Week 7 – Game of the Week
It’s another matchup for first place in division two, as Los Angeles and Mercer go mano-y-mano for the second consecutive week. Los Angeles clubbed the Mustangs 85-43 this past week. Mercer will attempt to re-take the division lead, but may find the going tough as the team’s scoring leader, WR Tony Martin, enjoys an off-week this weekend.
ALSO WATCH: Carolina and Miami are both on a roll as they battle it out to keep pace with New York in Division One.
EXPANSION BOWL: The first-ever matchup between Newport and Keystone will take place this weekend at the two 1996 expansion teams face off.
A New York Nightmare!!
The expansion Newport Beach Nightmare pulled off the upset of the year this week, clobbering the previously-undefeated and point-leading New York Griffons by a 72-42 score. The loss is New York’s first regular-season loss since Week 4 of last year, when the Griffons lost 48-40 to Carolina. Joey Galloway and Jeff Hostetler, traded to Newport from the Griffons in the preseason, came back to haunt the Griffons, combining for 31 of Newport’s points.
In other action, the 2-time defending champion Cheeseheads shattered the all-time 4-receiver record with an astounding 69-point performance by 4 receivers (and only 3 of them scored!). This broke the previous all-time record of 54 points, which was held by the same franchise when they were known as the New Jersey Kings. The previous record was set in week 7 of 1992. Wisconsin went on the crush the Longfellows 73-35.
Game Summaries:
Los Angeles 85, Mercer 43
The Riot pulled into a tie with Mercer atop Division Two with a sound defeat of the Mustangs. Los Angeles also pulled within 4 points of Mercer for 2nd place in the overall point race. QB Drew Bledsoe’s awesome 26-point week led the Riot!. WR Michael Jackson added 24, WR Cris Carter chipped in 17, and newly-acquired waiver wire add TE Ricky Dudley added 14 points. The Mustangs were paced by a super 24-point performance from QB Vinny Testeverde.
Wisconsin 73, Keystone 35
The Cheeseheads shattered the all-time record for 4 receivers, as the 4 starters scored 69 points. TE Shannon Sharpe led the attack with a season-high 29 points. WRs Antonio Freeman (23) and Shawn Jefferson (17) also had the best games of their careers. K Jason Hanson’s 4 points were the only other scores posted by Wisconsin. The Longfellows were paced by Brett Perriman’s 11 point week, as 6 of 8 starters scored for Keystone in a losing effort.
Newport Beach 72, New York 42
The Nightmare pull off what must be considered the year’s biggest upset so far. All 8 starters scored for Newport, 4 of them in double figures, led by former Griffon WR Joey Galloway’s 20 points. Also in double figures: TE Ben Coates (13) and other former NY Griffons Thurman Thomas (10) and Jeff Hostetler (11). The Griffons were paced by WR Herman Moore’s 17-point week, as 6 of 8 starters scored for New York, who maintains a 46-point lead in the overall point race.
Miami 60, Dallas 29
The Muffdivers rebound from their defeat to NY last week with a solid whipping of the Armadillos. RBs Eddie George (20) and Jerome Bettis (14) lead the way for Miami, as 7 of 8 starters scored for the Muffdivers. WR Brian Blades also chipped in a double-digit performance (11). Dallas was paced by waiver-wire add QB Todd Collins (12) and WR Jerry Rice (11).
Pittsburgh 57, Butler 50
The Pachyderms evened their record at .500, as QB Brett Favre turned in another MVP performance with a 17 point weekend to lead the Pittsburgh squad. WR Derrick Alexander turned in 14 points, and K Steve Christie chipped in 10 in the winning effort. The Blowfish had a super weekend from the newly-acquired RB Jamal Anderson, who paced Butler with 26 points. RB James Stewart added 11, but 4 Butler receivers failed to show up, with Tim Brown’s 2 points the only score posted for 4 receivers.
Carolina 41, Richmond 25
The Big Bang enjoyed another huge week from QB Scott Mitchell, whose 23 points propelled the Carolina squad to their third straight win. RB Mario Bates added 6 points, while the rollercoaster ride continues for RB Chris Warren, who failed to score again this week. The Raptors were carried almost entirely by QB John Elway, whose 23 points accounted for nearly all the scoring for Richmond.
Pennsylvania 32, State College 21
The Wildcats hang on to become the only team to post 5 wins on the season, despite a miserable 5-point performance from the running back tandem of Barry Sanders, Curtis Martin and Karim Abdul-Jabbar. WR Robert Brooks (8) and TE Frank Wycheck (8) led the scoring for PA. The Bandits were paced by QB Stan Humphries (10) and RB Terry Kirby (10).
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