Time to look at the National Conference now. While the American Conference had just 1 team at 3-0, and two teams 0-3, the National is quite the opposite. They have four undefeated teams and five winless ones.
Southeast Division
As good as the West has been over the last year plus, the Southeast has been even better so far in 1988. Tampa Bay was a wildcard in 1987, but led by QB Melvin Driggers (10-0 TD/INT), the Bandits have scored 127 points so far. That's 2nd most in the league and based on yardage, their offense is 2nd, defense 5th. The rest of the division, including last year's champ Jacksonville, is 2-1. The Bulls team stats are in the middle of the pack and they're fighting injuries at the moment. Orlando hasn't had a winning season since 1979, but that could change this year. The Renegades give up yards on defense (29th) but their offense ranks 9th. Florida boasts an 11th ranked offense and a 9th ranked defense as they try to overcome a growing injury list.
South Division
New Orleans seems determined not to go out in the wildcard round this year as they have started 3-0. The VooDoo have the 6th ranked offense and 4th ranked defense. Only two teams have allowed less than the 30 allowed by the VooDoo. Shreveport is 2-1 after finishing strong in 1987. The Steamer are already 2-0 in the division, though they've yet to play New Orleans. Shreveport's offense is ranked 15th, defense 7th. On one hand, Georgia is 0-3 and their 19 points is tied for the league's fewest. On the other hand, their opponents so far have a combined 8-1 record. The bad news for the Force? Their next 5 opponents are a combined 12-3. Birmingham has made the playoffs 6 years in a row but that streak is in jeopardy. The Stallions have had a tough schedule to start and they are hoping to get off the schneid tonight against the Generals.
Atlantic Division
Baltimore is one of two 3-0 teams in this division and the Stars have the top scoring offense in the league. Injuries are piling up but QB Jon Snow has 14 TD passes already, 7 to WR Justin Coffey. In yardage, their offense is 1st, defense second. Washington is also 3-0, though their combined scores against Charlotte/Pittsburgh pale in comparison to Baltimore against the same 2 teams. The Federals have injury problems of their own and their offense only ranks 16th. They do have the #1 defense though. Pittsburgh had a 1 point victory in Week 1 before getting blown out by Baltimore and Washington. The Stars and Federals have owned this division in recent years so the Maulers have a tough road ahead. It's difficult to tell what kind of team Charlotte has. The Hornets are 0-3, but the combined record of their opponents is 9-0. They only lost to Washington 19-7 but were obliterated by Baltimore 71-10. They were also beaten by Houston.
East Division
New York is 2-1, the only team in the East with a winning record. The Stars of NY are fresh off a convincing victory over New Jersey, and they have to be feeling confident this is finally the year someone other than the Generals wins the division. Their offense is 10th, defense 15th. New Jersey no longer looks like an automatic division winner as the Generals are playing bad football. Their offense is ranked 25th, defense 26th...yuck. Boston is 0-3 but it's not the defense's fault. That unit is ranked 12th but they have the 26th ranked offense and are tied for the league low in points scored. Philadelphia has some problems with injuries, scoring points and preventing points. Tonight's game against Charlotte looks like the last for Jaybo, as I finally found someone to take over his team like he asked me to.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Week 3: American Conference Overview
We have 3 weeks in the books for 1988 so let's take a look around the league.
Pacific Division
Southern California and Honolulu pace the Pacific with identical 2-1 records. The Sun have the 17th ranked offense, 23rd ranked defense while the Hawaiians have a top 3 passing game and a decent running game, leaving them 4th in offensive yards and 11th defensively. Honolulu FS Thomas Welker is slacking, allowing 20% completions. I say that in jest of course, though 20% would tie his career worst season. Los Angeles may just be 1-2 but they have played 3 playoff teams from 1987, so their schedule should ease up some. It would help the Express if Christopher Pringle would stop throwing interceptions. San Jose is struggling at 0-3 but give hollyhh2000 some time and it's likely they'll improve.
West Division
The West is up to their old tricks as all 4 teams are tied with 2-1 records. There is no way they can all win double digit games again is there? Arizona is listed first, thanks to their Week 1 win over Portland. The Wranglers stats look mediocre overall but it's all about the W's. Denver is listed second and they are also 1-0 in the division, defeating Oakland in Week 1. Their other 2 games were against teams that have won 5 of the last 6, and 7 of the last 9 World Bowls, Memphis and Houston. The Gold took care of Memphis but lost to Houston. They have the 5th best offense but rank 25th in defense. Oakland has the 14th ranked offense but 28th ranked defense. The Invaders enter a rough 4 game stretch, home games against their 3 division rivals and a trip to Memphis to play the Champs. Portland is listed last but I'm not reading anything into that. The Storm boast a 7th ranked offense and a 10th ranked defense.
Southwest Division
Houston is 3-0 with an early 2 game division lead. The Gamblers knocked off division rival and league champion Memphis Week 1 and have not looked back. Houston has the 3rd ranked offense and 21st ranked defense, and have 2 players on pace for >1600 receiving yards. Oklahoma is one of three teams with 1-2 records in the Southwest and the Outlaws are banged up, especially on the OL. Their overall team stats are slightly below middle of the pack. Memphis has seen a lot of changes since hoisting the World Bowl trophy, including having a new GM/Owner. Greyghost 1225 is no stranger to the USFL and the 2 Showboats losses are by a combined 5 points, so don't count them out. San Antonio brings up the rear at 0-3 and has a tough schedule ahead of them. The Gunslingers are 4th in the league in completion % against, allowing just 50.4%.
Midwest Division
Last year's division champion Michigan once again finds themselves atop the Midwest. The Panthers lost to Cleveland Week 1, despite allowing only 9 points. Michigan's defense is 3rd in the league and their 12th ranked offense has scored 27 each of the last 2 weeks. Detroit is tied with Michigan at 2-1, though the Wheels have had a soft schedule and the injuries are piling up. Team stats show a familiar story for Detroit, a 29th ranked offense and an 8th ranked defense. Cleveland is 1-2 and their offense has struggled to score thus far. The Thunderbolts 24th ranked offense has mustered just 23 points while their defense is 16th. Chicago is also 1-2 and coming off their best game of the year, a 28-0 win vs Detroit. The Blitz bring the defense, it's 6th overall while their offense is 20th.
