Week 13 Roundup

Dustin Nichols, QB, Denver Gold

Two teams combined for 100 points in a crazy game that highlighted Week 13.

Oklahoma Outlaws WR Dusty Heckman caught eight passes for 355 yards (44.4 yards per catch) and four TDs (54, 86, 69, 66 yards) and returned a kickoff 107 yards for a TD during a wild 53-47 win over the Denver Gold.

The teams accumulated more than 1,300 yards total offense. Oklahoma's victory kept the Outlaws in the playoff hunt at 8-5.

Denver QB Dustin Nichols threw for 635 yards and five TDs, ranking No. 4 all-time in single-game passing yardage. David Judkins of the Orlando Renegades threw for 682 yards against the San Jose SaberCats earlier this season.

In other Week 13 games:

• The New Orleans VooDoo snapped Orlando's seven-game win streak by beating the Renegades, 18-12. New Orleans QB Ty Fleming was 19-for-23 passing and two TDs, including this one, where TE Henry Barrows carried a couple defenders on his back for most of 66 yards. WLB Ramon Boldt clinched the win with this interception.
• Baltimore Stars MLB Gregory Hubbard and CB Mark Murphy both had 11 tackles during a 22-3 loss to the Georgia Force, which snapped a three-game losing streak. Hubbard also recorded two sacks and Murphy intercepted a pass.
• Backup QB William Trombly made a start for the Los Angeles Express and made it a good one, completing 19 of 25 passes for 396 yards and six TDs during a 48-10 win over the Southern California Sun. Trombly led the Florida Blazers to a 1974 World Bowl victory before signing a free-agent contract with LAX.
• Cleveland QB Chester Dougherty was 17-for-22 passing for 431 yards and four TDs during a 50-10 win over the Michigan Panthers. Dougherty has a 108.08 QBR with the 'Bolts, nearly doubling his QBR with Houston (57.83) before being traded to Cleveland.
• The New Jersey Generals took a 40-6 halftime lead, then held on for a 40-29 win over the Boston Breakers. The Generals took over second place in the East Division behind five TD passes from Doug Fluty, including one on the first play from scrimmage.
• The Birmingham Stallions trailed the Charlotte Hornets, 30-20, in the fourth quarter before rallying to win, 37-30, on Agustin Cook's 26-yard TD pass to WR Matthew Morgan with 11 seconds to go.
• Maynard McLaughin's 50-yard field goal on the last play of the game gave the Jacksonville Bulls a 15-13 win over the Florida Blazers.
• The Detroit Wheels completed a season sweep of Midwest Division nemesis Chicago by beating the Blitz, 23-16 as Enrique Pacheco rushed for 111 yards and Mario Valencia threw for 271 yards and three TDs.
• The Arizona Wranglers rallied in the fourth quarter to edge the Oakland Invaders, 31-24, in a key West Division game. Arizona WLB Willie Garcia clinched the victory with a pickoff with 7 seconds to go.

Week 14 Preview

The Oklahoma Outlaws (8-5) find themselves in a must-win situation when they host the Arizona Wranglers (11-2). The New Jersey Generals (7-6), another must-win team, travel to Detroit to face the Wheels (11-2). A pair of 9-4 teams meet when the Los Angeles Express hosts the Portland Storm. Division leaders meet when the New Orleans VooDoo (10-3) hosts the New York Stars (8-5).

Welcome to the USFL/WFL

Please welcome PrivateSnowflake to the USFL/WFL as he takes over the Memphis Showboats. He is the fifth Memphis coach in three seasons. Most of this league's franchises have had stable leadership, but Memphis has been an exception, which is a head-scratcher. This is a franchise with a lot of potential.

Week 12 Roundup

Neal Boone, WR, Gamblers

Just when you thought things couldn't get any crazier.

The Houston Gamblers scored 14 unanswered points in the final 9 minutes to stun Oklahoma, 38-24, and knocked the Outlaws out of a first-place tie in the Southwest Division. Houston came into the game at 2-9; Oklahoma was 7-4. Houston was 1-14 all-time vs. division foes.

Rookie QB Walton Vasquez found WR Neal Boone in the back of the end zone from 10 yards away for the go-ahead TD, Boone's only catch of the day. The Gamblers forced three turnovers while not committing any. Two of those turnovers came in the final 4:16, leading to a pair of Daniel McCormick field goals.

