Not much drama Wildcard Weekend as only 1 of the 6 games was a one score margin and the average margin of victory was 20 points. I have a feeling the scores will be closer from here on out.

Houston Gamblers 35 Cleveland Thunderbolts 3

The Houston defense thoroughly dominated the Cleveland offense, holding them to just 1 first down and 45 total offensive yards. The Thunderbolts couldn't run the ball (17 rushes, -6 yards) and they were 0/12 on 3rd down. The Gamblers offense generated 599 yards, yet they were not very efficient as Dale Baber threw 3 INTs and the offense fumbled 4 times (none lost) while also turning it over on downs 3 times. Baber still had a productive day, completing 38/56, 454 yards and 3 TDs, two of those went to Harley Race (12-159). Gus "Hightest" Gas had 210 combined yards (93 rushing, 8-117 receiving) and a pair of rushing TDs.

Los Angeles Express 24 Oklahoma Outlaws 13

Oklahoma had more yards than Los Angeles (383-327), and they converted 10/19 3rd downs while the defense held Los Angeles to 1/10. The Outlaws had red zone troubles however, as the offense scored 3 points in 2 trips while the defense allowed 17 points on the 3 Express red zone trips. Los Angeles QB Myron Dustin threw for 275 yards and 2 TDs while RB Ronnie Nix had 123 combined yards and a TD via the ground and the air.

San Jose SaberCats 27 Memphis Showboats 3

Brian Carmichael threw for 264 yards and a TD to Ivan Humphrey (7-117 receiving) to lead the San Jose offense, but it was the SaberCats defense that stole the show. Memphis QB Derek Joyce had a horrible game, throwing 5 INTs, 3 in the 4th qtr. Through the first 3 quarters, San Jose led 17-3 and one of those TDs was an INT return by Louis Anderson, so the Showboats were still in the game. The 1st INT of the 4th set San Jose up at midfield and David Babin's 4 yard TD run gave them a 24-3 lead. The 2nd INT effectively killed any chance at a comeback while the 3rd came in the final seconds. Louis Anderson had 3 of the 5 INTs, earning him defensive POW honors.

Orlando Renegades 26 Birmingham Stallions 9

Birmingham's defense didn't allow an offensive TD until less than 4 minutes to play yet they still trailed 19-0 after 3 quarters. Orlando was able to move the ball between the 20's but converted just 1 of 4 red zone trips, getting 4 total FGs and a fumble return for a TD by Kenneth Jackson. The Stallions would cut it to 19-7 mid 4th qtr but the defense allowed the Renegades to go 75 yards in 8 plays, effectively sealing the game up 26-7 with under 4 minutes left. Birmingham sacked Damien Oleary for a late safety but that was too little too late.

Baltimore Stars 19 New Jersey Generals 17

New Jersey scored first for a 7-0 lead but Baltimore scored the next 16 for a 16-7 halftime lead. On one hand, the Generals did well holding the Stars to FGs instead of TDs but they also turned the ball over and missed a FG in the first half, so they were lucky to still be in the game. New Jersey's defense tried to keep it close in the second half, only allowing 3 points following Eric Hansen's 2nd INT of the game to trail 19-10 midway through the 4th. Hansen then led the Generals on a TD drive following a Baltimore fumble, cutting the lead to 19-17 with 2:26 to play. They opted for an onside kick rather than play defense and that didn't work as Baltimore ran out the clock to advance.

New Orleans VooDoo 38 Washington Federals 3

This box score reminds me of Houston/Cleveland as New Orleans had an inefficient 574 yards of offense in a blowout win. Willie Graham threw 2 INTs and James Aguirre lost a fumble while the offense was just 2/11 on 3rd down. Graham overcame his mistakes, throwing for 435 yards and 4 TDs as did Aguirre, who rushed for 111 yards. Graham helped 2 receivers top 100 as Benjamin Jones caught 9 for 183 yards and Joe Solis caught 4 for 139 yards and 3 TDs. The VooDoo defense did what they needed to do despite not generating any turnovers as they held Washington to 5 first downs and 109 offensive yards.