Pacific Division
Southern California and Honolulu pace the Pacific with identical 2-1 records. The Sun have the 17th ranked offense, 23rd ranked defense while the Hawaiians have a top 3 passing game and a decent running game, leaving them 4th in offensive yards and 11th defensively. Honolulu FS Thomas Welker is slacking, allowing 20% completions. I say that in jest of course, though 20% would tie his career worst season. Los Angeles may just be 1-2 but they have played 3 playoff teams from 1987, so their schedule should ease up some. It would help the Express if Christopher Pringle would stop throwing interceptions. San Jose is struggling at 0-3 but give hollyhh2000 some time and it's likely they'll improve.
West Division
The West is up to their old tricks as all 4 teams are tied with 2-1 records. There is no way they can all win double digit games again is there? Arizona is listed first, thanks to their Week 1 win over Portland. The Wranglers stats look mediocre overall but it's all about the W's. Denver is listed second and they are also 1-0 in the division, defeating Oakland in Week 1. Their other 2 games were against teams that have won 5 of the last 6, and 7 of the last 9 World Bowls, Memphis and Houston. The Gold took care of Memphis but lost to Houston. They have the 5th best offense but rank 25th in defense. Oakland has the 14th ranked offense but 28th ranked defense. The Invaders enter a rough 4 game stretch, home games against their 3 division rivals and a trip to Memphis to play the Champs. Portland is listed last but I'm not reading anything into that. The Storm boast a 7th ranked offense and a 10th ranked defense.
Southwest Division
Houston is 3-0 with an early 2 game division lead. The Gamblers knocked off division rival and league champion Memphis Week 1 and have not looked back. Houston has the 3rd ranked offense and 21st ranked defense, and have 2 players on pace for >1600 receiving yards. Oklahoma is one of three teams with 1-2 records in the Southwest and the Outlaws are banged up, especially on the OL. Their overall team stats are slightly below middle of the pack. Memphis has seen a lot of changes since hoisting the World Bowl trophy, including having a new GM/Owner. Greyghost 1225 is no stranger to the USFL and the 2 Showboats losses are by a combined 5 points, so don't count them out. San Antonio brings up the rear at 0-3 and has a tough schedule ahead of them. The Gunslingers are 4th in the league in completion % against, allowing just 50.4%.
Midwest Division
Last year's division champion Michigan once again finds themselves atop the Midwest. The Panthers lost to Cleveland Week 1, despite allowing only 9 points. Michigan's defense is 3rd in the league and their 12th ranked offense has scored 27 each of the last 2 weeks. Detroit is tied with Michigan at 2-1, though the Wheels have had a soft schedule and the injuries are piling up. Team stats show a familiar story for Detroit, a 29th ranked offense and an 8th ranked defense. Cleveland is 1-2 and their offense has struggled to score thus far. The Thunderbolts 24th ranked offense has mustered just 23 points while their defense is 16th. Chicago is also 1-2 and coming off their best game of the year, a 28-0 win vs Detroit. The Blitz bring the defense, it's 6th overall while their offense is 20th.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
1987 All Pro Team
The votes are in and have been counted, so without further ado, here are our 1987 All Pro Players.
QB Oscar Willis Portland
RB Rudi Johnson New Jersey, Timothy Roquemore Portland
WR Willie Howland Memphis, Gabriel Ahrens Houston
TE Mario Burton Birmingham
OL Joseph Popovich Washington, Phillip Davis Honolulu, Tim Daniels Southern California, David Ellis Honolulu, (TIE for 5th) Shane Wood Florida, Jeffrey Garrett Florida, Randall Briggs Baltimore
KR/PR Raymond Hampton Jacksonville
K Roger Ruzich Oklahoma
P Glenn Cannon Oakland
DL Shawn Hicks Memphis, Sylvester Teal Memphis, John Thompson Charlotte, (TIE for 4th) John Hunter Pittsburgh, Larry Kuykendall Boston
LB Dino Perez Washington, Luis Fellows Orlando, (TIE for 3rd/4th) Joseph Totten Boston, Charles Mooney Tampa Bay, Victor Thomas Oakland
DB Allan Buchanan Washington, Thomas Welker Honolulu, Steven Turnbull Michigan, Emmett Simmons Tampa Bay
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Timothy Roquemore Portland
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Kevin Bowen Portland
Offensive MVP
Rudi Johnson New Jersey
Defensive MVP
Dino Perez Washington
Coach of the Year
Infinity on Trial
_______________________________________________________________________________
We had a total of 23 votes for All Pro and 20 of those 23 filled out question 10. Defensive MVP and Defensive Rookie only had 19 votes as someone didn't include those in the write in portion. The MVP race was close on both sides of the ball. Seven different offensive players received votes, with Rudi Johnson edging Oscar Willis 6-5. Timothy Roquemore had 3 votes while Tony Dean and David Allen had 2 each. Mark Lambert and Willie Howland split the remaining 2 votes.
Defensively, ten players received votes with Dino Perez edging Thomas Welker 5-4. Allan Buchanan and Stephen Ray Vaughan had 2 each while the following got 1 vote: Sylvester Teal, Robert Skinner, Joseph Totten, Robert Schuler, Shawn Hicks, and Chris Elmore.
The rookie races and coach of the year were not as close. Timothy Roquemore received 16 of 20 votes to easily out distance Timothy Richardson (3 votes) and Christopher Sherrick (1 vote). Defensively, Kevin Bowen made it a Portland rookie sweep, garnering 8 of 19 votes. Second place went to Michael Skaggs with 4 votes. Christopher Schneider got 3 votes, Kenneth Ross 2, and 1 vote each went to Freddie Brewer and Michael Brown.
Infinity on Trial received 9 of the 20 votes to easily win Coach of the Year. Setherick finished second with 3 votes, while Macarovil, CrazyRazor and Hellbringer getting 2 each. One vote went to Hectorg93 and 1 to vcr5150
QB Oscar Willis Portland
RB Rudi Johnson New Jersey, Timothy Roquemore Portland
WR Willie Howland Memphis, Gabriel Ahrens Houston
TE Mario Burton Birmingham
OL Joseph Popovich Washington, Phillip Davis Honolulu, Tim Daniels Southern California, David Ellis Honolulu, (TIE for 5th) Shane Wood Florida, Jeffrey Garrett Florida, Randall Briggs Baltimore
KR/PR Raymond Hampton Jacksonville
K Roger Ruzich Oklahoma
P Glenn Cannon Oakland
DL Shawn Hicks Memphis, Sylvester Teal Memphis, John Thompson Charlotte, (TIE for 4th) John Hunter Pittsburgh, Larry Kuykendall Boston
LB Dino Perez Washington, Luis Fellows Orlando, (TIE for 3rd/4th) Joseph Totten Boston, Charles Mooney Tampa Bay, Victor Thomas Oakland
DB Allan Buchanan Washington, Thomas Welker Honolulu, Steven Turnbull Michigan, Emmett Simmons Tampa Bay
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Timothy Roquemore Portland
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Kevin Bowen Portland
Offensive MVP
Rudi Johnson New Jersey
Defensive MVP
Dino Perez Washington
Coach of the Year
Infinity on Trial
_______________________________________________________________________________
We had a total of 23 votes for All Pro and 20 of those 23 filled out question 10. Defensive MVP and Defensive Rookie only had 19 votes as someone didn't include those in the write in portion. The MVP race was close on both sides of the ball. Seven different offensive players received votes, with Rudi Johnson edging Oscar Willis 6-5. Timothy Roquemore had 3 votes while Tony Dean and David Allen had 2 each. Mark Lambert and Willie Howland split the remaining 2 votes.
