New Jersey 24
Shreveport 10

Shreveport took the football first and had a beautiful 8 play drive for a TD and it looked like it might be a long day for the Generals defense. The first quarter was a punt contest from that point until 1:13 left when Gary Barbaro had the first of 3 big plays, intercepting a Fred Murphy pass.

The resulting drive took us into the 2nd qtr and was capped off with a 1 yd Herschel Walker TD tying things at 7. After a short Steamer drive, the Generals ripped off a 13 play drive (not counting the offsides penalty) ending in a Ruzich FG for a short lived 10-7 lead.

Last 2 minutes of the 1st half was wild. Maurice Carthon muffed a punt but Barbaro Big Play #2, recovering the ****, temporarily saved a turnover. Temporarily because 2 plays later Doug Fluty was picked off at our own 24. Defense came up big as usual, holding Shreveport to the tying FG.

In what I was afraid might be the play of the day 10 seconds before halftime, Fluty hit Clarence Collins over the middle and Collins broke away from the tackler heading for the end zone. With no clue about the clock about to expire, he didn't even try to get out of bounds, instead getting caught at the Steamer 16 leaving 0:00 on the clock and losing a chance for points.

https://usflwfl.myfootballnow.com/watch/657#119275

Third quarter didn't have much action unless you like punting and interceptions as no points were scored. Barbaro Big Play #3 was early 3rd qtr, intercepting a pass that, if complete, would have set up Shreveport with a 1st down in FG range.

Early in the 4th qtr Fluty hit Cody Adkins for a 10 yd TD, putting New Jersey in the lead for good 17-10. A few punts later with just 3:31 on the clock, Fred Murphy fumbled the snap which was recovered by Jim Byrne for a crippling turnover. Three plays later a 2nd Fluty to Adkins TD pass put the nail in the coffin.

Shreveport didn't quit though as they drove deep in Generals territory before turning it over on downs. A TD and onside kick recovery could have made for an exciting finish.

Thanks for the write up. Defensive battle with your offence holding it together better than mine for a gritty playoff win. Good luck going forward.

Great Game, Toro! I love it when a playoff game goes to the final second! I didn't think I was going to pull that one out...

Tall task ahead tonight as the Generals have to find a way to slow down the Pittsburgh offense. They average more than 33 points a game and with my offense, I'm going to need to hold them to 21 or less if I want a good chance to win. I know I'll get a heavy dose of the Maulers running game like last season when Pittsburgh mauled the Generals 36-15.

https://usflwfl.myfootballnow.com/box/225

Its storm vs invaders for the third time this season and the games were split, regardless if I continue in the playoffs or not this is my most anticipated game of the season.

Good game Invaders, my team fell apart in the second half.

Good game Pittsburgh, I was expecting to get Mauled by your running game but it was your defense doing the Mauling. My offense stunk up the place and couldn't get out of their own way. When they finally put a drive together they turned the ball over in the red zone.

Pittsburgh won all 3 phases of the game in a dominating 29-3 win. Good luck the rest of the way!

Nice New Jersey, I went into this game thinking your team was going to pull the upset. Maybe I did just enough. Your team is solid and you did slow my running game down.

See you again next season :)

Good game Storm....closer game than the score would indicate, as I got some short fields in the 4th ala fumbles. The breaks definitely went my way in the second half.

We had some good battles this year and I'm looking forward to more of the same next season.

Good game, CWolf. Actually, I suspect it was an intensely frustrating game for both of us to watch... I'm sure you were pulling your hair out with all your turnovers, and I was constantly shaking my head at my teams absolute inability to capitalize on the opportunities you were giving me... I left so many points on the field I was sure I was going to give the game away... Good luck next year!