There wasn't much drama in the Divisional Round either, although one game did come down to the end. The Los Angeles Express almost took Portland to OT but a failed 4th and goal in the final minute sealed the victory for the Storm. San Jose and Houston were locked in a tight game after 3 quarters but in the 4th, the Gamblers had an epic meltdown and turned the game over to the SaberCats. Orlando lit up the Philadelphia defense for 464 yards and scored the final 10 points of the game to pull away after the Bell cut the lead to 5 in the 4th qtr. New Orleans had little trouble with Baltimore as they look to get back to the World Bowl and win it this time.

Portland Storm 17 Los Angeles Express 10

Portland took an early 3-0 lead then promptly intercepted Myron Dustin to set up a first and 10 from the 12. The Storm gained a first down and had first and goal from the 1 yard line but 3 incomplete passes and a run for a short loss kept the score 3-0. Late in the 2nd qtr Travis Hopkins scored a TD on a 2 yard run, upping the Portland lead to 10-0. Los Angeles would get a FG just before halftime for a 10-3 Portland lead at the break.

In the 3rd, the Express defense intercepted Raymond Oswalt and three plays later, Ernie Lindsay scored on a 1 yard run and the XP tied the game at 10. Fast forward to the 4th qtr and Los Angeles RB Ronnie Nix lost a fumble, giving Portland the ball in Express territory. Five plays later Thomas Frank ran it in the end zone from 5 yards out and the Storm now led again 17-10. As the game got closer to the end, Ronnie Nix lost another fumble near midfield. Portland didn't score off this turnover but it did halt the potential Los Angeles scoring drive.

Los Angeles got the ball back on their own 20 with just under 4 minutes to play and Myron Dustin drove the Express down the field. Inside the 2 minute warning, Los Angeles had first and goal from the 6, but a knocked down pass, a sack, and a completion left the Express facing a 4th and goal from the 6. Time was running out but for some reason, Dustin didn't throw it in the end zone, instead opting for Cody Williamson who was tackled in the field of play. Curiously, the last play of the game was not a kneeldown but a shotgun sweep where William Bettis was tackled at the 1. Imagine if that was a safety instead, then the Express could have had a chance to win the game, although the lack of time would hurt.

San Jose SaberCats 23 Houston Gamblers 13

San Jose got off to a quick start as the defense forced a three and out while Brian Carmichael needed just 3 plays to score a TD. Carmichael went 15 yards for Ivan Humphrey for the TD pass then threw to Robert Byrd for the 2 point conversion and an 8-0 lead. Dale Baber led Houston down the field for the answering score, a 1 yard pass to John Casella and the conventional XP made the score 8-7. Houston would add a couple of FGs in the 2nd qtr and led at the half 13-8.

In the 3rd, San Jose drove for a FG, forced a three and out, then drove for another FG to retake the lead 14-13. That was our score heading to the 4th and Houston went three and out on their first drive of the quarter. Their next drive ended with a Baber INT and the one after that ended with a lost fumble as Jeremy Rodriguez was seeking yards after the catch. The drive after that ended with another Baber INT with just 3:08 to play. Those first 2 turnovers didn't hurt too bad as the Gamblers defense kept forcing three and outs of their own, but Harold Hedberg changed that after this INT, running it in from 18 yards out. Brian Carmichael was sacked on the 2 point try but the SaberCats lead was now 20-13. When Houston got the ball back, Baber threw another INT, leading to a FG to push the lead to 23-13. The Gamblers now needed two scores in one minute and they turned it over on downs, allowing Carmichael to do the victory formation..

Orlando Renegades 31 Philadelphia Bell 16

This result may be viewed as an upset but Orlando had better team rankings than Philadelphia so it's not really a big surprise. Damien Oleary threw a TD pass to Anthony Milan on the opening drive to give Orlando a quick 7-0 lead. Milan would later score on an 18 yard run, giving the Renegades a 14-0 lead in the 2nd qtr. Philadelphia would cut the lead in half on a 71 yard TD pass by Bryant Smith to Roderick Uribe making the halftime score 14-7 Orlando.