Defensively, ten players received votes with Dino Perez edging Thomas Welker 5-4. Allan Buchanan and Stephen Ray Vaughan had 2 each while the following got 1 vote: Sylvester Teal, Robert Skinner, Joseph Totten, Robert Schuler, Shawn Hicks, and Chris Elmore.
The rookie races and coach of the year were not as close. Timothy Roquemore received 16 of 20 votes to easily out distance Timothy Richardson (3 votes) and Christopher Sherrick (1 vote). Defensively, Kevin Bowen made it a Portland rookie sweep, garnering 8 of 19 votes. Second place went to Michael Skaggs with 4 votes. Christopher Schneider got 3 votes, Kenneth Ross 2, and 1 vote each went to Freddie Brewer and Michael Brown.
Infinity on Trial received 9 of the 20 votes to easily win Coach of the Year. Setherick finished second with 3 votes, while Macarovil, CrazyRazor and Hellbringer getting 2 each. One vote went to Hectorg93 and 1 to vcr5150
Friday, February 28, 2020
World Bowl XIV Memphis Showboats Back to Back Champs
Showboats 27 Federals 7
World Bowl XIV kicked off in Portland, Oregon, the first World Bowl not in the South or a "sunny" western destination. National Conference Champion Washington got the ball first and punted, then forced American Conference Champion Memphis to go three and out. The Federals went three and out on their second drive, then we had some action. The Showboats went on an 11 play 68 yard drive, finishing it off with a 36 yard FG by James Ewing for a 3-0 Memphis lead. The first quarter would end in the middle of the ensuing Washington drive.
The Federals answered that scoring drive with a 10 play 75 yard drive of their own, ending with an 8 yard TD run by Cory Martin for a 7-3 Washington lead. Memphis answered that blow like they have done many times before, as David Austin got behind the defense for a 75 yard catch and run TD on the very next offensive play. James Nash ran it in for 2 points and the 11-7 Showboats lead. The next time Memphis got the ball, they took their time scoring, going 80 yards in 11 plays for the TD. That score was a 1 yard plunge by Donut Mogul Tim Horton. This 2 point try failed so the score was 17-7 Memphis, and that held until halftime.
Memphis received the second half kickoff and salted the game away with 2 time consuming drives. This drive covered 56 yards in a whopping 17 plays, but the Showboats could only muster 3 points to take a 20-7 lead. Washington is certainly capable of coming back from 13 points, but their first drive of the second half lasted all of 2:10 as they went three and out. Memphis got the ball back and the 3rd quarter ended in the middle of the Showboats drive.
The first Memphis drive of this half took 8:47 off the clock and their second drive extended into the 4th quarter, going 75 yards in 11 plays. Tim Horton had his second short TD run of the game to extend the Showboats lead to 27-7. Those 2 long drives took the wind out of the Federal's sails, as the rest of the game was a punting contest with Memphis winning by that 27-7 margin.
World Bowl MVP voting was split, but Memphis QB David Allen takes home the hardware and a brand new 1988 Corvette.
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Conference Championships: Memphis and Washington to meet in World Bowl XIV
The Memphis Showboats/Infinity on Trial are going for back to back Championships against first time World Bowl participant Washington. The Federals have been one of the better regular season teams the last 4-5 seasons but it hasn't translated into post season success until this year. So, how did these teams advance?
Showboats 47 Gamblers 22
These two division foes played two tight games in the regular season, with Memphis winning by 5 and by 2, so most fans felt another nail biter was coming. Houston had some problems with slow starts to games in 1987, and today was no exception. The Gamblers punted on their first 3 drives while Memphis kicked a FG on their first drive for an early 3-0 lead. The Showboats second drive ended with a 5 yard TD by former Gambler Mark Lambert. Brian Kuss ran in the 2 point conversion for the 11-0 Memphis lead. The third Memphis drive ended like the second, with a Mark Lambert TD run and a Brian Kuss 2 point run for a 19-0 lead. Houston would finally dent the scoreboard inside the 2 minute warning as Tony Dean found Bruce Edwards for a 4 yard TD to make the halftime score 19-7 Showboats.
The second half started with a bang for Memphis as David Allen sandwiched a Houston FG with 2 long TD passes. The first one covered 52 yards to David Austin, while the second one went for 80 yards to Mr. Big Play Willie Howland. That flurry made the score 33-10 Memphis. Houston would add a FG for a 33-13 score, then the defenses chipped in. Memphis QB David Allen was sacked in the end zone by an unnamed Houston player for a safety, cutting the lead to 33-15. With 4:21 left, and Houston desperately trying to mount a comeback for the ages, Tony Dean threw a pick six. Donald Guo returned that errant pass 21 yards to put the game out of reach, 40-15. The scoring closed with one more TD for each team.
Despite the 4 degree temperature, the offenses were on fire. Memphis had 489 yards and Houston had 470. The Gamblers did most of their damage through the air, while Memphis ran all over Houston. The Gamblers Tony Dean threw for 444 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. Gamblers WR Gabriel Ahrens caught 6 for 171 and a TD while fellow WR Bruce Edwards caught 10 for 105 and a TD. As a team, Memphis ran for 255 yards and passed for 234. WR Willie Howland caught 6 for 117 yards and a TD, while the ground game produced 2, 100 yard runners. Donut Mogul Tim Horton ran 15 times for 115 yards while former Houston RB Mark Lambert burned his old team for 127 yards and 2 TD's on 15 carries.
Federals 23 Stallions 20
No matter what happened in either game, one of these teams was going to get a shot at their first Championship against a 3 time Champion. Birmingham made it all the way to World Bowl XII before falling in OT to the Houston Gamblers while Washington was seeking their first ever World Bowl berth.
