SCORES
BLT 22 JAX 30 A 3-score day from HB George Adams highlights the Bulls home win.
NJ 23 TBY 31 Gary Anderson outpaces a struggling Herschel Walker as Tampa wins.
WSH 29 MEM 21 Duane Gunn steps up for the Feds as their top 2 receivers are out.
NOR 27 LA 30 An overtime thriller ends with a Zendejas FG for the Express.
PIT 3 OAK 47 Oakland demolishes the Maulers as Blackledge looks lost.
MGN 27 ARZ 6 The Michigan D dominates as Panthers roll to 3-0.
HOU 16 DEN 20 Gold D knocks Kelly out early, Salisbury keeps Houston close.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Philadelphia Stars 24 Birmingham Stallions 27
In uncharacteristic fashion the Stars run defense utterly failed as Joe Cribbs had a banner day with 171 yards and 2 scores to boost the Stallions over Philly. In front of a raucous crowd at Legion Field, the Stallions played some old-school ground & pound football, and Joe Cribbs showed off as Birmingham moved to 2-1 with their second impressive win of the year. Philadelphia was in trouble from the beginning, when, on his second carry of the day, Cribbs juked LB John Bunting and bounced outside for a 60 yard scoring scamper. The Philadelphia LB’s spent most of the day chasing, rather than containing, Cribbs.
Birmingham’s D, on the other hand, was able to contain last year’s MVP, Kelvin Bryant, holding him to a respectable but not game-altering 60 yards on 14 carries. The Stars were forced to rely on Chuck Fusina, who was efficient, 31/37 for 330 and 3 scores, keeping the Stars close all the way through the game. Fusina was pressured by Birmingham OLB Kevin Greene, who scored 1 sack but had pressure on the Stars’ signalcaller all day. Cliff Stoudt had fewer yards, only 178, but was clutch on third down, including a 4th quarter TD pass to his favorite receiver, Jim Smith, late in the 4th to give the Stallions a lead they would not relinquish. The loss pushes Philly down to 1-2, looking up at 3-0 Baltimore, while Birmingham is looking like a contender again after a disastrous 4-win season in 1985.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
We are going to stay in the Steel City of the South for this award. While we could give it to Joe Cribbs for his performance, we feel it is appropriate to congratulate the Stallions’ front office for what appears to be a very shrewd offseason acquisition. Already possessing a top contender for the sack lead in Bob Barber, the Stallions decided to double down and bring in the dynamic DE Art Stills from the KC Chiefs. This week Stills made those personnel staff look like geniuses. Still had 3 sacks of Fusina, including a strip sack which he recovered to give the Stallions a perfect scoring chance late in the first half. He required Philly to keep a back or TE in on pass defense on every 3rd down, and between Stills and Barber, the Stars struggled all day to escape from 3rd and long situations.
NEWS & NOTES
With 3 weeks in the books, optimism is beginning to turn to concern or outright panic for those teams that are not where they hoped to be. Fans in Pittsburgh are openly calling for Joe Pendry to replace Todd Blackledge at QB after another poor performance for the 0-3 Maulers. There are even rumors that the Maulers have reached out to former Invader QB Fred Besana as a possible late signing. In Philadelphia, the championship hangover seems real, as the Stars have lost 2 straight to New Jersey and Birmingham.
While in Memphis, the disappointing output from highly touted HB Marcus DuPree has led to a major mid-season trade. The Showboats shopped DuPree off to the New Orleans Breakers, getting former McNeese State star Buford Jordan and DE Mike Gann in trade for DuPree and a 4th round pick in next year’s draft. Memphis is expected to mix Jordan into the starting lineup, rotating with U. of Memphis product Richard Williams.
In New Orleans, DuPree will likely rotate with rookie Dalton Hilliard, as Dick Coury is experimenting with putting team rushing leader Richard Crump in at FB in what would amount to a two-back offense. Denver (1-2), who have yet to score more than 20 points this season, have promoted rookie WR Bill Brooks to the starting lineup, moving NFL vet J.T. Smith to the slot, while the 1-2 Houston Gamblers are looking to beef up their pass rush by promoting dynamic rookie Simon Fletcher to starting RE, paired with Coy Bacon, who they acquired from Washington this off-season. Will these moves work, we shall see as these struggling teams have rematches in their divisions this week.
INJURIES
While the Jim Kelly injury was the headline on Sunday, he is expected to recover from his neck injury (strain) and is only listed as questionable for week 4. The same cannot be said for Memphis SS Frederick Wayne, who ruptured his achilles tendon and will be out for the year. Michigan got John Williams back this week but is losing FS Roy Gee for at least a week with a pinched nerve. Pittsburgh will likely be shorthanded at RB, with former Bengal Stanford Jennings out for theweek with a hamstring injury, and Washington is hoping that FS Mark Kelso can return to action this week after suffering a hand injury in Week 2.
LOOKING AHEAD
In a weird quirk of scheduling, Week 4 features rematches of the Week 2 divisional games. It’s a chance to even the score or to sweep a divisional foe. It is also the home openers for the league’s two newest cities. Baltimore, after knocking off the Feds in DC, will be home for the rematch and a huge crowd is expected. Philly will try to get revenge against the Generals for a poor week 2 showing. Tampa heads to B’Ham for a rematch of the season’s highest scoring game. Memphis is in Jacksonville. New Orleans opens the Super Dome for the first time to face the Gamblers. Pittsburgh has to travel to Michigan, Oakland will try to reach 500 in Tempe and the Gold visit LA.