SCORES
MEM 17 NJ 41 The Generals explode for 5 TD’s. Doug Flutie throws for 377 and 4 scores.
JAX 17 PHI 34 Kelvin Bryant’s 124 yards and 2 scores powers Philly to the win.
TBY 35 WSH 25 Backup Jimmie Jordan throws for 4 TD’s with 2 to Truvillion for the W.
ARZ 13 CHI 38 Chicago gets 3rd win behind Evans and Spencer in the “Swap Battle”.
DEN 37 PIT 27 Denver gets their first win behind a 4 TD day from Bob Gagliano.
LA 17 MGN 20 LA is game, but a late Hebert to Holloway TD sinks their upset hopes.
OAK 45 HOU 26 Oakland looks dangerous as Sipe finds Ellard twice.
GAME OF THE WEEK
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 24 BOSTON BREAKERS 25
Boston is starting to get some believers after their third straight win, a 1 point squeaker against the Stallions, but it was not easy. A small crowd of only 18,224 came to see the Breakers and Stallions battle to the end in a very entertaining game. On a day when Boston’s Buford Jordan outshone 1984 Offensive POY Joe Cribbs (by 126 yards to only 34 for Cribbs), the Breakers and Stallions flipped scores 4 times in the second half.
Boston built up a 13-0 lead in the first half, but Birmingham used two drives bookending halftime to erase the lead. Cliff Stoudt hit Lonnie Parker with an 11 yard TD pass to end the first half, and Birmingham used the opening drive of the second to take the lead on a 1 yard Cribbs TD run. Boston would retake the lead only 4 minutes later as 2nd year QB Tony Eason hit Nolan Franz with a beautiful slant & go for 36 yards. The Breakers went for 2 and failed, giving them a 19-14 lead as the 4th quarter began.
Birmingham would again retake the lead in the 4th, scoring first on a Norwood 37 yarder to pull within 2 and then, at the end of a 9 play drive, HB Michael Haddix punched it in from the 1 to put Birmingham up 24-19. Boston had enough time for one more drive, and Eason led them into Stallion territory as the clock wound down. After the 2 minute warning, the Breakers tried to run the ball to burn some clock, but after a botched pitch play to Jordan left them with a 3rd and 8, the Breakers went for the score. Slot receiver Charlie Smith got a questionable pick from Frank Lockett, allowing him to get wide open on an out route. Eason found him and 34 yards later, Smith was in the end zone with the winning score. Boston would again go for 2 and again fail, but the ensuing Stallion drive went nowhere and Boston was able to wind down the clock in the victory formation for their third win to open the year. For a team many predicted to finish last in the Atlantic Division, Boston seems to be getting all the breaks and may end up a contender by season’s end.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
After 2 weeks of absolutely putrid offensive production, the New Jersey Generals exploded for 41 points, and the play of rookie QB Doug Flutie was at the center of the scoring flurry. Flutie, who looked very flustered in his opening matches against Jacksonville and Philadelphia, came alive in the home opener for the Generals, connecting on 36 of 44 passes, for 377 yards and 4 scores. Flutie found 2nd year wideout Clarence Collins for 2 scores, and spread the ball around to 8 different receivers on the day, including 5 tosses to HB Herschel Walker and 121 yards on 5 receptions to NFL transfer Johnnie “Lam” Jones. Now the question is whether this game was a turning point for the former Heisman Winner. Next week New Jersey heads to winless Houston, so Flutie will again have a chance to shine against what looks to be a weaker defense.
NEWS & NOTES
Attendance has been the concern early in the season, as after 3 weeks the USFL average is hovering just above 31,000, significantly below the 1984 average. In part this is expected as early season games around the league tend to be lower due to inclement weather, however, poor opening game showings in Boston (18,224), Memphis (17,402 in a downpour), Chicago (17,232), Denver (21,244 in the snow), Oakland (20,440) and LA (18,343) are bad signs for a league that just recommitted to spring football. Star power does seem to matter as New Jersey had a good crowd for Doug Flutie’s home debut (42,122), and the south remains a strong region as the current league leaders in attendance are Birmingham, Jacksonville and Tampa (along with NJ after 1 game.) With ownership question in Boston and Chicago, the low opening game attendance number do not make the potential sale of the franchise an easy one.
INJURIES
A rough week for offensive linemen around the league, as Tampa likely loses Guard Johnathan Martel for the year. Philly’s Rory Culver may also be out indefinitely with a hip injury, and Memphis tackle Norman Randall will be out at least 2 months with a torn quad.
LOOKING AHEAD
Week 4 is another interdivisional week, with some games that may just separate the contenders from the pretenders. The week has two battles of unbeatens as Boston travels to Michigan and Philly heads to Chicago to take on the Blitz. On the other side of the league, winless Washington will try to record their first W against 1-2 Pittsburgh, while LA and Birmingham (both 1-2) try to get back to .500. In other action, Doug Flutie faces Jim Kelly as New Jersey plays the Gamblers, the Bulls head to Arizona, Tampa flies out to Denver, and Memphis visits Oakland.