Washington got the ball first and punted, then the Federals defense turned in the game's first big play. Birmingham QB David Schmitt was intercepted by Washington FS Francis Vanhoose and the Federals turned that into 3 points. The Stallions would bounce right back, driving 75 yards in 10 plays, culminating in a Schmitt to Christopher Henderson 5 yard TD pass. Birmingham would add a FG for a 10-3 lead before Washington tied it inside the 2 minute warning. Scott Bieber hit Luther Ellis for the 30 yard TD.
The second half began with a BANG for Birmingham as Richard Sutton fielded the kickoff 9 yards deep, broke 3 or 4 tackles and went 109 yards for the TD. That gave the Stallions a 17-10 lead and from there, both teams would add a FG for a 20-13 Birmingham lead after three quarters.
Washington would add another John Bazile FG to cut it to 20-16 with 8:37 left. Birmingham went three and out, electing to punt away with over 6 minutes left. The defense couldn't get off the field however, as Washington drove 68 yards in 9 plays for what turned out to be the game winning TD. QB Scott Bieber threw a frozen rope 22 yards to Allan Boyer, just over the outstretched hand of CB Steven Minton. Birmingham would have 1:51 to work with, but they turned it over on downs and the Federals joyously kneeled down.
Showboats 47 Gamblers 22
These two division foes played two tight games in the regular season, with Memphis winning by 5 and by 2, so most fans felt another nail biter was coming. Houston had some problems with slow starts to games in 1987, and today was no exception. The Gamblers punted on their first 3 drives while Memphis kicked a FG on their first drive for an early 3-0 lead. The Showboats second drive ended with a 5 yard TD by former Gambler Mark Lambert. Brian Kuss ran in the 2 point conversion for the 11-0 Memphis lead. The third Memphis drive ended like the second, with a Mark Lambert TD run and a Brian Kuss 2 point run for a 19-0 lead. Houston would finally dent the scoreboard inside the 2 minute warning as Tony Dean found Bruce Edwards for a 4 yard TD to make the halftime score 19-7 Showboats.
The second half started with a bang for Memphis as David Allen sandwiched a Houston FG with 2 long TD passes. The first one covered 52 yards to David Austin, while the second one went for 80 yards to Mr. Big Play Willie Howland. That flurry made the score 33-10 Memphis. Houston would add a FG for a 33-13 score, then the defenses chipped in. Memphis QB David Allen was sacked in the end zone by an unnamed Houston player for a safety, cutting the lead to 33-15. With 4:21 left, and Houston desperately trying to mount a comeback for the ages, Tony Dean threw a pick six. Donald Guo returned that errant pass 21 yards to put the game out of reach, 40-15. The scoring closed with one more TD for each team.
Despite the 4 degree temperature, the offenses were on fire. Memphis had 489 yards and Houston had 470. The Gamblers did most of their damage through the air, while Memphis ran all over Houston. The Gamblers Tony Dean threw for 444 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. Gamblers WR Gabriel Ahrens caught 6 for 171 and a TD while fellow WR Bruce Edwards caught 10 for 105 and a TD. As a team, Memphis ran for 255 yards and passed for 234. WR Willie Howland caught 6 for 117 yards and a TD, while the ground game produced 2, 100 yard runners. Donut Mogul Tim Horton ran 15 times for 115 yards while former Houston RB Mark Lambert burned his old team for 127 yards and 2 TD's on 15 carries.
Federals 23 Stallions 20
No matter what happened in either game, one of these teams was going to get a shot at their first Championship against a 3 time Champion. Birmingham made it all the way to World Bowl XII before falling in OT to the Houston Gamblers while Washington was seeking their first ever World Bowl berth.
Washington got the ball first and punted, then the Federals defense turned in the game's first big play. Birmingham QB David Schmitt was intercepted by Washington FS Francis Vanhoose and the Federals turned that into 3 points. The Stallions would bounce right back, driving 75 yards in 10 plays, culminating in a Schmitt to Christopher Henderson 5 yard TD pass. Birmingham would add a FG for a 10-3 lead before Washington tied it inside the 2 minute warning. Scott Bieber hit Luther Ellis for the 30 yard TD.
The second half began with a BANG for Birmingham as Richard Sutton fielded the kickoff 9 yards deep, broke 3 or 4 tackles and went 109 yards for the TD. That gave the Stallions a 17-10 lead and from there, both teams would add a FG for a 20-13 Birmingham lead after three quarters.
Washington would add another John Bazile FG to cut it to 20-16 with 8:37 left. Birmingham went three and out, electing to punt away with over 6 minutes left. The defense couldn't get off the field however, as Washington drove 68 yards in 9 plays for what turned out to be the game winning TD. QB Scott Bieber threw a frozen rope 22 yards to Allan Boyer, just over the outstretched hand of CB Steven Minton. Birmingham would have 1:51 to work with, but they turned it over on downs and the Federals joyously kneeled down.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Divisional Round: Gamblers Survive Storm
Gamblers 23 Storm 19
Portland got the ball first and promptly threw an interception on their very first play. Four plays later, Tony Dean found a very wide open Albert Buckland for the early 7-0 lead. It would be 6 scoreless drives before the scoreboard would be dented again as Portland had a three and out, INT, and a lost fumble while Houston went INT, three and out, and a punt. Portland would tie the game at 7 late in the first on a 26 yard TD pass from Oscar Willis to Fred Wink.
Houston would then take a 10-7 lead on a 31 yard Daniel McCormack FG only to have the Storm tie on a Donald Dosch 55 yard boot. The first half scoring ended after Albert Buckland's second TD reception, this time hauling in a desperation heave from Dean. Portland would attempt a 59 yard FG as the first half came to a close, but it was short and our halftime score was 17-10 Houston.
The second half was a kicking contest, with the teams alternating FG's. Portland was first, making it 17-13, then Houston took it back up to a 7 point lead at 20-13. Portland would cut it to 20-16, and 23-19 after the next Houston FG. The last score of the game for Portland came with 4:44 on the clock and the Storm opted to kick away. Portland would force a punt and have 2:21 to win the game but the Storm turned it over on downs and the Gamblers killed the clock to advance.
Portland had 397 yards, compared to 361 for Houston, and it was mostly through the air as the Storm only ran 9 times all game, opting for 62 passes. Racking up yards was about the only thing Portland did right, thanks to Timothy Roquemore's 15 catches for 214 yards. Portland was miserable in the red zone, coming away with just 3 FG's in 4 trips and Oscar Willis tossed 4 INT's. Despite the measly 9 rushing attempts, the Storm fumbled twice, losing both, and Willis was sacked twice.
