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USFL Roundup : Kelly Adds 404 Yards and 4 TDs to Totals

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<i> From Times Wire Services </i>

Houston quarterback Jim Kelly continued his torrid passing with 404 yards and four touchdowns as the Gamblers routed the Oakland Invaders, 42-7, Sunday before 16,037 fans at Oakland.

The Gamblers (3-0) have won 10-straight regular season games dating back to last season.

Kelly, who has 1,239 yards and 13 touchdown passes in three games, connected on touchdown pass plays of 34 yards to Richard Johnson and 74 yards to Clarence Verdin as the Gamblers took a 21-7 halftime lead.

Houston linebacker Andy Hawkins had an 13-yard interception return for a touchdown for Houston’s other first-half points.

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Kelly made Oakland (1-1-1) pay for two mistakes in the second half.

The Invaders--behind reserve quarterback Fred Besana--started off by driving to the Houston 33. However, on fourth and two, fullback Tom Newton was held for no gain.

Two plays later, Kelly found Scott McGhee for a 46-yard gain, and hit McGhee for a eight-yard touchdown on the next play.

In the fourth quarter, Besana’s pass was intercepted by Houston’s Luther Bradley. Three completions later, Kelly hit Verdin for a 23-yard score. Kelly finished with 29 completions in 40 attempts.

The Gamblers’ final points came with 1:52 left on reserve quarterback Todd Dillon’s six-yard scoring pass to Shawn Potts.

Albert Bentley scored Oakland’s touchdown on a six-yard run.

Denver 29, Portland 17--Vince Evans passed for one touchdown and ran for another in the fourth quarter to lead the Gold past the Breakers before 17,790 at Denver.

Evans scored with less than two minutes left on a one-yard quarterback sneak to give the Gold (2-1) the victory.

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Earlier in the quarter, Evans hit Kelley Johnson with a 27-yard scoring pass to give the Gold a 23-10 lead.

The Breakers (1-2) blocked Brian Speelman’s extra-point try, and closed to 23-17 on tight end Dan Ross’ sensational catch of Doug Woodward’s pass for a 37-yard touchdown.

Denver linebacker Stan Blinka snuffed Portland’s last chance with a diving interception of a Woodward pass, and Evans moved the Gold to the clinching score.

Tampa Bay 31, San Antonio 18--John Reaves passed for 298 yards and three touchdowns as the Bandits beat the Gunslingers as 21,822 watched at San Antonio.

Reaves riddled San Antonio (1-2) with 12-straight pass completions in the first half and was 25 of 31 for the game.

Wide receiver Eric Truvillion had two touchdown catches on passes of 3 and 32 yards from Reaves.

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