SCORES
BAL 13 PIT 18
Alan Risher is credited with a rare Pittsburgh 4th quarter comeback as he hits the breakout star of the Maulers, Raynard Brown with the game winning score with only 53 seconds left in the game to thrill the Mauler faithful and send Baltimore down to a second consecutive defeat.
BIR 13 ORL 3
Orlando’s offense continues to struggle as Birmingham holds them to a field goal. Stallion rookie TE Walter Reaves only gets one catch on the day, but he makes it count with the game’s only touchdown.
JAX 10 TBY 24
Troy Aikman does not find the endzone, but his 71% completion rate and 290 yards help power the Bandits to a win in the in-state rivalry. Eric Truvillion proves to be his favorite target, snagging 7 balls for 123 yards, including a 55-yarder that led to a Gary Anderson touchdown run.
ARZ 13 DEN 27
Gagliano survives a 3 interception day as Bosco matches the dubious number. In a day for the defenses, Denver racks up 4 total takeaways and sacks Bosco 3 times as the Gold roll to a 4-1 record to start the season. Star of the Day is CB Vencie Glenn, who recorded two Bosco INT’s, including one run back for a score.
OAK 33 POR 17
Gale Gilbert throws for 2 scores before being knocked out of the game on a late hit, allowing Jeff Kemp to finish out the game. Henry Ellard gains 104 and scores for Oakland as Portland’s defense once again proves ineffective.
CHI 24 HOU 47
A 20-point first quarter by Houston puts Chicago in a hole they cannot dig out of. Kelly is pulled early after having his bell rung on a scramble, but Sean Salisbury locks up the game with two TD tosses to Ricky Sanders to help the Gamblers climb to 3-2 on the year.
NOR 27 TEX 32
The Outlaws win a shootout, outgaining New Orleans 449-342 and getting a late game winner on a Williams to Carson bomb with only 33 seconds left as the Breakers’ defense once again breaks down. Carson finishes the day with 127 yards and 2 scores as the Outlaws move to 3-2 an knock New Orleans below .500 at 2-3.
MGN 10 PHI 17
Score one for pride as the winless Stars stun the undefeated Panthers in Veterans Stadium. Neither team could run the ball so it was Chuck Fusina, finding Gerard Phelan and Alex Higdon on scoring tosses, who pulls the game out for the Stars. Michigan, despite racking up 435 yards of offense against the suspect Philly D simply could not find the endzone often enough and are limited to only 10 points, their lowest output of the season.
LA 20 MEM 13
The league’s other undefeated team also falls in Week 5 as LA scores 10 points in the final quarter to knock off the Showboats. It was Young to Townsell for the killing blow as LA comes back for the win. Young threw for 2 scores and no picks, while Kelly flipped that script, throwing 2 picks and failing to find the endzone.
GAME OF THE WEEK
New Jersey Generals 38 Washington Federals 35
The Generals build up a huge lead and then nearly fritter it away, allowing Washington a 22-point 4th quarter. Doug Flutie owned the Federals for 3 quarters, throwing 5 scores on his way to a 29 yard day, but Don Majkowski showed that he had some magic too, leading Washington with three touchdown drives in the final quarter.
It certainly looked good for New Jersey early as the Generals followed a 3-3 first quarter with two touchdown drives in the 2nd. In both drives, Flutie found TE Jeff Spek for short scoring tosses. After a Washington field goal made the score 17-6 at the half, Flutie had another strong quarter, throwing three touchdowns in the 3rd, one each to Herschel Walker, Scott Schwedes, and J.J. Birden.
Trailing 38-13 after 3, the Federals looked to be dead in the water, but in classic Sam Rutigliano style, the Feds fought back to make it exciting, beginning with a Duane Gunn TD reception from Majkowski. After a 3-and-out, Washington again drove the ball and scored on a Craig James goalline plunge. Now, with little time left, Majkowski again drove the length of the field and found Travis McNeal for a score to bring the game within 3 points (after the 2 point PAT). New Jersey was looking spent, but with time dwindling and Washington without time outs left, the Generals only needed a single first down to salt away the game. They got it on a rumbling, tackle-defying run by Herschel Walker and Doug Flutie was able to take a knee and salt away the win.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
While Flutie’s 5-TD game was very impressive, we are going to give the POTW to the much-maligned Philadelphia Stars defense. They have not been their usual selves this season, having lost three key leaders to retirement in LB Sam Mills, SS Scott Woerner and FS Elmo Gardiner. They have simply not found answers to stop the run and they have given up more points than the Stars offense can compensate for, leading to a horrific 0-4 start. But, this week, with their backs against the wall, they may have bent,, giving up 435 total yards, but they did not break, keeping Michigan to only 10 points.