This is the second week in a row the Houston defense has 4 INT's and 2 fumble recoveries.
Showboats 40 Wranglers 17
Following an Arizona three and out, Memphis went 78 yards in 9 plays to take an 8-0 lead, thanks to a 2 yard TD pass from David Allen to Mark Lambert and a James Nash 2 point run. Nine plays later, Wranglers QB Joseph Jones found Desmond Kirkland for a 32 yard TD pass to cut the lead to 8-7. Defending Champion Memphis responded how you would expect...with a 16 play, 75 yard drive. This TD was a Dave to Dave hookup, Allen tossing to Austin. Memphis was again successful going for two and pushed the lead to 16-7. The game log lists Arizona QB Joseph Jones as being injured on the 2 point conversion despite him not being in the field of play. The cameras didn't catch what happened but rumor has it, he slammed his helmet to the ground, twisting his finger and cutting his lip when the helmet bounced off the ground and smacked him in the mouth.
Memphis would extend the lead to 19-7 before Arizona cut it to 19-14 on this 2 yard Joseph Jones TD pass to John Didonato. The Showboats got the ball to start the second half and they promptly drove 75 yards in 9 plays, the last of which was a 3 yard TD run by The Donut Mogul, Tim Horton. That gave Memphis a 26-14 lead and following a three and out, the Daves struck again. The Allen to Austin pass was 36 yards this time and pushed the lead to 33-14. It was already going to be tough for Arizona to come from behind, but it would prove impossible today after Willie Howland's 23 yard TD reception on the first play of the last quarter made the score 40-14.
Arizona played tough but it was too much of an uphill climb against the defending champs on a day when the Showboats offense was on point. Neither team had a 100 yard rusher or receiver though both QB's topped 300 yards. David Allen had a 4/0 TD/INT ratio today while Joseph Jones was 2/2.
Stallions 17 Bulls 10
Birmingham drove 90 yards in 7 plays on their first offensive drive, capping it off with a 16 yard TD pass from David Schmitt to Daniel Tedrow for an early 7-0 lead. Two drives later the Bulls cut the lead to 7-3 only to see the Stallions gallop down the field for another TD. This one 64 yards to Christopher Henderson, making it 14-3 Birmingham after 1. Most of the rest of the game was all punts except for a FG by Birmingham midway through the 2nd quarter for a 17-3 lead.
Despite being down 14 much of the game, Jacksonville stuck with their run first approach, completing only 3/8 for 78 yards while running 60 times at 4 yards a pop. Both teams had 320 yards of offense but the Bulls fumbled twice, losing both.
We did have some late game excitement as Jacksonville cut the lead to 17-10, capping off a 10 play, 90 yard drive with this 9 yard TD run by Dennis Burt. With less than 3 minutes remaining, Jacksonville opted for the onside kick. The first attempt went out of bounds but the second one was recovered by the Bulls. Facing a 4th and 6 inside the 2 minute warning, Timothy Richardson took the handoff and gained 13 yards but WLB Roy Buckle stripped the football, ending that threat. Birmingham could not drain the clock to 0:00 so they punted but Jacksonville could not cross their 40 and time ran out on the Jacksonville season.
Birmingham WR Christopher Henderson caught 3 for 118 and a TD while Jacksonville WR/RB Timothy Richardson ran for 136 yards on 29 carries.
Federals 20 Generals 15
The game started slowly, with a punt for both teams on their opening drives. Washington also had to punt after their second drive, with Wayne Lange pinning New Jersey at their own one yard line. Ric Flair tossed a short pass to TE Calvin Hobbes, who was hit by LDE Elwood Valdez, causing a fumble which he recovered himself at the Generals 5. Three plays later, a 5 yard Bieber to Boyer TD pass gave Washington the 7-0 lead. The Federals seemed to be driving for more points late in the first but "Lethal Weapon" Martin Riggs bailed out the Generals defense with an INT on the first play of quarter number 2 at the New Jersey 15, keeping the score 7-0.
Heading toward the 2 minute warning of the first half, New Jersey had to be feeling pretty good. The Generals offense was doing next to nothing while the defense bent but didn't break, only allowing a 5 yard TD "drive". Just after the 2 minute warning, Scott Bieber would toss his 2nd TD of the first half, this one covering 33 yards to Luther Ellis for a 14-0 Federals lead. New Jersey KR Aaron Paul fumbled the ensuing kickoff return which was recovered by the Washington kicker, John Bazile. Three plays later, Bazile nailed a 41 yard FG for a 17-0 halftime lead for Washington.
New Jersey got the ball to start the 3rd and punted, then both teams traded FGs, Washington first for a 20-0 lead then New Jersey cutting it to 20-3. That was our score with just under 9 minutes left when all of the sudden, New Jersey decides to do something. Ric Flair found Rudi Johnson for an 8 yard TD pass, but rather than kick the XP, Head Coach Eddie Doggett elected to go for two, which failed. Just before the 2 minute warning, Flair and Rudi hooked up again, this time for a 7 yard TD to cut the lead to 20-15. The previous failed 2 point necessitated we go for two again, which also failed, leaving the score 20-15.
There were still 2:02 left on the clock and New Jersey had all 3 time outs, but Doggett decided to try the onside kick anyway, despite how well the Generals were playing defense in the second half. It worked, and now the decision to go for 2 is looming large because the end zone must be crossed. Three pass plays result in -3, 3, and incomplete, making it 4th and 10. After the onside kick, surely Doggett will go for it on 4th down, right? Wrong. Clark W. Griswold did his job despite not getting box score credit (they gave him a punt attempt but did not add the yards), pinning Washington at their 1 yard line. Three plays and three New Jersey time outs later, the Federals punted and Aaron Paul returned it 11 yards to the Washington 47. Four plays later and the Generals had the ball at the Federals 25, threatening to score but no way to prevent the clock from hitting 0:00.
Talk radio in New Jersey has been centered on the mistakes on the field and on the sidelines, while word has it private security has been hired to guard the Doggett's home in Warren from overzealous "fans" doing damage.
Washington deserves all the credit for winning though. The Federals took care of business, took care of the ball better and did what they needed to do to continue playing deep into January.
Portland got the ball first and promptly threw an interception on their very first play. Four plays later, Tony Dean found a very wide open Albert Buckland for the early 7-0 lead. It would be 6 scoreless drives before the scoreboard would be dented again as Portland had a three and out, INT, and a lost fumble while Houston went INT, three and out, and a punt. Portland would tie the game at 7 late in the first on a 26 yard TD pass from Oscar Willis to Fred Wink.
