The Memphis Showboats continued their unbeaten run with a dominant 54-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Maulers in Week 5 of the 1985 USFL season. Memphis wasted no time establishing control, with Leonard Williams scoring two rushing touchdowns in the first half, and quarterback Walter Lewis adding to the onslaught with four touchdown passes. By halftime, the Showboats had built an insurmountable 51-0 lead, effectively sealing the game before the Maulers could find their footing.
Pittsburgh’s offense struggled to gain any momentum, plagued by turnovers and an unrelenting Memphis defense that held them scoreless until the fourth quarter. The Maulers’ lone bright spot came late in the game when running back Mike Rozier found the end zone twice on short runs, but by then, the outcome was well out of reach. Despite some spirited play in the final quarter, Pittsburgh was simply overwhelmed by the sheer efficiency and explosiveness of the Showboats’ attack.
Walter Lewis was named MVP for his stellar performance, finishing with 209 passing yards and five touchdowns. Memphis’ balanced offensive approach, with 169 rushing yards complementing their aerial assault, proved too much for the Maulers, who fell to 3-2 on the season. Meanwhile, Memphis improved to 5-0, solidifying their position as the team to beat in the league.