Oklahoma's defeat gave San Antonio a one-game division lead. Gunslingers coach ToroTex reportedly sent a bouquet of yellow Texas roses to Houston coach Booger926.

In other Week 12 games:

• The Cleveland Thunderbolts pulled into a first-place tie with Detroit atop the Midwest Division by beating the Wheels, 27-19. Cleveland was clinging to a 20-19 lead when QB Chester Dougherty found WR Brent Reichman for a 17-yard score early in the fourth quarter. The teams meet again in Week 16.
• The Chicago Blitz, preseason favorites to win the World Bowl, are 7-5 and dangling perilously close to playoff elimination following a 31-13 loss at San Antonio. The Gunslingers scored all of their points in the second and third quarters, QB Tony Smith throwing two TD passes each to Steven Hooper and Kurt Taylor. All-Pro WR Donnie Baker suffered a concussion that will keep him out of this week's game against the Honolulu Hawaiians.
• The Orlando Renegades have won seven in a row under new coach setherick, having trounced the San Jose SaberCats, 63-34, while rolling up 810 yards total offense. Orlando QB David Judkins tied the USFL/WFL record for highest QBR (158.33) by completing 28 of 35 passes for 682 yards and seven TDs.
• The Tampa Bay Bandits (11-1) clinched a postseason berth by scoring 23 unanswered points in the final 20 minutes and beating the Birmingham Stallions, 50-35. Bandits WR Michael Popa caught 10 passes for 125 yards, RDE Stanley Dale recorded three sacks, and RB Ralph Allen had 98 yards rushing and 185 yards receiving.
• The Portland Storm stayed alive in the playoff race with a 24-13 win over the Arizona Wranglers, who have lost two of three after a 9-0 start. Norman Paulk's safety with 4:46 to play was the icing on the cake for Portland (8-4).
• Philadelphia nearly had its first win, but the Bell gave up the go-ahead TD with 2:09 to play, then inexplicibly punted with 1:41 to go in a 15-9 loss to the Florida Blazers.
• James Hooper's 40-yard field goal with 1:22 to play lifted the Shreveport Steamer to a 36-34 win over the Georgia Force. Shreveport has won 4 of 5 after a 1-6 start; Georgia has lost three in a row to fall into a first-place tie with the New Orleans VooDoo atop the South Division.
• The Memphis Showboats have won 3 of 4 under new head coach jmvda, including a 27-19 decision over the Baltimore Stars, the go-ahead TD coming on Joseph Cantwell's 60-yard heave to Gerard Hall.

Week 13 Preview

The Oakland Invaders (9-3) will try to force a tie atop the West Division when they travel to Arizona to face the Wranglers (10-2). The Los Angeles Express (8-4) can clinch the Pacific Division title with a win at the Southern California Sun (2-10). The Boston Breakers (6-6) are at the New Jersey Generals (6-6) in a key East Division game. The Pittsburgh Maulers (9-3), who have already wrapped up the Atlantic Division crown, host the red-hot Shreveport Steamer (5-7).

Record Book

• Detroit Wheels QB Mario Valencia stayed on track to become the league's all-time single-season passing leader with 382 yards during his team's loss to Cleveland.
• Birmingham Stallions LG Earl Murtagh has been on the field for 4,261 career snaps, more than any player in league history. In fact, second place isn't even close. Portland Storm LG Kenneth Addison is at 4,056.
• Boston Breakers K Timothy Riley has 25 career field goals from 50-plus yards. No other kicker has more tha 14.

Week 11 Roundup

Tony Smith, QB, Gunslingers

The San Antonio Gunslingers pulled back into a first-place tie with Oklahoma atop the Southwest Division by beating the Outlaws, 41-10, to highlight the Week 11 results.

Leon Crisman made nine tackles and had one of four interceptions by the Gunslingers, who led from start to finish while avenging a Week 3 loss to Oklahoma.

The Outlaws must still play Detroit (10-1) and Arizona (10-1) down the stretch, while San Antonio doesn't play a team with a winning record after this week's matchup with the Chicago Blitz.

