UNIONDALE, NY-Rocky Adams scored two rushing touchdowns and Cord Biggs came up with two interceptions in helping the Detroit Drive hold off the New York Dragons in Week 4 of the AFL season, 17-9.
The Dragons started moving the ball on the ground early, but got greedy and Faron Emerson's pass was intercepted by Biggs at the Drive's 22-yard line. However, Detroit would stall and be forced to punt. New York would move again but was also forced to punt. On the ensuing drive, Detroit moved the ball 74 yards on 6 plays, with Adams scoring from 2 yards out to put the Drive up 7-0 with 4:10 left in the first quarter.
New York got the ball back and embarked on a 10-play, 44-yard drive that ultimately stalled and Burt Hamrick kicked a 34-yard field goal with 14:09 left in the second quarter to make it 7-3 in favor of the Drive. Detroit couldn't the ball very far on their next drive, and Cletis Frayer missed a 53-yard field goal at the ten minute mark of the second quarter. Emerson tried to go for the jugular but was intercepted by T.T. Presley at the Detroit 40-yard line. From there, the Drive moved the ball 60 yards on 16 plays. Adams put an end to the seven minute drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 14-3 with 2:48 remaining in the half. New York ran out the clock to go into the half.
The third quarter was mainly a punting quarter, as neither offense seemed able to penetrate the other's defense. Late in the third, the Dragons started to get moving from their own 4-yard line. Twice on the drive early in the fourth, the Dragons were faced with 4th down in Detroit territory and converted. On 4th-and-7 from the Detroit 38, Emerson hit Melvin Betts on a screen pass that gained 19 yards. Later, on 4th-and-goal from the 1. George Larron ran from the left side to get into the end zone and finish the 16-play, 96-yard drive with a touchdown. The Dragons went for two, and missed, and trailed 14-9 with 11:32 remaining in the game.
Detroit played somewhat conservatively on offense as the fourth quarter wore on, and punted to New York. The Dragons were moving the ball when Emerson tried a long pass to get the go-ahead touchdown, but Biggs came up with his second pick of the game, and returned it to Detroit's 32-yard line. Detroit ran the ball exclusively at that point, going 38 yards on 9 plays, and settling for a 47-yard field goal by Frayer with 47 seconds left to go up 17-9. Emerson got the Dragons to the Detroit 41-yard line with 5 seconds left, but his desperation pass came up short, and the Drive pulled out the win.
Detroit (4-0) gained 259 yards of total offense. The Drive gained 147 yards rushing on 37 carries, Adams led the team with 66 yards on 18 carries and 2 TD. QB Lou Couch gained 56 yards on 7 carries. He was 15-for-25 passing for 120 yards, and was sacked once, losing 8 yards. The receiving leader for Detroit was Vern Kelly with 5 catches for 33 yards. The Drive return home next week for a game against their in-state rival, the Grand Rapids Rampage.
New York (2-2) gained 307 yards of total offense. The Dragons ran for 77 yards on 26 carries. Larron was the Dragons' leading rusher 25 yards on 10 carries and a TD. Emerson was 21-for-39 passing for 230 yards and 3 INT. He was not sacked. Elvin Strait was New York's leading receiver with 5 catches for 53 yards. The Dragons go up to the state Capital of Albany next week for an Empire State showdown against the Firebirds.
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