Houston would then take a 10-7 lead on a 31 yard Daniel McCormack FG only to have the Storm tie on a Donald Dosch 55 yard boot. The first half scoring ended after Albert Buckland's second TD reception, this time hauling in a desperation heave from Dean. Portland would attempt a 59 yard FG as the first half came to a close, but it was short and our halftime score was 17-10 Houston.
The second half was a kicking contest, with the teams alternating FG's. Portland was first, making it 17-13, then Houston took it back up to a 7 point lead at 20-13. Portland would cut it to 20-16, and 23-19 after the next Houston FG. The last score of the game for Portland came with 4:44 on the clock and the Storm opted to kick away. Portland would force a punt and have 2:21 to win the game but the Storm turned it over on downs and the Gamblers killed the clock to advance.
Portland had 397 yards, compared to 361 for Houston, and it was mostly through the air as the Storm only ran 9 times all game, opting for 62 passes. Racking up yards was about the only thing Portland did right, thanks to Timothy Roquemore's 15 catches for 214 yards. Portland was miserable in the red zone, coming away with just 3 FG's in 4 trips and Oscar Willis tossed 4 INT's. Despite the measly 9 rushing attempts, the Storm fumbled twice, losing both, and Willis was sacked twice.
This is the second week in a row the Houston defense has 4 INT's and 2 fumble recoveries.
Showboats 40 Wranglers 17
Following an Arizona three and out, Memphis went 78 yards in 9 plays to take an 8-0 lead, thanks to a 2 yard TD pass from David Allen to Mark Lambert and a James Nash 2 point run. Nine plays later, Wranglers QB Joseph Jones found Desmond Kirkland for a 32 yard TD pass to cut the lead to 8-7. Defending Champion Memphis responded how you would expect...with a 16 play, 75 yard drive. This TD was a Dave to Dave hookup, Allen tossing to Austin. Memphis was again successful going for two and pushed the lead to 16-7. The game log lists Arizona QB Joseph Jones as being injured on the 2 point conversion despite him not being in the field of play. The cameras didn't catch what happened but rumor has it, he slammed his helmet to the ground, twisting his finger and cutting his lip when the helmet bounced off the ground and smacked him in the mouth.
Memphis would extend the lead to 19-7 before Arizona cut it to 19-14 on this 2 yard Joseph Jones TD pass to John Didonato. The Showboats got the ball to start the second half and they promptly drove 75 yards in 9 plays, the last of which was a 3 yard TD run by The Donut Mogul, Tim Horton. That gave Memphis a 26-14 lead and following a three and out, the Daves struck again. The Allen to Austin pass was 36 yards this time and pushed the lead to 33-14. It was already going to be tough for Arizona to come from behind, but it would prove impossible today after Willie Howland's 23 yard TD reception on the first play of the last quarter made the score 40-14.
Arizona played tough but it was too much of an uphill climb against the defending champs on a day when the Showboats offense was on point. Neither team had a 100 yard rusher or receiver though both QB's topped 300 yards. David Allen had a 4/0 TD/INT ratio today while Joseph Jones was 2/2.
Stallions 17 Bulls 10
Birmingham drove 90 yards in 7 plays on their first offensive drive, capping it off with a 16 yard TD pass from David Schmitt to Daniel Tedrow for an early 7-0 lead. Two drives later the Bulls cut the lead to 7-3 only to see the Stallions gallop down the field for another TD. This one 64 yards to Christopher Henderson, making it 14-3 Birmingham after 1. Most of the rest of the game was all punts except for a FG by Birmingham midway through the 2nd quarter for a 17-3 lead.
Despite being down 14 much of the game, Jacksonville stuck with their run first approach, completing only 3/8 for 78 yards while running 60 times at 4 yards a pop. Both teams had 320 yards of offense but the Bulls fumbled twice, losing both.
We did have some late game excitement as Jacksonville cut the lead to 17-10, capping off a 10 play, 90 yard drive with this 9 yard TD run by Dennis Burt. With less than 3 minutes remaining, Jacksonville opted for the onside kick. The first attempt went out of bounds but the second one was recovered by the Bulls. Facing a 4th and 6 inside the 2 minute warning, Timothy Richardson took the handoff and gained 13 yards but WLB Roy Buckle stripped the football, ending that threat. Birmingham could not drain the clock to 0:00 so they punted but Jacksonville could not cross their 40 and time ran out on the Jacksonville season.
Birmingham WR Christopher Henderson caught 3 for 118 and a TD while Jacksonville WR/RB Timothy Richardson ran for 136 yards on 29 carries.
Federals 20 Generals 15
The game started slowly, with a punt for both teams on their opening drives. Washington also had to punt after their second drive, with Wayne Lange pinning New Jersey at their own one yard line. Ric Flair tossed a short pass to TE Calvin Hobbes, who was hit by LDE Elwood Valdez, causing a fumble which he recovered himself at the Generals 5. Three plays later, a 5 yard Bieber to Boyer TD pass gave Washington the 7-0 lead. The Federals seemed to be driving for more points late in the first but "Lethal Weapon" Martin Riggs bailed out the Generals defense with an INT on the first play of quarter number 2 at the New Jersey 15, keeping the score 7-0.
Heading toward the 2 minute warning of the first half, New Jersey had to be feeling pretty good. The Generals offense was doing next to nothing while the defense bent but didn't break, only allowing a 5 yard TD "drive". Just after the 2 minute warning, Scott Bieber would toss his 2nd TD of the first half, this one covering 33 yards to Luther Ellis for a 14-0 Federals lead. New Jersey KR Aaron Paul fumbled the ensuing kickoff return which was recovered by the Washington kicker, John Bazile. Three plays later, Bazile nailed a 41 yard FG for a 17-0 halftime lead for Washington.
New Jersey got the ball to start the 3rd and punted, then both teams traded FGs, Washington first for a 20-0 lead then New Jersey cutting it to 20-3. That was our score with just under 9 minutes left when all of the sudden, New Jersey decides to do something. Ric Flair found Rudi Johnson for an 8 yard TD pass, but rather than kick the XP, Head Coach Eddie Doggett elected to go for two, which failed. Just before the 2 minute warning, Flair and Rudi hooked up again, this time for a 7 yard TD to cut the lead to 20-15. The previous failed 2 point necessitated we go for two again, which also failed, leaving the score 20-15.
