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| Mario Valencia, QB, Detroit |
Detroit QB Mario Valencia found WR John Risinger three times for TDs as the Wheels rolled past Oakland, last year's World Bowl winners, 36-10, in a divisional round game.
The win propels Detroit into the American Conference finals, where the Wheels will take on Los Angeles. The Express gunned down San Antonio, 31-14, in the other American Conference semifinal. The Invaders had beaten the Wheels, 9-6, in the 1975 American Conference finals.
The Wheels and Invaders were actually tied, 7-7, before Detroit ran off 29 unanswered points. Oakland turned the ball over four times.
Valencia completed 23 of 33 passes for 401 yards. RDE Juan Frigo was the big-play guy for the Wheels defense, sacking Lacy five times, forcing three fumbles and recovering one.
In the other divisional round games:
Express 31, Gunslingers 14
The Los Angeles defense held San Antonio's heralded passing attack in check as they moved on to the finals. Gunslingers QB Tony Smith was 24-for-54 with one TD and two interceptions (52.39 QBR). After trailing, 7-3, early on, LAX outscored San Antonio, 28-7, the rest of the way. Los Angeles QB Gene Nowlin was 15-for-20 passing for 299 yards. CB Paul Moore was credited with seven tackles and intercepted a pass. The Gunslingers are 0-3 all-time in postseason play.Bandits 46, Stars 3
Tampa Bay showed why it was 15-1 in the regular season, limiting New York to 117 total yards and forcing five turnovers. The game was never close, as the Bandits led, 31-0, at intermission.Tampa Bay RB Ralph Allen had a nice all-around game, rushing for 75 yards and catching three passes for 80 yards.VooDoo 16, Maulers 10
New Orleans, which finished dead last in the South Division a year ago, is now a win away from the World Bowl. Rookie SS Troy Thomas intercepted a pass by Pittsburgh backup QB Brandon Rocha at the VooDoo 19-yard line with 1:25 remaining to seal the victory. Rookie RDE Juan Bennett had 5 tackles, 7 hurries, and 2 sacks for New Orleans. FS Rick Edwards led the VooDoo with 12 tackles.Conference Finals Preview
Los Angeles at Detroit: MFN has the Wheels as an 11-point favorite. Detroit leads the regular-season series between the teams, 2-0, including a 20-7 win during Week 7 this season. Los Angeles QB Gene Nowlin had one of his worst games as a pro that day, completing 14 of 37 passes with 2 interceptions and being sacked seven times (30.57 QBR). The Express also turned the ball over four times in that matchup.New Orleans at Tampa Bay: MFN gives a 4-point edge to the Bandits. Tampa Bay has won the only regular-season meeting between the teams, 17-10, in 1974. New Orleans was 28th in the league in passing yards per game (255) during the regular season, but fifth in rushing yards (125.4). However, the Tampa Bay defense was second in the league against the run (54.7).
