It is always a blood & guts affair when the Stars and Generals meet. Separated by just 90 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, these two clubs battle it out twice a year, and if fans are lucky, both games are as good as this one. Herschel Walker returned from a 1-game suspension and faced off against his long-time rival, Kelvin Bryant. For Doug Flutie, it was his 17th Turnpike Classic, for Chuck Long just the 2nd, with Philly having lost to the Generals 2 weeks ago in Veteran’s Stadium. Now the rematch in the Meadowlands, and with both teams nipping at Memphis for the final playoff spot, this one could be huge.
The game started tentatively, with both teams struggling to get into the red zone. It was 6-3 Philadelphia thanks to the right foot of David Trout when the Stars defense got a huge break. A Flutie pass intended for TE Jeff Spek was tipped at the line and safety Lorenzo Lynch scooped it out of the air and back the 15 yards to paydirt to give the Stars a 13-3 lead. But, in what would be a portend of what was to come, on their next drive, Philly gave up a huge play to wideout Lam Jones, as Flutie hit the speedy receiver on a 58-yard bomb to get back into the game at 13-10.
In the3rd quarter, the Stars defense once again scored, this time a safety as Doug Flutie, scrambling to avoid a sack in the endzone, accidentally stepped on the end line and gave Philly the 2 points anyway. Flutie would redeem himself on the next drive, taking the Generals down the field and scoring the go-ahead TD on a short pass to little-used Josh Robinson. Flutie himself ran in the 2-pointer on a bootleg, and New Jersey was up 18-15.
The score would remain that way throughout most of the 4th quarter, but with one drive left in them, the Stars drove into New Jersey territory and once again the right foot of David Trout was crucial. His short fieldgoal from the 11 yard line evened the score and sent the game to overtime.
Philadelphia got the ball first in the extra period, but a great jump on the ball allowed Generals CB Cliff Hicks to swat away a 3rd and 7 pass and the ball turned over to Flutie and the Generals. Flutie got a break on first down as a sack was called back for defensive offsides, bringing up a 1st and 5. Amp Lee broke off a 13-yard run and New Jersey was off. 3 plays later, they were at the Philadelphia 38 yard line, just outside of Roger Ruzek’s range, when Flutie again found Lam Jones. Jones got behind CB Chris Snyder and Flutie lofted a looping deep ball to him. Jones came down with it and fell to the ground, his knee landing just inside the endlline. The 6-point play gave the Generals the win, and that win moved them to 6-6, their first sight of .500 since at 2-1 they lost 5 in a row. The win was New Jersey’s 4th in a row as they are rallying at just the right time. For the Stars, falling to 5-7 is not helpful, and neither is the 3-game slide they are on. With only 1 divisional game left on their docket, they may need help in addition to a strong finish to see postseason action.
WSH 24 PIT 21
The other big matchup in the Atlantic was a pretty good game as well. The Feds, thanks to a Mark Kelso Pick-6 and a 3rd quarter Barry Word TD, held a 24-7 lead, but Pittsburgh caught fire in the 4th, with Risher throwing TD’s to both Louis Lipps and Mike Pritchard. But, a third drive was not in the cards as Washington was able to kill the clock and walk out of Three Rivers with a big divisional road win.
MEM 18 JAX 29
Shawn Moore threw for 323, most of it playing catchup as the Jacksonville Bulls notched their 8th win on the season with a victory at home over the Showboats. Tony Eason threw for 3 scores and avoided turnovers as Jacksonville slowly built up a lead that the ‘Boats could not cut into, despite 141 yards from Jo-Jo Townsell.
TBY 13 ORL 27
In a rematch of Week 10’s 13-9 Tampa victory, the Renegades got a bit of revenge, containing the Tampa passing game and building up a 27-10 lead after 3 quarters. The game was Ron Zook’s first at the helm of the Bandits after the resignation of Steve Spurrier, and Zook, who had been coaching the defense, simply did not have any answers for a stagnant Tampa Bay offense.