Oleary would answer in the 3rd with a big play of his own, a 67 yard TD pass to John Jones, pushing the lead to 21-7. Philadelphia would score the next 9 points on a FG and another long Smith to Uribe TD pass, this one 68 yards. The 2 point try failed and the score was 21-16 Orlando with 8:58 to play. Damien Oleary answered that with a 61 yard TD to Christopher Espinoza and a FG would close out the scoring as the Renegades advance.

WR Roderick Uribe had 4 catches, 157 yards and 2 scores in a losing effort while Damien Oleary threw for 373 yards and 3 TDs for the winning Renegades.

New Orleans VooDoo 28 Baltimore Stars 3

This game started as a defensive struggle as both teams punted some and threw an INT before New Orleans finally scored near the end of the 1st. Willie Graham found Benjamin Jones with a 2 yard TD pass and a 7-0 lead. Baltimore continued punting after that while Willie Graham threw two more TD passes in the qtr, 33 yards to James Peterson and 48 yards to Benjamin Jones.

The 3rd quarter began with New Orleans leading 21-0 and getting the ball. Willie Graham threw an interception which Gary Ellis nearly returned for a TD. Baltimore took over at the New Orleans 1 and couldn't punch it in, settling for a FG to make the score 21-3 VooDoo.

The score remained 21-3 until inside the 2 minute warning when James Aguirre ran in a 58 yard TD to give us our final score of 28-3. Aguirre finished the day with 189 rushing yards.

The Divisional Round is over and World Bowl XXXI is a rematch of World Bowls XVIII and XXX as the Portland Storm face the New Orleans VooDoo at an as yet undisclosed location. San Jose gave Portland quite a battle while Orlando ran into a buzzsaw that has obliterated all of their playoff foes. Congratulations on excellent seasons Smirt and IoanBlood, I know it's over sooner than you wanted but we can only have 1 winner.

Portland Storm 17 San Jose SaberCats 11

The game started with a three and out for both offenses before San Jose drove for a FG and a 3-0 lead. Portland's second drive took us into the 2nd qtr, where a 1 yard Raymond Oswalt TD pass to Lonnie Johnson gave the Storm a 7-3 lead. The rest of the half was a punt fest.

Portland would extend their lead in the 3rd qtr when Thomas Frank ran it in from 7 yards out and the XP made the score 14-3. San Jose would answer with a TD drive of their own as Brian Carmichael found David Barfield with a 3 yard TD pass and that same combo scored the 2 point conversion, cutting the Portland lead to 14-11.

Portland would answer with a long drive that ended in FG range but Aaron David's kick was wide right and the SaberCats were still down 3. San Jose went three and out before Portland went on another long drive that ended in FG range. This time David's kick was good and Portland now led 17-11 with 2:41 to go. Carmichael led the SaberCats down the field quickly but that last Storm FG meant San Jose needed to put the ball in the end zone. On 4th and 2 from the Portland 30, Harold Marshall dropped a potential 1st down catch and the SaberCats never saw the ball again as Portland ran out the remaining clock to advance to World Bowl XXXI.

New Orleans VooDoo 52 Orlando Renegades 3

Orlando's best drive was their opening drive, taking the kickoff and driving 75 yards. Facing a 4th and goal inside the 1 yard line, they opted to kick, taking a 3-0 lead. The rest of the first half was all punts for the Renegades offense while their defense couldn't stop New Orleans. The VooDoo scored on their first 4 drives and 5 of the first 6, taking a 31-3 lead into halftime.

New Orleans got the ball to start the second half and picked up right where they left off, scoring on a 70 yard TD pass by Willie Graham to Joe Solis, pushing the lead to 38-3. Orlando's offense continued to go nowhere while New Orleans tacked on a couple TDs at the end of the game to give us a final score of 52-3.

RB James Aguirre didn't have the lofty rushing yardage he had last week but he did score twice on the ground and the VooDoo RBBC combined for 151 rushing yards. QB Willie Graham had a nice stat line, completing 32/43, 495 yards, 5 TDs and 1 INT. WR Benjamin Jones caught 3 of those scoring passes among his 12 for 163 yards. Joe Solis also cracked 100, catching 4 for 109 and a TD.