The National Conference Wildcard games didn't have a team score 69 points, but we did have a record set here as well. For the first time in the 17 year history of USFL football, we had a punt return for a TD in the post season as New Jersey's Sam Beckett took one 61 yards to the end zone to break open their game against Shreveport. The Generals went on to win and now face New Orleans. Washington scored 13 4th qtr points to break a tie game and advance to face division rival Baltimore. In a strange stat, both New Jersey and Baltimore have 5-0 playoff records against their opponent next week.
Federals 26 Renegades 13
Washington WR Andrew Favela fumbled the ball away after a reception on the Federals opening drive, allowing Orlando to take an early 3-0 lead on a Robert Moulton 47 yard FG. Washington and Orlando would then take turns kicking FGs and the Renegades had a 6-3 lead after 15 minutes. Scott Bieber then led the Federals on a 13 play, 70 yard TD drive, capped off by a 2 yard TD pass to Ronald Matthews. That gave Washington a 10-6 lead and they would add 3 more when 5 time All Pro K John Bazile made his second FG of the first half.
Orlando received the second half kickoff and was forced to punt, but they got the ball back quickly when Scott Bieber threw his first INT of the game. It took Orlando 9 plays to travel 37 yards, but they did tie the game at 13 on a Bradley Austin to David King 1 yard TD pass. Bieber would throw another INT on the next drive, but the Federals defense forced a punt, and Bieber settled down.
Bazile would nail a 55 yd FG early in the 4th to break the tie, then Bieber led a 6 play, 80 yard TD drive to effectively put the game away. That TD was a Bieber 27 yard pass to Andrew Favela, who atoned for his early fumble to give Washington a 23-13 lead. Orlando would have three more drives, but none went anywhere and Bazile tacked on another FG and Washington advances.
Generals 34 Steamer 16
New Jersey did their best to keep Shreveport in the game during the first half, as they had a 3-0 lead in the 1st qtr when William Neal was short on a 58 yard FG attempt. For some reason, Rod Martin jumped offsides and Neal's second kick was good from 53 yards to tie the game. New Jersey would kick another FG for a 6-3 lead before Steamer RB Orville Barker fumbled the ball away. That would lead to a short Ric Flair TD pass to Duncan Meyer. That gave New Jersey a 13-3 lead, and they seemed to shut down the next Shreveport drive with an interception, but a pass interference penalty by William S. Preston Esq. negated his pick. David Oldham ran it in from 4 yards out on the very next play to cut the lead to 13-10. Ric Flair had completed his first 14 pass attempts before an incompletion, and he had the Generals driving for a TD at the end of the first half. Instead of a 20-10 halftime lead, Flair was intercepted in the end zone by Matthew Smith.
New Jersey received the second half kickoff and again, Flair had the Generals offense driving, only this time he got the TD on a 22 yard pass to Duncan Meyer. That gave the Generals a 20-10 lead, and after a few drives, history was made. Sam Beckett returned a punt 61 yards for a TD, the first time that's happened in the postseason ever. "Dr." Beckett played much like the TV character he was named after, quantam leaping all over the place. Beckett was effective in the passing game, but struggled running, and his fumble on the second play of the 4th qtr gave the Steamer some hope. The Generals defense held Shreveport to a FG, then Ric Flair put the game away for good with a 72 yard catch and run TD, his 3rd of the day to Duncan Meyer. In all, Meyer caught 7 passes for 142 yards and those 3 TDs as New Jersey advances.
