Arizona Victory a Case of Teacher Besting Pupil : Interconference: Ryan’s Cardinals pour it on in fourth quarter against Fisher’s Oilers and win, 30-12.

Buddy Ryan, teacher, still had a few lessons for Jeff Fisher, pupil.

Jay Schroeder led an offense that hadn’t scored a touchdown in nine quarters to set the early tone. Then the defense took over with five interceptions and a fumble recovery, leading Arizona to a 30-12 victory over the Houston Oilers on Sunday.

Fisher, in his third game as Oiler head coach, played for Ryan in Chicago and coached for him at Philadelphia. But the bumbling Oilers couldn’t give Fisher a milestone victory on Sunday against his mentor.

The Oilers, with Ryan as the defensive coordinator, won 11 games in a row and finished last season 12-4. They’ve dropped to the bottom this season with a 1-12 record and nine consecutive losses.

Now Ryan is trying to get his first Cardinal team in the playoffs. They are 6-7.

“We looked like a pro football team for the first time this year offensively,” Ryan said. “In the second half we were able to take the ball and hold onto it. Our offensive line took charge in the second half.”

Added Ryan: “We went into the game to get five interceptions and we got them. We set goals for every game.”

Schroeder, making his fourth start of the season, threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Gary Clark on the first play of the fourth quarter, giving the Cardinals an 18-12 lead. The defense took over the rest of the way.

Schroeder completed 12 of 20 passes for 176 yards and an interception.

Arizona scored 18 points in a 3:40 span. After Clark’s touchdown catch, Greg Davis added a 25-yard field goal and Larry Centers a four-yard touchdown run with 4:58 left in the game.

Wilber Marshall stripped Oiler quarterback Bucky Richardson and safety Terry Hoage recovered at the Oilers’ 10 to set up Davis’ field goal.

Hoage was in the spotlight again moments later with a 41-yard interception return to the Houston 17. That set up Centers’ touchdown. Defensive tackle Eric Swann added the final insult by sacking Billy Joe Tolliver in the end zone for a safety.