In other Week 11 Games:

• Tampa Bay WR Michael Popa caught 14 passes for 356 yards and five TDs as the Bandits destroyed the Los Angeles Express, 61-24, in a battle of division leaders. Popa tied the league record for receptions in a game held jointly by Thomas Canale, New Orleans, 1974 and Brian Wesley, San Jose (now Portland), 1974. He fell two TDs short of Canale's 1974 single-game record and 28 yards shy of Canale's single-game record of 384.
• The Oakland Invaders pulled themselves right back into the playoff picture with a 35-31 win over the Georgia Force. Oakland trailed, 24-13, with fewer than 8 minutes to play but won the game on a 101-yard kickoff return by Christopher Curtis with 1:25 remaining.
• The New Orleans VooDoo (8-3) pulled within one game of the Georgia Force (9-2) in the South Division by edging the Birmingham Stallions, 23-19. New Orleans QB Ty Fleming threw a pair of TD passes in the first quarter, and the defense made that early lead stand up.
• The Southern California Sun have won back-to-back games for only the second time in franchise history, following up on last week's shocker over Chicago by edging the Michigan Panthers, 26-23. SoCal K James Hodge provided the margin of victory with a 32-yard field goal with 3:39 to go and SLB Jeffrey Crossman's interception with 13 seconds remaining sealed the outcome.
• The Philadelphia Bell nearly had their first victory of the season. Philadelphia led Boston, 23-10, entering the fourth quarter, but Roger Boyer threw a pair of TD passes in the final 4 minutes, including the game-winner on a defensive overuse penalty, to give the Breakers a 32-25 win.
• The Cleveland Thunderbolts snapped New Jersey's five-game winning streak, CB Steven Flanagan's pickoff of a Doug Fluty pass sealing a 20-17 win for the 'Bolts.
• Baltimore Stars QB Victor Gorman, playing on a bum ankle, still managed to throw for 580 yards and  8 TDs, one shy of the league record, during a 61-9 win over the Houston Gamblers.
• The Shreveport Steamer have won three of four after a 1-6 start, including a 10-6 victory at Portland in Week 11. Shreveport SS Mark Suazo clinched the win by picking off William Hill with 1:37 to go.

Week 12 Preview

First place in the tough Midwest Division is on the line when the Detroit Wheels (10-1) host the Cleveland Thunderbolts (9-2). The teams will meet again on the last week of the regular season.  Every game is critical now for the Portland Storm (7-4), who travel to face the Arizona Wranglers (10-1). The same can be said for the Chicago Blitz (7-4), who are at San Antonio (7-4). The New York Stars (6-5) and Boston Breakers (6-5) will attempt to break their tie atop the East Division.

Record Book

Detroit Wheels QB Mario Valencia has thrown for 4,196 yards with five games to play. Valencia's season total already ranks in the top 30 in league history. Valencia would need to average 380 yards per game to pass the league record of 6,096, held by Portland's William Hill (1975). Valencia's 42 TDs are only 12 away from tying the league record of 54 shared by Hill, Oakland's Les Lacy, and San Antonio's Tony Smith.

Week 10 Roundup

Thomas Canale (8), WR, New Orleans VooDoo

And then there were none.

It appears lightning struck in three places at the same time Tuesday as all three of the USFL/WFL's previously undefeated teams suffered defeat in Week 10.

The Tampa Bay Bandits fell to the Orlando Renegades, 30-22. Tampa Bay drove from its 1-yard line to the Orlando 39 before punting, then the game ended with Tampa Bay on the Orlando 14-yard line. Renegades DT Bryan Johnson was credited with 10 tackles as Orlando won its fifth in a row under new coach setherick.

Oakland QB Les Lacy one week after watching a loss to the Memphis Showboats from the bench, completed 12 of 16 passes for 256 yards and three TDs (156.25 QBR) as the Invaders knocked off the previously unbeaten Arizona Wranglers, 29-14. Christopher Curtis rushed for 121 yards and the Oakland defense sacked Arizona QB Jerry Montalvo eight times.

The New Orleans VooDoo scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to hand the Georgia Force its first loss, 16-10. New Orleans QB Ty Fleming wriggled free from a defender, then fired a short pass to WR Thomas Canale, whose burst of speed completed the game-winning, 63-yard TD with 4:15 to play.

