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| Mario Valencia (12), QB, Detroit Wheels |
The Detroit Wheels finished off the first perfect season in USFL/WFL history in perfect fashion, scoring two TDs in the final 80 seconds to stun Tampa Bay, 29-22, and win World Bowl IV.
The Wheels were 16-0 during the regular season, then ran through three postseason games to extend their current overall win streak to 26 games.
Tampa Bay led, 22-14, with 1:20 to play when Detroit began its comeback.
QB Mario Valencia found WR John Risinger behind the Bandits secondary for an 83-yard score, then hit WR David Ortiz with a 2-point conversion pass that made it 22-22. After Tampa Bay went three-and-out on its next possession, Detroit got the ball back with 56 seconds to go.
Valencia completed passes for 2 and 20 yards, then hit Risinger with a short pass over the middle. Risinger veered between defenders, then raced down the middle of the field for the game-winning 50-yard TD with 26 seconds remaining. Tampa Bay ran five plays on its final possession, but only got as far as its 40.
The key play of the game may actually have come much earlier. Valencia fumbled after being sacked by rookie star LDE William Lewis and Tampa Bay recovered on the Wheels' 13. But, on third-and-one, Detroit DT Daniel Hawes stuffed Bandits RB Ralph Allen for a 2-yard loss, and Tampa Bay had to settle for a field goal that extended a 19-14 lead to 22-14 with 1:54 to go.
Valencia threw for 335 yards and four TDs. Tampa Bay QBs Luis Gero and Tyrone Harvell completed passes to 10 different receivers. Detroit MLB Bobby Wells had 10 tackles and three sacks.
The Wheels are the first World Bowl winners to repeat. The Florida Blazers and Oakland Invaders were the World Bowl I and II winners.
