USFL Playoffs : Returns Are In as Garcia Lane Leads Stars Over Generals

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. —  Garcia Lane scored on a league-record 91-yard punt return and set up another touchdown with another punt return as the defending champion Baltimore Stars defeated the New Jersey Generals, 20-17, in an opening round game of the United States Football League playoffs Monday night. The crowd of 26,982 was the Generals’ smallest of the season.

The victory advanced the Stars (11-7-1) in a semifinal round playoff game next Sunday at Birmingham against the 14-5 Stallions, and it ended New Jersey’s season at 11-8.

The Generals played the game without Doug Flutie after Coach Walt Michaels made decided Saturday not to risk bringing the rookie quarterback back too soon from a broken collarbone suffered on June 1. Ron Reeves, his replacement, almost rallied New Jersey to victory, but the Generals never recovered from a 13-0 first-quarter deficit.

Lane 91-yard touchdown came with 8:30 remaining in the opening quarter, and two series later, he returned a punt 35 yards to the New Jersey 20. Stars quarterback Chuck Fusina scored on a four-yard quarterback draw four plays later, but David Trout missed the extra point, making it 13-0.

New Jersey closed the gap to 13-7 on a one-yard dive by Herschel Walker with 2:26 left in the half. Walker was limited to 56 yards on 25 carries.

The Stars went up 20-7 when Fusina hit Scott Fitzkee on a five-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds to play in the half. The Generals special teams kept the Stars drive alive by going offsides on fourth down.

Interceptions by Kerry Justin and Kyle Borland set a 40-yard field goal by Roger Ruzek late in the third quarter and a three-yard touchdown run by Maurice Carthon early in the fourth quarter to close the margin to 20-17.