There were still 2:02 left on the clock and New Jersey had all 3 time outs, but Doggett decided to try the onside kick anyway, despite how well the Generals were playing defense in the second half. It worked, and now the decision to go for 2 is looming large because the end zone must be crossed. Three pass plays result in -3, 3, and incomplete, making it 4th and 10. After the onside kick, surely Doggett will go for it on 4th down, right? Wrong. Clark W. Griswold did his job despite not getting box score credit (they gave him a punt attempt but did not add the yards), pinning Washington at their 1 yard line. Three plays and three New Jersey time outs later, the Federals punted and Aaron Paul returned it 11 yards to the Washington 47. Four plays later and the Generals had the ball at the Federals 25, threatening to score but no way to prevent the clock from hitting 0:00.
Talk radio in New Jersey has been centered on the mistakes on the field and on the sidelines, while word has it private security has been hired to guard the Doggett's home in Warren from overzealous "fans" doing damage.
Washington deserves all the credit for winning though. The Federals took care of business, took care of the ball better and did what they needed to do to continue playing deep into January.
Friday, February 21, 2020
Wildcard Weekend
American Conference
Wranglers 31 Panthers 23
The first 3 quarters were a sort of feeling out period for both teams, but the gloves came off in the 4th. Arizona K Christopher Meade made a 37 yard FG at the start of the 4th to knot the game at 10. On the ensuing drive, Michigan QB Adam Scales threw an interception which was returned 48 yards for a TD by John Louis. The next big play came when Michigan forced an Arizona punt deep in their end of the field. Panthers WR Cory Martin broke through the line, blocking the punt and recovering it in the end zone for the game tying TD.
With 3:35 left, Wranglers QB Joseph Jones found Eric Duncan for a 16 yard TD pass for the tiebreaking TD. Just a couple minutes later, the duo would hook up again, this time for 11 yards and a 31-17 lead. Michigan would make it interesting, with a TD to LG Patrick Blue with 1:05 left, but the onside kick failed and Arizona advances.
The box score was pretty even on both sides, as no runner topped 40 yards and no receiver had more than Arizona WR Eric Duncan's 80 yards. Duncan also reeled in all 3 of Joseph Jones TD passes.
Arizona Wranglers @ Memphis Showboats (-7)
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Gamblers 36 Express 24
Houston took the opening kickoff and drove for a FG and the early 3-0 lead. A couple drives later, the Gamblers defense struck for the game's first TD. RDE Luis Torres intercepted Los Angeles QB Robert Burns in the end zone, giving Houston a 10-0 lead. The Gamblers would tack on a couple of FGs for a 16-0 lead before the Express finally got on the scoreboard. Robert Burns found RB Chuck Mayfield for a 1 yard TD pass, cutting the lead to 16-7. Each team would add a FG for a halftime score of Houston 19, Los Angeles 10.
Houston would add a 2 yard Ryan Dearing TD run to extend their lead to 26-10 before the Express struck back via the big play. Robert Burns hit Dane Britt for a 59 yard catch and run TD to pull within 26-17. The next big play came from the Houston defense as Ronnie Stahl sacked Burns, causing a fumble. That fumble was recovered by Houston's Charles Wallace, who out ran everyone, thanks to a head start and a broken tackle, in returning it 46 yards for a 33-17 Gamblers lead. Los Angeles would cut the deficit to 33-24 on this 73 yard catch and run TD from Robert Burns to Stephen Tavera.
Los Angeles put up a whopping 474 yards on the Houston defense but the Gamblers didn't break. They sacked Robert Burns twice and intercepted him 4 times and recovering 2 fumbles. Houston didn't turn the ball over at all, so that 6-0 turnover advantage was absolutely huge. The Gamblers used a balanced offensive attack, rushing for 104 and passing for 259.
Houston Gamblers @ Portland Storm (even)
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National Conference
Bulls 20 Bandits 13
These Southeast division rivals got together in Jacksonville for their 3rd meeting of 1987. The Bulls won the first two and they got off on the right foot today. Jacksonville took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in 10 plays for the 7-0 lead. Joseph Serio found Jason Harper for the 1 yard TD pass. Following several punts, Tampa Bay finally got on the board just before halftime. QB Melvin Driggers found his favorite target Thomas Whitley for a 60 yard TD to tie things at 7.
Fast forward to the 4th quarter and it's 13-10 Jacksonville. Bulls QB Joseph Serio threw an INT deep in Bandits territory to thwart a potential scoring drive. On the very next play, Tampa Bay QB Melvin Driggers gave it right back. Two plays later, Bulls WR/RB Timothy Richardson ran it in from 5 yards out to give Jacksonville a 20-10 lead midway through the final quarter.
Tampa Bay would add a FG while Jacksonville missed one, giving the Bandits one last chance to tie the game and send it to OT. Tampa Bay would get the ball all the way down to the Jacksonville 8 yard line, but on 3rd and 4 from the 8, Jacksonville LDE Donald Babb sacked Driggers and the 4th down pass was short of the line to gain. The Bulls ran out the final 1:03 off the clock to advance.
Jacksonville out gained Tampa Bay 426-287 but lost the turnover battle 3-2. Both teams struggled in the red zone and Jacksonville missed a FG. Tampa Bay WR Thomas Whitley caught 3 passes for 122 yards and a TD in the loss. Jacksonville WR Stanton Redmon caught 5 passes for 142 yards.
Jacksonville Bulls @ Birmingham Stallions (-3)
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Generals 34 VooDoo 11
For the second year in a row New Orleans traveled to New Jersey for a wildcard round game against the Generals. New Jersey got the ball first, driving for a FG and the early 3-0 lead. On the VooDoo's first drive, WR/RB Billy Brink caught a swing pass and broke free from the defense, only to be caught from behind by Bruce Dickinson. The Generals would force a FG attempt which was good to tie things at 3. New Jersey would then drive 76 yards in 8 plays, ending it with a short TD run by WR/RB Richard Hansen for a 10-3 Generals lead. Following a VooDoo punt, Generals big game RB Rudi Johnson took a swing pass 72 yards to the house for a 17-3 New Jersey lead.
New Orleans bounced back and cut the lead to 17-11 on this 19 yard TD pass from James Perry to Ricky Hash and the 2 point run by Socrates Rogers. The VooDoo defense needed a stop but those wouldn't come until later, as the Generals once again drove the field for a TD. Free agent WR Corey True was huge in the first half of the season but has taken a back seat as the Generals started to run the ball more down the stretch and he only caught one pass today. That catch was a big one though, as the 18 yard TD gave New Jersey a 24-11 lead. New Orleans would turn the ball over on downs and 24-11 was our halftime score.
