Can Tampa get a 4th win? Can Chicago win with a backup QB at the helm? Who comes out ahead when the Pacific teams clash? All these questions and more are answered in an exciting 4th week of USFL action.
TBY 21 NJ 20 – In their tightest match yet, the Tampa Bay Bandits found a way to win, defeating the New Jersey Generals by the slightest of margins. For much of the game it did not appear likely, as New Jersey ran out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter on the strength of two Bobby Scott TD passes. But, momentum shifted after an interception when Scott tried to push the ball downfield to Tom McConnaughey. The mood-shifting pick seemed to energize Tampa, who went on to score three times, with Reaves hitting each of his top 3 receivers (Truvillion, Buggs and Gillespie) with a scoring strike. In the end, despite 138 yards from Hershel Walker the Generals could not recover a rhythm and were unable to do more than score a field goal to bring them within one.
CHI 26 PHI 31—In another nailbiter, Philadelphia held off Chicago to take a 5 point win in front of a raucous crowd of 32,300 in Veterans Stadium. The Blitz effectively held Kelvin Bryant in check, limiting him to only 44 yards rushing and one leaping TD (right), but Philly came with other weapons. Chuck Fusina hit TE Steve Folsom twice for scores, and spread the ball around to 7 different receivers. For Chicago, Tim Spencer led the charge, rushing for 117 yards and a TD. Backup QB Tim Koegel filled in admirably for the injured Greg Landry, but the Blitz fell just short to a tenacious Philly Stars team playing at home. The win moves Philly into first place in the Atlantic, and places Chicago at the basement of the Central.
WSH 24 MGN 47—If you have not yet watched Michigan’s Bobby Hebert play, this was the week to catch him in action. The young Cajun Cannon threw for 475 yards and 4 TD’s to propel the Panthers to an impressive win over the Federals. Anthony Carter benefited most from the onslaught, reeling in one bomb after another to the tune of 208 yards on only 5 receptions. Derek Holloway also benefited, catching 2 TD’s and 165 yards as well. The Michigan defense also came to play, limiting Roger Craig to only 47 yards rushing, and holding the Federals’ Joey Walters to only 3 receptions on the day. It was a statement game for Michigan, who move to 3-1, while the reeling Federals will return home 2-2 after 4 weeks.
BOS 27 BIR 35—In what proved to be a rough week for the Atlantic Division, Boston also
took to the road, and returned home at 2-2 after a tough defeat to the Birmingham Stallions. Tough not only because Birmingham got the win, but because Boston blew a 27-14 lead after 3. The 4th quarter belonged to the Stalliions, who scored 21 in the final quarter to blow past the Breakers. Both Earl Gant and Cornelius Quarles scored on 1 yard runs, and Jim Smith added a 29 yard TD reception to break the hearts of Breaker fans and give Birmingham their 3rd win in 4 games. It now appears that the Central Division with Tampa undefeated and both Birmingham and Michigan at 3-1, is the lead division in the league.
OAK 42 ARZ 27—Something had to break when the 4 Pacific Division teams faced each other, and what seemed to have broken is Arizona’s spirit. The Wranglers could not keep pace with a suddenly dynamic Oakland attack. Invaders RB Arthur Whittington had a field day in Tempe, racing for 138 yards and a TD. His running mate, Aaron Smart, got three goal line carries and converted them into 3 scores as well. For the Wranglers, Alan Risher tried to keep pace, but completed only 49% of his passes, including two errant throws that went the other way, including a 1st quarter pick-six that put the Invaders in front for good. Risher will have to play better, as will the entire Wranglers squad if they want to avoid falling even further behind in the division. For Oakland, their first victory has to be a welcome feeling, and if the offense can keep the ball rolling, this won’t be their last W.
DEN 31 LA 21—Coach Campbell made the call this week. After 3 poor outings by QB Mike Rae, he gave Tom Ramsey a shot to prove his skills. Ramsey kept the Express in the game through three quarters, before a poorly thrown ball led to a Loren Hawk 31 yard interception return for a back-breaking touchdown. The Express defense did not help their cause much, allowing Gold QB Ken Johnson to complete 30 of 40 attempts and the combination of Harry Sydney and Scott Stamper to gain 144 combined rushing yards. So, after 4 games, LA and Arizona have yet to notch a win, and we begin to worry that they may just not have the players on their squads to do anything but compete with each other twice this year. That first Wranglers-Express matchup is slated for week 7, a game perhaps to miss if both are 0-6 by then.
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