World Bowl V Preview

The USFL/WFL will have another first-time champion this season as the Los Angeles Express and Tampa Bay Bandits battle Thursday in World Bowl V.

Robert Herrera, WR, Los Angeles

The Express knocked off the Oakland Invaders, 23-13, in the American Conference championship game. Oakland was the only previous champion among the final four teams, having won World Bowl II. QB Gene Nowlin threw TD passes of 71 yards to Robert Herrera and 75 yards to Jimmy Landon and SLB Richard Owen recorded three sacks.

This will be the first World Bowl appearance for LAX, which lost to eventual champion Detroit each of the last two seasons.

Tampa Bay overcame an early deficit to pull away from Orlando, 31-10, in the National Conference championship game. The Renegades scored on their first drive, then never sniffed the end zone again. Edward Conner caught nine passes for 180 yards and QBs Luis Gero and Tyrone Harvell combined to throw three TDs for the Bandits.

The Bandits fell to Detroit, 29-22, in World Bowl IV. They are a combined 44-4 in the last three regular seasons.

Tampa Bay won the only previous meeting of the teams, 61-24, in the 1976 regular season. Coaches mcarovil and mwd65 were both in their first full seasons at the helm. The Bandits led, 45-3, at halftime. QB Tyrone Harvell was 23-for-33 passing for 523 yards and six TDs and WR Michael Popa caught 14 passes for 356 yards, which ranks No. 6 all-time in league history.