In other Week 10 games:

• Although three undefeated teams lost, the biggest upset of the day may have been the previously winless Southern California Sun knocking off the preseason World Bowl favorite Chicago Blitz, 48-47. SoCal WR John Sanders and Thomas Dayton combined for 10 catches, 296 yards, and four TDs. Sun K James Hodge booted a 37-yard field goal with 1:53 remaining for the winning points, then SS Johnny Beard intercepted a Daniel McKee pass.
• New Jersey, Boston, and New York are in a three-way logjam for the East Division lead at 5-5, but there is no doubt who is riding the momentum. The Generals beat the Philadelphia Bell, 38-7, for their fifth consecutive victory after an 0-5 start. New Jersey LDE Freddie Gilbert returned a Philadelphia fumble 56 yards for the Generals' final TD.
• The Oklahoma Outlaws won their fifth in a row and maintained their Southwest Division lead, taking apart the Memphis Showboats, 56-27. Oklahoma QB Dale Brown completed 23 of 34 passes for 529 yards and six TDs (150.12 QBR).

Week 11 Preview

The San Antonio Gunslingers (6-4) host the Oklahoma Outlaws (7-3) in a huge Southwest Division showdown. In a battle of division leaders, the Los Angeles Express (7-3) will be at Tampa Bay to face the Bandits (9-1).

Record Book

• Philadelphia DT Laverne Ashlock recorded 16 tackles Tuesday during a 38-7 loss to the New Jersey Generals. Ashlock's big day was the third-highest single-game total in league history, surpassed only by Michigan Panthers SS Christopher Chen (20, 1975) and Houston Gamblers FS Brent Sylvain, now with Honolulu (17, 1975).
• The highest single-game QBR in USFL history is 158.33, done many times. The only QB to do so while throwing 30 or more passes in a game was Michigan's Brandon Robertson (now with Cleveland) during a 1974 game vs. Houston.
• Nine players have intercepted three passes in a game, but Arizona SLB David Bronson (now with Charlotte) somehow picked off three while only being thrown at twice during a 1975 game against the Hornets.

Week 9 Roundup

Juan Bacote, CB, Memphis

This is normally the place where we would introduce a new coach to the league. But the new coach of the Memphis Showboats, jmvda, has already introduced himself to the league in a big way.

Memphis CB Juan Bacote intercepted a pass at the 3-yard line with 4 minutes to play, then intercepted another at the 15 with 1:42 to go as the Showboats stunned the defending World Bowl champion Oakland Invaders, 12-9. Memphis, which also recovered four Oakland fumbles, entered the game with a 3-5 record and was giving up an average of 32 points per game. Invaders QB Jacob Ellis, who started in place of league MVP Les Lacy, was sacked nine times.

Oakland fell to 6-3, one of five American Conference teams with that record. If the Invaders miss the playoffs, it won't set precedent. The Florida Blazers, 1974 World Bowl winners, missed out on the 1975 playoffs.

In other Week 9 games:

• The Oklahoma Outlaws almost blew a 28-9 lead, but fended off the Baltimore Stars, 28-26, to vault past San Antonio into the Southwest Division lead.Oklahoma WR Dusty Heckman caught nine passes for 244 yards and three TDs and RDE Albert Cruz recorded four sacks and 12 hurries. Victor Gorman continues to be the only QB on the Baltimore roster despite playing on a 34-percent healthy ankle. He was 24-for-54 passing with three TDs and three INTs.
• The Gunslingers fell a game behind Oklahoma by losing, 24-10, to the Pittsburgh Maulers. Pittsburgh WR Vito Moffat caught a pair of TDs. San Antonio was coming off a victory over Oakland.
• John Langdon's 32-yard field goal as time expired gave the New Orleans VooDoo a 16-13 South Division win over the Shreveport Steamer. New Orleans QB Ty Fleming completed passes for 21 and 22 yards on the final drive. Shreveport, which finished 12-4 and made the playoffs last season, is 2-7 overall and has lost five of its last six.
• The New Jersey Generals limited the New York Stars to 60 yards passing in a 6-3 Generals victory. New Jersey has won four in a row after an 0-5 start.
• The Florida Blazers broke a 14-14 tie with a safety and field goal in the final 2:57 to beat the Washington Federals, 19-14. Florida has won three of its last five.
• The Detroit Wheels defense shut down the Chicago Blitz offense during a 17-3 victory in a big Midwest Division game. Detroit moved into sole possession of first place in the division. Chicago, which was averaging 23 points per game, managed just 161 passing yards.
• The Los Angeles Express knocked Cleveland out of a share of first place in the Midwest by beating the Thunderbolts, 32-18. LAX scored the last 13 points, including Gene Nowlin's 64-yard TD pass to Santiago Smith with 1:52 to play.

