Sunday, November 13, 2016

AFL: Detroit Drives Past Chicago, 27-20

ROSEMONT, IL-The Detroit Drive secured their third straight win with a 27-20 victory over the Chicago Rush in a Week 9 AFL game.

The game started slowly, with both teams trading punts. Chicago was on the 3-yard line, and an Arman Drummond screen pass to Ward Despain was disrupted by Tad Adler who tackled Despain in the end zone for a safety and a 2-0 Detroit lead with 10:34 remaining in the first quarter. The Rush recovered from the safety and would move 47 yards on 6 plays. Dete Justen finished the drive with a 50-yard field goal with 3:38 left in the first to take a 3-2 lead. Detroit tried to drive for a score, but a fumbled snap by Lou Couch was recovered by MacArthur Fagan at the Detroit 47-yard line.

The Rush would then finish an 8-play, 47-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Drummond to Zach Allen, giving Chicago a 10-2 lead with 12:45 left in the half. Detroit responded by moving the ball 61 yards on 8 plays. Couch completed the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Vern Kelly. The Drive successfully went for two, and tied the game at 10 with 8:32 to go in the second quarter. Chicago would answer with a 12-play, 59-yard drive. Justen ended it with a 33-yard field goal giving the Rush a 13-10 lead with 2:49 to go in the half. The Drive would turn it over again, as Couch was sacked by Fagan, and Harlan Fears recovered at midfield.

Detroit opened the second half with a 7-play, 41-yard drive. Cletis Frayer would finish it off with a 47-yard field goal with 11:15 left in the third to tie it at 13. The teams would trade punts, and Chicago's Lonnie Clements fumbled at the Detroit 39 and Jeffrey Wilkey recovered for the Drive. After another exchange of punts, Detroit drove 53 yards on 6 plays. Couch threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Dave Huntley to go up 20-13 with 1:06 left in the third quarter.

Chicago would punt, and the Drive worked their way down the field again, going 80 yards on 13 plays. Couch threw his third touchdown of the game, a 12-yard pass to Todd Boyce to put Detroit up 27-13 with 8:37 left in the game. The Rush answered with an 8-play, 63-yard drive. Drummond completed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Despain with 5:37 remaining to make it 27-20. Both teams would punt, and the Rush were at their own 20 with 1:19 to go, but they couldn't even convert a fourth down, and Detroit ran out the clock.

Detroit (7-2) gained 382 yards of total offense. The Drive ran for 131 yards on 31 carries. Couch and Patch Brolie each gained 45 yards rushing on 10 carries each. Couch went 25-of-43 passing for 257 yards and 3 TD, and was sacked once for a 6-yard loss. Kelly led Detroit's receivers with 10 catches for 105 yards and a TD. Next week, the Drive will host the New York Dragons in a rematch of a 17-9 Detroit victory in Week 4.

Chicago (2-7) gained 242 yards of total offense. The Rush ran for 51 yards on 19 carries. Clements led the Rush with 22 yards on 9 carries. Drummond went 21-of-38 passing for 192 yards and 2 TD, and was sacked once for a 1-yard loss. Allen led Chicago's receivers with 6 catches for 45 yards and a TD. Chicago will host the Iowa Barnstormers next week, in a rematch of a 57-20 shellacking by the Barnstormers in Week 4.

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