European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 12, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday january 12.1988 the stars and stripes Page 21 Broncos drub oilers 34-10 Elway to passes to Kay Iff Denver info acc title tilt Bojoh Mossman Denver map Denver quarterback John Elway threw two touchdown passes la Light end Clarence Kay and ran for a third score and the Bronco defense contributed two key interceptions in route to a 34-10 rout or the Houston oilers sunday to Advance to the acc championship game against the Cleveland Browns who Defeated the 1 Indianapolis Colts on saturday. Denver and Cleveland will Meel for the acc Lytic for the second straight year this Lime in Denver on sunday. Last year the Broncos won at Cleveland. Under heavy pressure from the oilers pass Rush the matchup the race far the super bowl started in sell met bar with 28 team. So hey arc Down la four. The matchup for sunday s conference final Minnesota a Washington 6 30 . Get far the nyc title and Cleveland St Dsinter 10 . Get for the acc showdown. The winners and Vance to the super to i in san Diego on Jan. 31 Midnight get. Most of the Day Elway nonetheless found open receivers in Houston s secondary. They were coming at him All the Lime bul John still made some great  Denver coach Dan Reeves said. And Clarence did an excellent Job. He had two great catches. He s become a Complete Root Ball player. They played a lot of Man to Man and we Felt we could get our tight ends open. Ii worked Oul Well for Clarence is three times Llie receiver he was when he came Here said Elway the league s map this season he s doing a Good Job of getting open and catching the Ball which makes him a big weapon for  Elway also credited the Denver defense which he Aid look the wind out of their sails and made it easy for  Denver safety Tony Lilly said their defensive performance was As aggressive As we be played All  the oilers lost two scoring opportunities in the first three periods on clutch interceptions by Bronco line Backer Karl Mecklenburg and cornerback Mark see Broncos on Page 26 Denver s Clrence Kay nips in the Houston end zone after catching to pass. The defender is Kelt Bostic. Bronc secondary never missed a beat Denver Rookie Brace Plimmer. Filled in at safely by Barry w1lner Denver a the Veteran stars of the secondary retired before the sea son. The pro bowl safety went Down with a broken Arm in november. His backup hurl his knee three weeks later. The Denver Broncos defensive Back Field was in shambles. But it never played like it was hurting. The defensive backs were major fac tors in Denver s 34-10 Blowout of the Houston oilers in the acc playoffs Sun Day. Even when Strong safely Mike Harden broke his Arm on the first play the secondary never missed a Bocai. Or a tackle. That s the Best we be played together free safely Tony Lilly said. We made a lot of big plays the biggest was an Conj on interception by cornerback Mark Havre that he returned 57 Yards in the third Quarter. Haynes stepped in front of Drew Hill to grab Warren Moon s pass. Haynes also stepped away from inter viewers after the game in keeping with his policy of not speaking with the Media. Mark s play was the biggest Lilly added but we had a lot of Good plays Oul there. It seem no matter who is in Shenr he makes the  Harden began the season As a cornerback but moved to Strong safely after Alt Star Dennis Smith was injured then Randy Robbins also got Bun. When Harden was lost sunday Bruce Plummer and Tyrone briton a pair of rookies were All the Broncos had left to team with Lilly Ai safely. We lost one of our lop three players with a broken Arm coach Dan Reeves said of Harden. Bruce came in and played several series and Tyrone Bramon finished i t up and did a treat Job. That s been the history of this football learn All year. We have overcome a lot of injun  nowhere have they been plagued by injuries More than in the secondary. The Broncos appeared thin Back there begin Ning the year season because comeback Louis Wright and free safety Steve Foley veterans of the 1977 and s6 acc Champion teams had re lived. Plummer. A ninth round selection and Braxton taken in the 12th and last round were the Only defensive backs drafted. Then came the injuries. I think we be shown the la Lent a have Here comeback Steve Wilson said. Wilson a convened wide receiver who has been a backup conc Briick for his six seasons with Denver Haj a sensational game against Houston lie had five tackles Anil recovered a Fumble Ai the Houston i on the oilers second play. You lose a Mike Harden and we bring in three rookies who Haven t played much this year Tyrone Uran Lon a Ruth 1 Lummer and Kevin Clark and they do the Job. We knew we d have to play a big Rule in slopping i hair pass ing  Thev did. And the Broncos Are in the acc championship game again against Cleveland. This is As a arc Sivc As we be been As a secondary this year Lilly said. Well have to be just As aggressive neat