.84 per carry) and caught five passes for 108 yards (21.6 per reception) as the Blitz (3-1) maintained first place in the Midwest Division with a 23-10 win over the Detroit Wheels.
• Charlotte RB Jerry Roux rushed for 70 yards and caught for passes for 76 more as the Hornets nipped the Tampa Bay Bandits, 18-16. Tampa Bay's Thomas Hummel was wide right on a 50-yard field goal attempt with 1:24 to play.
• The Georgia Force managed only 149 net yards, but claimed an oddball 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Bell via a second-quarter safety. Philadelphia K Robert Albertson missed a 48-yard field goal attempt on the game's final play.

Week 5 Preview

The Orlando Renegades (2-2) could force a first-place tie atop the Southeast Division with a win over the Jacksonville Bulls (3-1). The Portland Storm (3-1) host the Philadelphia Bell (3-1) in a battle of division co-leaders. The Arizona Wranglers (3-1) and Denver Gold (3-1) will both try to maintain their share of the West Division lead. Division leaders meet when the New Orleans VooDoo (4-0) travel to Chicago to face the Blitz (3-1).

Record Book

• Pittsburgh Maulers QB Ryan Tate tied a league record when he was intercepted eight times against Los Angeles earlier this season. Former Los Angeles QB Gene Nowlin was intercepted by the Georgia Force eight times during a 1975 game.
• Former Portland Storm QB William Hill, now with Shreveport, ranks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 on the list for most pass completions in a game (55, 53, 50, 47, 45). He was 55-for-64 against Tampa Bay last season.
• The highest average per carry for 10 or more rushing attempts is 20.1 (11 carries, 221 yards) by Pittsburgh's Cliff Thomas against the Washington Federals in 1976.
• Denver's Michael Sonnenberg and Florida's Arthur Strickland have both returned punts for TDs this season. No player in USFL/WFL history has ever managed two punt return TDs in the same game and there were five consecutive seasons (1975-79) in which there were no punt return TDs.

1982 Week 3 Roundup: The Upside-Down Division

Somebody has turned the Southwest Division upside-down this season.

Roderick Carver, Houston

The Houston Gamblers scored 18 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Oklahoma Outlaws, 32-15, and take over sole possession of the division lead. Veteran QB Mario Valencia was 24-for-36 passing for 225 yards and three TDs, MLB Roderick Carver was credited with 12 tackles, and RDE August Peterson recorded three sacks.

Time for some perspective.

Houston (3-0) was 9-7 last season, the first winning record in franchise history. Head coach setherick took over a disaster during the 1980 season and created financial stability and a winning team. The Gamblers had finished last in the Southwest every season until 1980.

Oklahoma (0-3), meanwhile, is scuffling after having gone a combined 39-9 the last three seasons and  having won the division three times in the last five years. Veteran QB Gene Nowlin, brought in to replace the retired Dale Brown, has a 47.25 QBR so far (4 TDs, 12 INT) and has been sacked 12 times.

In other Week 3 games:

• Washington WR Allan Boyer caught TD passes of 93, 56, and 65 yards to help the Federals outlast the Charlotte Hornets, 34-31, in overtime. Boyer caught nine passes on the day for 324 yards, but it was John Broussard's strip sack of Hornets QB Stanley Snyder that set up the game-winning field goal in OT. Snyder has lost 60 fumbles in his three-plus seasons as Charlotte's QB.
• Michigan QB Jerry Ruiz completed 25 of 34 passes for 296 yards and five TDs as the Panthers dominated the San Jose SaberCats, 48-3. San Jose is still looking for its first touchdown after three games.
• Jacksonville MLB Philip Williamson made 12 tackles, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, and intercepted a pass at the 1-yard line late in the game as the Bulls claimed sole possession of first place in the Southeast Division with a 16-10 win over the Tampa Bay Bandits.
• Birmingham QB Nolan Loos completed 23 of 31 passes for 400 yards and four TDs as the Stallions romped past the Georgia Force, 44-7.
• The New Jersey Generals beat the Baltimore Stars in the playoffs last season on their way to a league championship. The teams met again Wednesday and New Jersey prevailed again, 10-6. Stars QB Fred Murphy was intercepted three times and ended the day with a 18.46 QBR. 
• James Perry fired a 69-yard TD pass to Jerome Betancourt on a defensive overuse penalty in OT, giving the Memphis Showboats a 12-6 win over the Cleveland Thunderbolts.
• Matthew Eno's 44-yard field goal with 1:46 to play lifted the Chicago Blitz over the Honolulu Hawaiians, 9-7.

Week 4 Preview

A pair of undefeated teams meet when the Houston Gamblers (3-0) host the Arizona Wranglers (3-0). The New Orleans VooDoo (3-0) hosts the Michigan Panthers (2-1) in a battle of division leaders. Playoff entrants from last season square off as the Honolulu Hawaiians (2-1) travel to meet the Denver Gold (2-1). The Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Express (3-0) host the Cleveland Thunderbolts (1-2). All three of Cleveland's games have been decided by 6 points or fewer.

Coach's Profile

cyclonelomax, Orlando Renegades

cyclonelomax

Playing MFN Since: I joined MFN in 2015, but only recently started getting really into it.

Hometown (town, state): Northern Virginia, just outside of D.C.

Current residence (town, state): Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

Day job: Mail carrier, U.S. Post Office

Favorite teams (all sports): D.C. teams and University of Virginia

A real-life sports experience: I have coached high school basketball at a private Christian school for several years.

Coach's Corner: (tip for a new MFN coach): Don't take yourself too seriously. Have fun.