SCORES
OAK 26 LA 14 Oakland D contains Young and Whittington gains 116 in victory.
BLT 34 PIT 20 Evans throws for 4 scores as Baltimore dispatches the Maulers.
NJ 27 NOR 33 Big game for Eason and Dupree as Breakers win at home in the dome.
PHI 21 HOU 10 Salisbury struggles against Philly D as Stars get the road win.
WSH 28 MGN 42 Feds scare Panthers early, but 21 unanswered seals Michigan win.
BYES: Birmingham, Jacksonville, Memphis, Tampa Bay
GAME OF THE WEEK
Arizona Wranglers 10 Denver Gold 16
While the Generals-Breakers game was certainly entertaining, sometimes it is good to highlight a good ol’ defensive slugfest, and when the two teams are fighting atop their division, even better. Arizona headed to Denver with sage vet Greg Landry pressed into service by the injury to Rick Neuheisel. Denver, still trying to maximize the production from their new offense, new they would need to play solid D, and man, did they ever. Both teams came out hitting, and both held their opponent’s offenses down, with Arizona gaining a total of 249 yards and Denver gaining only 256 for the game. The stars today were on the defensive side of the ball. The difference in the game was the ability of Denver to mount some form of rush attack. Harry Sydney was held to only 40 yards on 22 carries, but backup Scott Stamper helped out, providing relief and gaining 47 yards on only 8 carries. Meanwhile, Arizona’s Owen Gill could do nothing against the Denver line, rushing 17 times for a paltry 9 yards.
The undisputed stars of the game were the two linebacking corps. Jim Fahnhorst for Arizona racked up 10 tackles, 3 for a loss for the Wranglers. Not to be outdone, Denver’s Putt Choate, this weeks Defensive Player of the Week, recorded 11 tackles, 2 sacks and 3 forced fumbles (two of which were recovered by the Gold). It was a bonecrushing performance by Choate, along with Gerkin and the rookie Gouveia in the LB corps.
In a game that saw only 2 touchdowns, the battle for field position was key and Denver’s ability to run, along with a 3-2 turnover margin, gave them just enough to kick 2 more field goals than Arizona and take the win to move to a 1st place tie with Arizona at 5-2. The Wranglers stuck with Landry for the entire game, despite a lackluster performance, but with Neuheisel expected to miss at least 6 weeks, don’t be surprised if BYU rookie Robbie Bosco does not get a shot at the starting job soon.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
While his numbers were not the gaudiest of the week, a battle between the usual suspects Vince Evans and Bobby Hebert, we wanted to acknowledge the growth of QB Tony Eason of the Breakers. Against a stalwart New Jersey defense, Eason had a strong day, going 18 for 32 for 322 yards, 3 scores and no interceptions. This, paired with Marcus Dupree’s third 100-yard game since coming over from Memphis, and the Breakers were able to hold off a resurgent Generals team. Eason looked poised in the pocket, hit on several tight window throws, and guided the Breakers to scores on their first four possessions, building a 24-0 lead that Doug Flutie and the Generals could never fully erase. Eason’s third and final scoring toss, was a beautiful 17 yard out pattern to Charlie Smith that gave the Breakers the win. Eason has been erratic in his first year and a half, but it seems that he is beginning to develop the instincts necessary to be effective in the USFL. That is sure to please the fans in the Big Easy, who have embraced Eason and the Breakers in their first season in New Orleans.
NEWS & NOTES
The league has announced a press conference tomorrow and all indications are that the owners have made their selections for 1987 expansion. After 3 days of league meetings this week, including a late conference call after Sunday’s games, it is expected that they will announce the new Chicago ownership group as well as 3 more 1987 expansion franchises. How much more we will learn is still in doubt, and in a year when there is expected to be significant NFL raiding of USFL rosters, fans around the league are worried that the combination of inter-league poaching and an expansion draft could radically alter the rosters of their favorite teams.
In other news, after yet another poor performance from QB Todd Blackledge, Mauler Coach Joe Pendry announced on Monday that newly acquired Alan Risher would get the start in Week 8, well ahead of the schedule most had for him. No word yet from Arizona as to whether Greg Landry would get the start at New Jersey or if we will see Robbie Bosco. And Memphis has confirmed that Damon Allen would be starting for the Showboats as they take on Birmingham at the Liberty Bowl.
INJURIES
No major injuries this week, a relief after the league saw two starting QB’s taken out last week for at least a month or more. Denver wideout Bill Brooks suffered an eye injury in the game against the Wranglers but is expected to be back in action next week. Jim Kelly, after missing a 2nd consecutive week, is expected back under center for Houston, and New Orleans LB Marcus Marek is also expected back after his hip injury kept him out against the Generals.
LOOKING AHEAD
Week 8 is the Central Division’s chance to rest and recover with their byes. The 4 Southern Division teams return from the bye to face each other in key divisional matchups, while the Pacific Teams head east to face the Atlantic. Tampa is in Jacksonville for the big Southern matchup this week, while Birmingham hopes to snag a 3rd win at the winless Showboats. Oakland travels to Philadelphia, hot off their win in LA, and the Express hope to right the ship after 3 straight losses when they face the Federals at RFK. Arizona has a tough matchup in the Meadowlands against an improved Generals squad, and Denver’s defense will face a tough test in Baltimore.