The defensive stars for the day were CB Chris Dishman, who held Anthony Carter in check, and DE William Fuller who harassed Jack Trudeau throughout the game. The high-pressure theme that Philly installed for this game worked like a charm as Jack Trudeau spent most of the game scrambling or succumbing to the Stars D-line and blitzers. Philly sacked Trudeau a frightening 9 times on the day, including 2 for DE Steve Bryan and one each by Fuller, Lorenzo Lynch, Eric McMillian, Glenn Howard, Ron Herron, Tony Simmons and Gary Balding. From that list you can see that the Stars opted to blitz early and often, bringing backers, safeties and corners into the fray to confuse and corral Trudeau.
Yes, the blitzing scheme did lead to some big plays as Trudeau threw for 380 yards, but it also ended drives, caused errant throws, and stuffed the run. The Stars certainly do not want to give up the yardage they did this week, but the defense was successful in their most important task, keeping points off the scoreboard.
NEWS & NOTES
Did we not say that there would be some trades this year? Just one week after proposing some deals, we saw movement on the trade wire, though, admittedly it seems that teams are not looking at our suggestions are what we proposed.
PORTLAND-MICHIGAN
Portland tried to address two major issues by making a 4-player, 1 pick deal with the 4-1 Michigan Panthers. The two teams swapped backup quarterbacks, with a frustrated Ed Luther very possibly getting a chance to start in Portland while Brent Pease gets to back up Trudeau in Michigan. Portland also tried to address their issues at defensive end by trading HB Stanford Jennings and their 3rd round pick to Michigan for the stalwart Bob Otto.
LOS ANGELES-PHILADELPHIA
As predicted, the Express did trade Niko Noga, but not to Tampa for a HB. They traded him to the Philadelphia Stars for two picks, a 3rd rounder in 1989 and a 2nd rounder in 1990. The move helps strengthen a suddenly weaker Philly LB corps while giving LA two solid picks in upcoming drafts. The move also means that LA’s 1986 pick of Tommy Taylor will resume starting duties after being used as a “utility” reserve for the past 2 years.
JACKONVILLE-ARIZONA
In a move to shore up their run game and better protect Chris Miller, the Bulls acquired Arizona tackle Mark Shively, sending Arizona DE Jon Carter and a 5th round pick. Shively is expected to replace Paul O’Connor at right guard.
ORLANDO-NEW JERSEY
Orlando free safeties Stallworth and Burgos have been toasted all year long, so it is not a surprise that the Renegades made a move to upgrade the position. New Jersey sends them Tim McDonald, along with reserve wideout Nathan Bruce in exchange for CB Kirby Jackson and Orlando’s 3rd round pick in 1989.
And in sad roster news, we must report that Washington did place QB Neil Lomax on injured reserve as tests at the Cleveland Clinic proved that Lomax’s hip concern does appear to be a degenerative condition. The Federals are going to hold on to Lomax through the season to continue evaluation, but it is likely that Lomax may be forced into an early retirement if his condition cannot be reversed. The IR move means that he will earn 70% of his salary for the year, and will retain his roster status, important for several reasons, not the least of which is access to team facilities and medical personnel. The Federals resigned Mike Hohensee to back up Don Majkowski, along with rookie Paul Singer.
INJURY REPORT
Not a lot to report this week, which is a good sign for most USFL squads. There were some scary moments, such as the Kelly concussion or Brian Bosworth coming out with a shoulder injury for Texas, but in the end it appears that major injuries were avoided, with both the Boz and Machine Gun Kelly expected back next week. Among those who may miss time we have Memphis DT Curtis Maxey (questionable), Denver WR Mark Carrier (doubtful), Oakland QB Gale Gilbert (Doubtful) and Portland tackle Bruce Armstrong (out 1-2 weeks, hamstring). Not good news for these clubs, but not devastating injury either.
LOOKING AHEAD
Week Six is another week of tense divisional rivalries. The Stars, fresh off their first win of the year, face an angry Baltimore Blitz squad, having lost their last 2. Washington, trying to shake off a 1-4 start are in Pittsburgh to face the tenacious Maulers. Memphis, smarting after their first loss of the year, have a big rivalry game against the Stallions at what will certainly be a raucous Legion Field. Tampa stays in state for another week, traveling just down the road to face the 1-4 Orlando Renegades. New Orleans faces off against Houston in the Astro Dome in a battle of two clubs who expected to be playing better ball this year. Texas travels to Michigan to test the Panthers.
In the Pacific Division we have a great early season matchup of 4-1 clubs as surprising Oakland, playing without Gale Gilbert, will face the tough Denver Gold defense. Meanwhile, Portland, still looking for their first win, may give some playing time to their newly acquired QB as they face the Express in LA. Out of division it’s Second City vs. the Big Apple as Chicago heads to Giants Stadium to face the Generals, and in Jacksonville the Wranglers are in town as both clubs try to get to .500 with a win.