Week 10 Preview

The Georgia Force (9-0), holding a three-game lead in the South Division, travels to New Orleans to face the second-place VooDoo (6-3). The Orlando Renegades (5-4), riding a four-game win streak under new head coach setherick, host the unbeaten Tampa Bay Bandits (9-0). The Oakland Invaders (6-3) will try to re-establish themselves as the league's big dog when they host the undefeated Arizona Wranglers (9-0).

Record Book

• Los Angeles Express QB Gene Nowlin, who has been one of the league's most accurate passers since its inception, was picked off a record eight times during a 1975 loss to the Georgia Force.
• Two players have scored four rushing TDs in a single game, Pittsburgh's John Murray and Philadelphia's Jose Medina.
• Former LAX kicker Winston Hampton holds the league record with seven field goals in one game. Hampton was released by Portland in the 1976 preseason after signing a free agent contract with the Storm.

Week 8 Roundup

Norman Paulk, LDE, Portland Storm (55)

The 1976 USFL/WFL season has reached its halfway point, and that couldn't be a more welcome sight for the Portland Storm.

Storm kicker Donald Dosch booted a 54-yard field goal just inside the left upright with 1:51 to play, giving Portland a 17-15 win over the Birmingham Stallions. LDE Norman Paulk had 13 hurries and recorded two sacks, giving him 29 in 1-plus seasons since being drafted in the first round out of Florida State.

Portland finished the first half of the season at 5-3 and remains in the playoff hunt despite a suicidal schedule. Seven of the Storm's eight opponents are .500 or better and those foes are a combined 42-22 (.656). Things do get incrementally easier in the second half, as Portland's opposition for those games is only a combined 36-28 (.563).

In other Week 8 Games:

• Los Angeles QB Gene Nowlin heaved a 91-yard TD pass to WR Jimmy Landon with 2:22 remaining as the Express hung on to first place in the Pacific Division with a 37-30 win over the San Jose SaberCats. San Jose was penalized for defensive overuse on the decisive play.
• The Orlando Renegades have won three in a row under new head coach setherick, including Thursday's 16-7 defeat of the New York Stars. Orlando QB David Judkins was 41-for-59 passing, including a 34-yard TD to WR Robert Zapata. The loss snapped New York's franchise-record four-game win streak.
• Jeffrey Graham's 5-yard TD run with 1:43 to play lifted San Antonio to a 15-10 win over Oakland. Gunslingers CB Leon Crisman sealed the victory with his third pickoff of the day and 22nd of his career, most of any player. If the playoffs began today, the defending World Bowl champion Invaders (6-2) would be on the outside looking in.
• The Charlotte Hornets have won back-to-back games for the first time in their history, following up on last week's victory over Washington with a 7-3 decision over the Baltimore Stars. Baltimore QB Victor Gorman, who has taken every snap for the Stars over the last two-plus seasons, sustained an 8-week ankle injury. Baltimore has never had a backup QB on its roster.
• Samuel Hoye's 37-yard field goal on the final play from scrimmage gave the Honolulu Hawaiians a 12-10 victory over the Jacksonville Bulls. Honolulu remains a game behind LAX in the Pacific Division standings.
• Detroit QB Mario Valencia passed for 587 yards and eight TDs, one shy of the league record, during a 76-0 shutout of the Southern California Sun. 
• Washington kicker Matthew Eno's 34-yard field goal with 1:04 to play lifted the Federals to a 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Bell, who have lost 17 of their last 18.

Week 9 Preview

The Chicago Blitz (6-2) is at Detroit (7-1) as the Wheels try to remain tied for first place in the Midwest Division with the Cleveland Thunderbolts (7-1), who have a tough game at the Los Angeles Express (5-3). The suddenly revived New Jersey Generals (3-5) will try to extend their win streak to four games with a victory over the New York Stars (5-3).