In the second half things settled down as the VooDoo finally started to stop the Generals offense. New Orleans was moving the ball well on offense at times, and they out gained New Jersey on the day, but turnovers hurt their chances at a comeback. The second of James Perry's two 4th qtr INT's was the back breaker, as Bob Marley returned it 34 yards for the final score of the game.
New Jersey RB Rudi Johnson added 73 rushing yards to his leading all time playoff total and caught 8 for 147 yards and a TD. In 23 career post season games, Johnson has 2,196 rushing yards and 987 receiving yards.
New Jersey Generals @ Washington Federals (-5)
Wranglers 31 Panthers 23
The first 3 quarters were a sort of feeling out period for both teams, but the gloves came off in the 4th. Arizona K Christopher Meade made a 37 yard FG at the start of the 4th to knot the game at 10. On the ensuing drive, Michigan QB Adam Scales threw an interception which was returned 48 yards for a TD by John Louis. The next big play came when Michigan forced an Arizona punt deep in their end of the field. Panthers WR Cory Martin broke through the line, blocking the punt and recovering it in the end zone for the game tying TD.
With 3:35 left, Wranglers QB Joseph Jones found Eric Duncan for a 16 yard TD pass for the tiebreaking TD. Just a couple minutes later, the duo would hook up again, this time for 11 yards and a 31-17 lead. Michigan would make it interesting, with a TD to LG Patrick Blue with 1:05 left, but the onside kick failed and Arizona advances.
The box score was pretty even on both sides, as no runner topped 40 yards and no receiver had more than Arizona WR Eric Duncan's 80 yards. Duncan also reeled in all 3 of Joseph Jones TD passes.
Arizona Wranglers @ Memphis Showboats (-7)
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Gamblers 36 Express 24
Houston took the opening kickoff and drove for a FG and the early 3-0 lead. A couple drives later, the Gamblers defense struck for the game's first TD. RDE Luis Torres intercepted Los Angeles QB Robert Burns in the end zone, giving Houston a 10-0 lead. The Gamblers would tack on a couple of FGs for a 16-0 lead before the Express finally got on the scoreboard. Robert Burns found RB Chuck Mayfield for a 1 yard TD pass, cutting the lead to 16-7. Each team would add a FG for a halftime score of Houston 19, Los Angeles 10.
Houston would add a 2 yard Ryan Dearing TD run to extend their lead to 26-10 before the Express struck back via the big play. Robert Burns hit Dane Britt for a 59 yard catch and run TD to pull within 26-17. The next big play came from the Houston defense as Ronnie Stahl sacked Burns, causing a fumble. That fumble was recovered by Houston's Charles Wallace, who out ran everyone, thanks to a head start and a broken tackle, in returning it 46 yards for a 33-17 Gamblers lead. Los Angeles would cut the deficit to 33-24 on this 73 yard catch and run TD from Robert Burns to Stephen Tavera.
Los Angeles put up a whopping 474 yards on the Houston defense but the Gamblers didn't break. They sacked Robert Burns twice and intercepted him 4 times and recovering 2 fumbles. Houston didn't turn the ball over at all, so that 6-0 turnover advantage was absolutely huge. The Gamblers used a balanced offensive attack, rushing for 104 and passing for 259.
Houston Gamblers @ Portland Storm (even)
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National Conference
Bulls 20 Bandits 13
These Southeast division rivals got together in Jacksonville for their 3rd meeting of 1987. The Bulls won the first two and they got off on the right foot today. Jacksonville took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in 10 plays for the 7-0 lead. Joseph Serio found Jason Harper for the 1 yard TD pass. Following several punts, Tampa Bay finally got on the board just before halftime. QB Melvin Driggers found his favorite target Thomas Whitley for a 60 yard TD to tie things at 7.
Fast forward to the 4th quarter and it's 13-10 Jacksonville. Bulls QB Joseph Serio threw an INT deep in Bandits territory to thwart a potential scoring drive. On the very next play, Tampa Bay QB Melvin Driggers gave it right back. Two plays later, Bulls WR/RB Timothy Richardson ran it in from 5 yards out to give Jacksonville a 20-10 lead midway through the final quarter.
Tampa Bay would add a FG while Jacksonville missed one, giving the Bandits one last chance to tie the game and send it to OT. Tampa Bay would get the ball all the way down to the Jacksonville 8 yard line, but on 3rd and 4 from the 8, Jacksonville LDE Donald Babb sacked Driggers and the 4th down pass was short of the line to gain. The Bulls ran out the final 1:03 off the clock to advance.
Jacksonville out gained Tampa Bay 426-287 but lost the turnover battle 3-2. Both teams struggled in the red zone and Jacksonville missed a FG. Tampa Bay WR Thomas Whitley caught 3 passes for 122 yards and a TD in the loss. Jacksonville WR Stanton Redmon caught 5 passes for 142 yards.
Jacksonville Bulls @ Birmingham Stallions (-3)
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Generals 34 VooDoo 11
For the second year in a row New Orleans traveled to New Jersey for a wildcard round game against the Generals. New Jersey got the ball first, driving for a FG and the early 3-0 lead. On the VooDoo's first drive, WR/RB Billy Brink caught a swing pass and broke free from the defense, only to be caught from behind by Bruce Dickinson. The Generals would force a FG attempt which was good to tie things at 3. New Jersey would then drive 76 yards in 8 plays, ending it with a short TD run by WR/RB Richard Hansen for a 10-3 Generals lead. Following a VooDoo punt, Generals big game RB Rudi Johnson took a swing pass 72 yards to the house for a 17-3 New Jersey lead.
New Orleans bounced back and cut the lead to 17-11 on this 19 yard TD pass from James Perry to Ricky Hash and the 2 point run by Socrates Rogers. The VooDoo defense needed a stop but those wouldn't come until later, as the Generals once again drove the field for a TD. Free agent WR Corey True was huge in the first half of the season but has taken a back seat as the Generals started to run the ball more down the stretch and he only caught one pass today. That catch was a big one though, as the 18 yard TD gave New Jersey a 24-11 lead. New Orleans would turn the ball over on downs and 24-11 was our halftime score.
In the second half things settled down as the VooDoo finally started to stop the Generals offense. New Orleans was moving the ball well on offense at times, and they out gained New Jersey on the day, but turnovers hurt their chances at a comeback. The second of James Perry's two 4th qtr INT's was the back breaker, as Bob Marley returned it 34 yards for the final score of the game.
New Jersey RB Rudi Johnson added 73 rushing yards to his leading all time playoff total and caught 8 for 147 yards and a TD. In 23 career post season games, Johnson has 2,196 rushing yards and 987 receiving yards.
New Jersey Generals @ Washington Federals (-5)
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