Monday, August 15, 2016

AFL: Mustangs Survive OT Thriller Over Sabercats, 33-30

MILWAUKEE-Rock Philbrook kicked a pair of 43-yard field goals, one that tied the game late in the fourth, and the overtime winner to give the Milwaukee Mustangs a 33-30 victory over the San Jose Sabercats as Week 3 of the AFL season came to an end.

Milwaukee opened with a 12-play, 48-yard drive that ended with Philbrook kicking a 49-yard field with 10:32 remaining in the first to put the Mustangs up 3-0. San Jose's opening drive with Timmy Carey's pass being intercepted by Conn Kriner at the Mustangs' 33. The Mustangs went three-and-out on their next possession. The Sabercats would also go three-and-out. The Mustangs then drove 46 yards on 7 plays, and Philbrook kicked a 47-yard field goal with 2:13 to go in the first to make it 6-0 in favor of Milwaukee.

San Jose's offense finally got on track as the Sabercats drove the ball 73 yards on 7 plays. Carey finished the drive by scrambling 13 yards for a touchdown to give San Jose a 7-6 lead with 13:36 to go in the half. The Mustangs punted on their next drive and Ramon Counce returned the punt 21 yards to the Mustangs' 43 yard-line. After 8 plays gained 33 yards, the Sabercats sent Ethan Wycoff to kick a 27-yard field goal with 6:57 remaining in the second to put the Sabercats up 10-6. Buckley Ravens returned the ensuing kickoff to the San Jose 49. Five plays later, facing a 4th-and-1 at the Sabercats 3, the Mustangs went for it, and JC George hit C.C. Cage for a 3-yard touchdown with 4:14 to go in the half to put Milwaukee up 13-10. After a San Jose punt, Milwaukee drove 61 yards on 7 plays. George would connect with Heinie Clausen for a 15-yard touchdown to put the Mustangs up 20-10 with 32 seconds remaining in the half. A short kick and a good return by Elson Saxon to the Mustangs' 48 gave San Jose a chance to get in position for Wycoff to kick a 54-yarder on the last play of the half to get the Sabercats closer at 20-13.

Russ Bird intercepted a pass by George at the Mustangs' 13-yard line early in the third. Four plays later, the Sabercats pulled a reverse, and TE Whitey Drace ran 5 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 20 with 13:38 remaining in the third. Milwaukee punted on their next drive. Carey was sacked and fumbled at the Sabercats' 41, and Yousef Checkers recovered for Milwaukee. But George would fumble after being sacked himself, and Curry Jerris would recover for San Jose at his own 35. After two pass receptions by Counce covered 46 yards, Fernando Findley scored on a 19-yard touchdown run with 3:43 left in the third to put San Jose up 27-20. Milwaukee's next possession saw Cage make a 70-yard gain on a reception to the San Jose 1-yard line that set up George scoring on a 1-yard QB sneak to tie the game at 27 with 2:12 remaining in the third.

The Sabercats' next possession saw them drive the ball 57 yards on 9 plays. Wycoff then came on and kicked a 37-yard field goal with 12:47 remaining in the fourth to put San Jose up 30-27. Milwaukee punted, and San Jose was driving when Bren Urich intercepted a pass for the Mustangs and returned it to the Milwaukee 46-yard line with 4:19 left. The Mustangs would gain 28 yards on 7 plays, and Philbrook would kick a 43-yard field goal with 49 seconds remaining to tie the game at 30 and send it into overtime.

Milwaukee got the ball to start overtime, but George's long pass was intercepted by Chuck Wleborn at the San Jose 13-yard line. The Sabercats punted, but George was intercepted again by Bird at the Mustangs' 47. The Sabercats were forced to punt again. The Mustangs would subsequently drive 49 yards on 12 plays. Philbrook came on to attempt a 48-yard field goal, and San Jose was penalized for running into the kicker. The penalty made the kick a 43-yarder that Philbrook put straight through the uprights to give the Mustangs a 33-30 victory at 4:17 remaining in overtime.

Milwaukee (3-0) gained 413 yards of total offense. The Mustangs gained 74 yards rushing on 22 carries. Chester Brice led the Mustangs with 30 yards on 10 carries. George went 30-for-48 passing for 395 yards, with 2 TD and 3 INT. He was sacked seven times, losing 56 yards. He did gain 14 yards rushing on 4 carries with a TD. Clausen caught 7 passes for 55 yards and a TD. Nelson Romine caught 6 passes for 70 yards. Cage made 5 catches for 138 yards and a TD. Next week, the Mustangs host the Dallas Desperados.

San Jose (2-1) gained 399 yards of total offense. The Sabercats gained 130 yards rushing on 31 attempts. Alan Sale led the team with 61 yards on 13 carries. Findley gained 23 yards on 5 carries and a TD. Carey gained 38 yards on 8 carries and a TD. Carey was 22-for-34 passing for 289 yards and 2 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 20 yards. Counce led the Sabercats with 6 receptions for 84 yards. The Sabercats host the Los Angeles Avengers next week.

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