'86 Chronology-Playoff Roundup

Event Date: June 16th, 1986

Event Description: Wild Card Roundup

Source: Football News

Wide receiver Alton Alexis terrorized the Memphis secondary for 156 yards and two touchdown catches, vaulting the Jacksonville Bulls into the Eastern conference championship.

The Bulls, who improved to (10-7), will travel to Birmingham next week to take on the Stallions. Birmingham cruised to the final after their 34-13 win at Orlando.

With Jacksonville leading 6-3 early in the third quarter, Alexis, the Bulls' leading receiver during the regular season, opened the second half scoring with a 51-yard strike from Ed Luther.

Perry Harrington then moved Jacksonville ahead by a score of 20-3 at the 8:07 mark of the third frame with a one-yard touchdown plunge.

Memphis pulled to within 23-10 at the end of the quarter when Walter Lewis found Harry Sydney for a 17-yard score, finishing a 10-play, 80 yard drive.

In the final frame, the Bulls pulled away for good when Ed Luther tossed a pair of touchdowns, the first to Frank Lockett from 15 yards, and the second an eight-yard toss to Alexis as Jacksonville moved out to a 38-10 lead.

The Showboats rounded out the scoring with another Lewis to Sydney touchdown from 14-yards.

Game Notes: Walter Lewis was intercepted three times and sacked twice….John Banaszak finished with 14 tackles for Memphis…Jacksonville kicker Roger Ruzek connected on three fields and three extra points.

In other weekend playoff action;

In Michigan, Matt Robinson threw four touchdown passes as the Breakers staged a 24-point second half surge as New Orleans won a 45-34 shoot out against the Panthers.

Robinson and Michigan quarterback Bob Gagliano combined for seven touchdown passes and Panthers’ wideouts Eric Truvillion and Derek Holloway finished with 200 and 163 receiving yards respectively.

In Orlando, the visiting Stallions pounded the Renegades with Bo Jackson and their rushing attack on their way to a 34-13 victory. Jackson finished with 116 yards and the Stallions finished with 251 as a team.

Birmingham quarterback Cliff Stoudt tossed a pair of touchdowns to wide receiver Greg Anderson and Joey Jones hauled in seven receptions for 88 yards.

In Houston, Jim Kelly threw four touchdown passes and Sam Harrell rushed for 113 yards with one score as the Gamblers blew out Los Angeles by a score of 48-27.

more to come......