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Mobile 34 |
Homes Run Away from HorrorsThe Amityville Horrors came into the Eastern Conference wildcard game in Mobile without starting kicker Stig Mupp and found out just how major an injury that could be. After the two teams battled to a 3-3 halftime score, the Homes added a field goal in the third quarter, then scored 4 TDs on short drives, 3 of them set up by bad punts from Amityville backup kicker Del Vynn. Although Vynn wasn't responsible for one blocked punt that gave Mobile the ball at the Amityville 13 yard-line, he shanked two others, one netting 19 yards, the other 21. All 4 Mobile TDs were passes from QB Babe Nipple, who completed 23 of 40 for 221 yards and no interceptions. Mobile WR Guy Nicologi caught 9 passes for 84 yards and a TD. Rookie WR Mel Fraud got his first playoff TD, and 5 catches for 58 yards. But the impressive performance was Mobile's on defense, limiting Amityville to just 109 yards passing and 47 net yards rushing. Amityville RB Curtis Interruptis, who carried 8 times for 53 yards, will still be without a Hyperbowl win for his career. Star WR Jacques Therapy was allowed only one catch for 10 yards. Mobile, Hyperbowl winner in 1994, will now travel to Manhattan to take on the Maniacs. |
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Las Vegas 30 |
Christ Saves SinnersWichita beat Las Vegas in last year's regular season game and won the teams' division. But then the teams met in the Western Conference Championship and Vegas won 44-7. In this year's regular season game, one week ago, Vegas won 55-7. So how did Las Vegas get Wichita's number? Traveling again to Las Vegas for the wildcard game with a key injury, to RB Barry Del Ive, the Linemen's prospects looked bleak. But Wichita showed it was not time to take them for granted, giving the Sinners stiff competition, for three quarters, anyway. The Linemen took the lead twice and near the end of the third quarter, tied the game at 16 with a 32-yard pass from QB Cliff Hanger to backup TE Audley Enoff. But the Sinners still eclipsed the Linemen, as QB Andy Christ showed why he's eclipsed Hanger as the play-maker. The Linemen shut down the rushing game of Vegas RBs Buster Gutt and Drew Blood, who were the major part of the rout a week ago, so Christ took care of the rushing, gaining 104 yards on 6 carries, and as the Linemen also concentrated on better coverage of the Sinner receivers, Gutt and Blood took up receiving chores. Blood had two TD receptions, and Gutt caught 4 passes for 51 yards and a score. Two of those TDs from Blood and Gutt came on two successive quick drives after the 16-16 tie, when the Sinners put the game away. Vegas WR Jason Rainbows caught only 4 passes for 31 yards, but a TD. WR Travis Tee made Wichita pay for the coverage of Rainbows, though, with 98 yards on his 5 catches. Christ passed for 268 yards and 4 TDs, with one interception, while Hanger threw for 241 yards, a TD and an interception. Defending league champion Las Vegas now advances for a rematch with the team that won their division this year, the Dodge Bullets. |