Record Book

• Pittsburgh's John Murray has 36 career TD runs, most in the USFL/WFL's short history and 11 ahead of second place -- which happens to be Maulers teammate Cliff Thomas.
• Birmingham's Bruno Fredericks has the only punt return TD in league history, at Baltimore in Week 13 of the 1974 season while Fredericks was still with the New York Stars.
• The two leading punters in league history, Dean Long (48.1 average) and Wesley Bradley (48.0) are both unemployed. Long was released by the Oklahoma Outlaws before the 1975 season and Bradley was released by the New Jersey Generals before the 1976 season after being signed away from the Baltimore Stars during free agency. The current career leader among active punters in Tampa Bay's David Manion (47.5).

Week 7 Roundup

Roy Wiley, CB, Denver Gold (27)

The 1976 USFL/WFL schedule will reach the halfway point (and the trade deadline) Thursday with three winless teams and three undefeated teams (there's competitive balance for you). While we might have anticipated four undefeated teams, the Denver Gold had other ideas.

Denver, in its first season under new head coach AlexanDragon, stunned previously undefeated Cleveland, coming from 11 points back to beat the Thunderbolts, 29-24, on the road. WR Duane Cunningham scored the go-ahead TD from a yard out early in the fourth quarter, five plays after CB Bradley Leon's interception at the Cleveland 39. The 'Bolts had a chance late, but turned the ball over on downs with 50 seconds to play.

Denver CB Roy Wiley intercepted a pair of passes and knocked down four. Cleveland QB Chester Dougherty, obtained in a trade with Houston, did not impress his new fans. Dougherty's QBR was 60.05 after throwing three INTs on 16-for-34 passing.

The Gold came into the game with a 1-5 record, while Cleveland was 6-0. The 'Bolts are now tied with the Detroit Wheels (6-1) atop the Midwest Division, with the Chicago Blitz (5-2) one game back.

In other Week 7 games:

• The New Orleans VooDoo stormed back from a 20-7 fourth-quarter deficit to edge the Portland Storm, 23-20, on John Langdon's 48-yard field goal as time expired. New Orleans QB Ty Fleming completed three passes as the VooDoo moved from their 33 to the Portland 30 after getting the ball back with 45 seconds to go.
• The San Antonio Gunslingers took back possession of the I-10 Construction Zone trophy when DT Fred Sanchez hauled down Houston RB Robert Richards for a 3-yard loss on a 2-point conversion attempt with 1:28 to play, clinching a 30-28 win over the Gamblers.
• Detroit RDE Juan Frigo sacked the QB four times and was credited with 12 hurries during a 20-3 win over the Los Angeles Express. LAX, which allowed nine sacks, continues to lead the Pacific Division.
• Pittsburgh CB Bradley Martinez intercepted a pair of passes in a 24-13 victory over the Baltimore Stars, in their second game under new head coach Dave1233456. The Maulers are cruising along with a three-game lead in the Atlantic Division.
• Florida QB Steve Voll was 19-for-24 passing, including four TDs, in a 30-27 win over the Boston Breakers. Voll's 78-yard heave to WR Felipe Kraus with 2:28 remaining gave the win to the Blazers.
• Oklahoma RB Patrick Hiebert had a nice all-around day, rushing for 90 yards and catching three passes for 94 more during a 37-17 win over the Memphis Showboats. Hiebert's 77-yard TD from QB Dale Brown late in the third quarter broke open what had been a tight game (20-17) as the Outlaws remain tied for first in the Southwest Division.
• The Charolette Hornets beat Washington, 26-16, their second victory over the Federals this season. Charlotte MLB Fernando Stone was credited with eight tackles and intercepted a pass.

Week 8 Preview

The Oakland Invaders (6-1) are at San Antonio (4-3) in a battle of 1975 playoff teams. The New Orleans VooDoo (5-2) will try to slice into the South Division lead of the Georgia Force (7-0). The San Jose SaberCats (3-4) will try to pull into a first-place tie in the Pacific Division with a win against the Los Angeles Express (4-3). The Oklahoma Outlaws (4-3) will try to retain their spot atop the Southwest Division with a victory at home against the Pittsburgh Maulers (5-2).