CHI 38 NOR 17
Chicago outgained the Breakers 470-323 as Bernie Kosar threw for 348 and 5 touchdowns. New Orleans had trouble against the run as well, giving up 108 to Chicago’s Ricky Watters. TE Wesley Walls had another big game, scoring twice and catching 7 balls for 150 as the Machine appear to be regaining their early season form after a bit of a midseason lull.
MGN 20 TEX 3
The Outlaws have not figured out how to make up for the loss of HB Reggie Cobb as Roosevelt Potts gained only 38 yards on 18 carries. Despite losing Jack Trudeau to injury at the end of the 1st, the Salisbury-led Panthers had a solid day, with both Alfred Jenkins and Rodney Culver finding the endzone. The loss knocked Texas to 6-6 and kept Michigan’s faint playoff hopes alive at 4-8.
POR 13 ARZ 40
Rumors of the Wranglers’ demise seem to be greatly exaggerated. Scott Mitchell, playing for the injured Robbie Bosco, had a killer game, throwing for 352 yards and 5 TDs against a beleaguered Thunder secondary. Add in 102 yards rushing from Darryl Clack and a defense that allowed only 255 total yards to Kerwin Bell and Robert Drummond, and you end up with a serious pasting from the Wranglers.
OAK 14 STL 27
Oakland again seemed to lose all sense of offensive rhythm in St. Louis, and David Archer found his mojo with a whopping 430 yards passing and 3 TD’s. The Knights were able to contain Siran Stacy (42 yards rushing) and make Oakland one-dimensional. That helped them avoid play action, and they were able to limit Bobby Hebert’s impact on the game. With the win both teams left the field at 5-7 and still technically alive in a crowded Western Conference Wild Card chase.
HOU 33 BAL 10
Houston just had too much for the Blitz on this day. Thurman Thomas rushed for 66 yards, caught 3 balls for 40 yards, and scored twice to help the Gamblers stay atop the Central Division. The defense did their part as well, with both Ashley Ambrose and Johnny Holland coming away with interceptions and CB Reggie Sutton both stripping the ball from Mervyn Fernandez and recovering the fumble.
DEN 21 BIR 35
Not many expected Denver to be able to keep up with Birmingham, and they could not. They were as close as 21-14 early in the 4th, but a late scoring toss from Favre to Dawsey, and a Kevin Greene fumble return for 6 were all the Stallions needed to put this one to bed. Birmingham, while not mathematically locked into a playoff spot, is all but assured not only a playoff run, but the #1 seed as they hold a 3-game lead on Washington for the seed with only 4 weeks left to play.
Scott Mitchell's boxscore stats line says all that needs to be said for the 3rd year QB: 30 of 49 passing for 352 yards and 5 touchdowns. For a guy who was just supposed to come in, manage the game, avoid turnovers, and let the defense try to win games, Mitchell has been far more than fans in Tempe have expected. After two midling, "game manager" games against Baltimore and Denver, the game this week against Portland felt like a coming out party. Mitchell has picked up the offense, built rapport with his receivers, and begun to act like a starter on a playoff quality team, not a backup thrust into an uncomfortable starting role. Three years into his career after playing for the U. of Utah, Mitchell is now the starter for the 9-3 Wranglers, not just the guy holding the clipboard. This game shows he might just be ready for that task.
No one is happier to see this development than Coach Tollner, who has struggled to maximize his offenses potential with Robbie Bosco, but who now may see hope in Mitchell to open up the pass game just a bit more. Of course, the others who had smiles on their faces this week were Mitchell's receivers. Trumaine Johnson had 11 catches for 88 yards and 2 scores, Bruce Hill snagged 6 for 86, and veteran Tight End Terry Orr had his best game in the past 2 years, catching 6 balls or 119 yards and a score as the Wranglers simply outmatched the Portland defense. Maybe, just maybe, Arizona has found the heir to Bosco, who is out for the year with a fracture in his femur. If Mitchell can add dynamism to the Arizona offense, this team could go all the way.
Birmingham has all but wrapped up the #1 seed in the East, and can win it outright with a win this week or a Washington loss. The game between the Wranglers and Gamblers could equally (though not mathematically) be a title game for the top seed, as these two teams have a 2-game lead on all other competitors in the conference.
