ALBANY, NY-The Detroit Drive kept rolling towards a chance at clinching the AFL Eastern Division title with a 36-9 victory over the Albany Firebirds in a Week 13 game.
The game did not start out great for Detroit, as Lou Couch had a pass intercepted by Jimmy Loggeman who returned it 36 yards to the Drive 35-yard line. On the next play, Sinbad Gargaro was picked off by Stan Florin who returned it 40 yards to the 42-yard line. After a 5-play, 58-yard drive, Couch completed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Vern Kelly to put Detroit up 7-0 with 9:08 to go in the first quarter. The Firebirds would punt, then Loggeman intercepted another pass from Couch at the 43-yard line. After a four-play, 26-yard drive, Dom Wenning kicked a 34-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 3:39 left in the first.
The Drive would respond with a drive that went 73 yards on 12 plays. Couch finished it off with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kelly to go up 14-3 with 14:45 to go in the half. The Firebirds answered with an 8-play, 41-yard drive, ending with a 52-yard field goal by Wenning to make it 14-6 with 11:01 left in the second quarter. The teams would trade punts, and Wenning would miss a 52-yard field goal attempt. The teams then went into the locker room with Detroit up 14-6.
Early in the third quarter, Jeffrey Wilkey intercepted a Gargaro pass and returned it 40 yards to the Albany 24-yard line. Four plays later, Cletis Frayer kicked a 31-yard field goal to make it 17-6 with 13:31 to go in the third quarter. Gargaro was intercepted again, this time by Cord Biggs. Both teams traded punts, then Detroit moved the ball 69 yards on 4 plays. Frayer kicked a 21-yard field goal with 7:15 remaining in the third to go up 20-6. After an Albany three-and-out, the Drive went 54 yards on 4 plays. Couch threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Dave Huntley to make it 27-6 with 5:06 remaining in the third quarter. Gargaro was intercepted again by Biggs, who returned it 36 yards to the Firebirds 8-yard line. After four plays gained six yards, Frayer kicked a 19-yard field goal to make it 30-6 with 3:11 remaining in the third. Albany would answer with a 5-play, 44-yard drive. Wenning kicked a 46-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the third to make it 30-9.
Renaldo Halter returned the ensuing kickoff 77 yards to the Firebirds 14-yard line, Four plays later, Frayer kicked a 45-yard field goal to make it 33-9 with 14:02 left in the game. On fourth down at Albany's own 15-yard line, Flint Percell tried a fake punt, and it fell incomplete. After three plays gained eight yards, Frayer kicked a 24-yard field goal to close out the scoring at 39-6 with 11:23 left in the game.
Detroit (10-3) gained 350 yards of total offense. The Drive ran for 83 yards on 32 carries. Patch Brolie led the team with 30 yards on 10 carries. Couch went 15-of-29 passing for 279 yards, 3 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked once for a 12-yard loss. Kelly led the receivers with 6 catches for 141 yards and 2 TD. The Drive will host the Milwaukee Mustangs next week.
Albany (5-8) gained 314 yards of total offense. The Firebirds ran for 80 yards on 14 carries. Scooter Colby led the team with 37 yards on 6 carries. Gargaro went 23-of-54 passing for 267 yards and 4 INT. He was sacked four times, losing 33 yards. Teddy Harley led the receivers with 9 catches for 126 yards. The Firebirds will host the Chicago Rush next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment