USFL Playoffs : Oakland Wins on Field Goal; Memphis Routs Denver, 48-7

Novo Bojovic kicked a 23-yard field goal on the last play of the game to give the Oakland Invaders a 30-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Bandits at Oakland Sunday in the opening round of the United States Football League playoffs.

Bojovic made up for a 31-yard field goal attempt he missed with 5:14 left in the game that would have given the Invaders the lead. He earlier kicked field goals of 37 and 52 yards.

Tampa Bay quarterback John Reaves passed for three touchdowns and ran for another. His 15-yard touchdown pass to Willie Gillespie with 9:41 left in the game brought the Bandits to a 27-27 tie, but kicker Zenon Andrusyshyn missed on a 35-yard extra-point attempt after penalties had nullified two earlier successful conversions.

The Invaders trailed, 14-3, late in the second quarter before quarterback Bobby Hebert rallied to put his team in front with two touchdown passes. Derek Holloway caught a 25-yard pass with 3:30 left in the first half, and Anthony Carter caught one from 40 yards out less than three minutes into the third quarter to give the Invaders a 17-14 lead.

Memphis 48, Denver 7--Running back Ricky Porter scored on two one-yard plunges, and the Memphis defense swarmed over Denver quarterback Vince Evans, sacking him five times, as the Showboats routed the Gold at Memphis.

Wide receiver Derrick Crawford broke loose for a 63-yard touchdown for Memphis on a punt return, and running back Leonard Williams scored on a 35-yard run.

Memphis held the Gold to a total of eight yards rushing in the first half as the Showboats rushed for 141 yards in the first two quarters. The Showboats’ blitzing defensive line also played havoc with Denver’s run and shoot offense.