At the other end of the playoff rankings we find Memphis and New Jersey both at 6-6, with the Showboats still in and New Jersey just barely out, but with the Generals having won 4 straight, and the Showboats having lost 4 in a row, we may see them swap spots soon enough. And if both falter, the Stars, sitting at 5-7 could still swoop in. In the West we have Chicago, Texas, Denver, Oakland, St. Louis and Portland all within a 2-game window hugging the .500 mark. Only 3 of the 6 can get in, so expect a lot of table and scoreboard watching for the final 4 weeks of the year.
With Steve Spurrier recently resigning, and with Jim Stanley’s announced retirement, the two last remaining founding coaches in the USFL are now out. As soon as Stanley steps down at the end of the regular season, the mantle of longest-reigning coach will pass to Dick Vermeil in Oakland, who will complete his 9th season as the leader of the Invaders. But, will Vermeil survive what has been a very disappointing season for the Invaders? What other coaches are on the hotseat? Looking around the league, these are the 5 who need to show us something over the next few weeks or risk being out on the street.
Dick Vermeil-OAK: Yes, he has brought a USFL title to Oakland, but the Invaders have had a major stumble this year, even after returning Bobby Hebert back to the USFL. That said, 2 wins in the final 2 games and a mediocre 7-9 record are likely all Vermeil needs to get a 2nd year with Hebert at the helm.
Howard Schnellenberger-ORL: The only coach the Renegades have ever known also got Orlando to the Summer Bowl only 2 years ago, but after going 9-7 last year and missing out of the playoffs, the Renegades again look like they might miss the postseason. With only 2 winning seasons in 7 seasons in Orlando, it may just be one bad season too many for a coach and a team that seemed poised for better things only 2 years ago.
Dennis Erickson-POR: Yes, the Thunder have made the playoffs the past two years, but they snuck in last year at 8-8. At 5-7 now, they need to win 3 of 4 to even match that record. It is said that the ownership in Portland likes Erickson, but they need to take a step up, or show the potential to do so, in the season’s final 4 weeks or it may again be time for a change in the Pacific Northwest.
Bill Arnsparger-NOR: Arnsparger has been coach of the Breakers for 6 seasons, and has taken them to the playoffs each of his first 5 years. That is not going to happen this year, and despite appearing in 3 of 4 Western Conference Championships, the Breakers have not been able to win the big game and get to the Summer Bowl. If the team is retooling, which may be the case this year, the coach is a good place to start.
Gene Stallings-TEX: The Outlaws have been underachieving since Stallings took over an 8-8 team and proceeded to go 8-8 twice more. He had a strong year in 1991, with Texas finishing 12-4, but a first round loss in the playoffs means the Outlaws still have not won a playoff game in their 6 year tenure. If they can get into the Wild Card round, and if they can win that game, Stallings is almost certainly safe. But if not, we would not be surprised to see him ousted.
We already reported that Michigan QB Jack Trudeau was knocked out of this week’s game. He is expected to return in 1-2 weeks as x-rays reveal no fractures in his gimpy ankle. Others were not as lucky. Philadelphia DT Leon Lett will miss the rest of the year with a hip injury, while Oakland will have to cover for Ron River, who is done for the year as well. St. Louis will be without one of its best cover men as CB Ron Pitts is expected to miss 1-2 weeks with a pinched nerve. Expected back in action this week after significant time away we have Orlando FB Craig Hayward, Arizona FS Martin Bayless, Houston DE Michael Sinclair, and Chicago safety George Teague.
Week 13 sees the Atlantic hosting Southern Division squads as the Pacific travels to play their Central Division rivals. It will be Jacksonville at Philadelphia, Memphis @ Pittsburgh, Orlando in Washington, and Tampa Bay at Baltimore in the East. The best game of the week is going to be the 9-3 Wranglers visiting the 9-3 Houston Gamblers, with that key #1 seed and home field on the line. In other games, the Denver Gold will be in Michigan, Oakland visits the Big Easy, Portland will be in San Antonio, the Knights travel to Soldier Field for a classic St. Louis-Chicago matchup, and in the big Sunday Night matchup it is Birmingham, with their stellar 11-1 record, heading up to New Jersey to face Walker, Flutie, and the Generals.