Tuesday, January 10, 2017

AFL: Georgia Beats Nashville, 32-20

ATLANTA-The Georgia Force relied on two touchdown runs from Clem Foulks to defeat the Nashville Kats in Week 13 of the AFL season, 32-20.

The Force started the game with the ball, but had to punt and Nelson Wynn perfectly pinned Nashville at their own 3-yard line. On the next play, a screen pass to Cobey Kingston was blown up by Tyrone Pickney who tackled him in the end zone for a safety and a 2-0 Georgia lead with 10:38 remaining in the first. Following another Georgia punt, Nashville moved the ball 76 yards on 15 plays. Daniel Stevenson finished the drive with a 21-yard field goal to give the Kats a 3-2 lead with 1 minute to go in the first quarter.

Nashville would then force Norm Damron into a rare mistake, tossing an interception to Lando Reynolds who returned it 19 yards to the Force 16-yard line. But the Kats couldn't make anything out of it, as Oliver Osler would fumble and Ward Hilton recovered for the Force at the 10. The Force would punt, then Brewster Brickhouse had a pass intercepted by Sputnik Havner who raced 26 yards to the Nashville 17-yard line. Three plays and three yards later, Wilbur Ahmad connected on a 31-yard field goal to put the Force ahead 5-3 with 9:01 remaining in the half. The Kats would answer with a 4-play, 49-yard drive, culminating with a 36-yard field goal by Stevenson to put Nashville up 6-5 with 7:12 to go in the second quarter. Georgia then went on a 12-play, 71-yard drive that ended with Damron tossing a 1-yard touchdown pass to Gevan Crafton with 56 seconds left to put the Force ahead 12-6 at the half.

After a poor punt by Nashville's Red Hull early in the third quarter, the Kats redeemed themselves with an interception by Danny McKenzine who took it 56 yards to the Georgia 21-yard line. Six plays later, Osler punched it in from 5 yards out to put the Kats in front 13-12 with 10:42 remaining in the third. Bo Bull fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Nashville's Blue Ronwell ran it back 17 yards to the Force 23-yard line. But it went for naught as Stevenson missed a 32-yard field goal attempt. Georgia subsequently drove 78 yards on 13 plays. Foulks ended the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. The 2-Point Conversion failed, and Georgia lead 18-13 with 2:50 remaining in the third quarter.

A 60-yard pass from Brickhouse to Vittorio Swane went to waste as Pete Love would pick off Brickhouse at the Georgia 29-yard line. The Force then went on a 9-play, 71-yard drive that ended with Walter Halley scoring on a 2-yard run to make it 25-13 with 13:31 left in the fourth quarter. Nashville got a break on the ensuing kickoff, as Osler ran the kick back 68 yards to the Force 13-yard line. Six plays later, Brickhouse threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Swane to close the gap to 25-20 with 11:32 to go in the fourth. After trading punts, the Force put a dagger through Nashville's heart with a 10-play, 89-yard drive that ended with Foulks scoring on an 11-yard touchdown run to make it 32-20 with 2:22 left in the game.

Georgia (8-5) gained 428 yards of total offense. The Force ran for 152 yards on 36 carries. Foulks led the team with 58 yards on 11 carries and 2 TD. Damron went 23-of-33 passing for 296 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 20 yards. Paden Bonewell was Georgia's leading receiver with 7 catches for 69 yards. Crafton caught 6 passes for 82 yards and a TD. The Force will host the Los Angeles Avengers next week.

Nashville (5-7-1) gained 256 yards of total offense. The Kats gained 106 yards rushing on 17 carries. Osler led the team with 51 yards on 12 carries and a TD. Brickhouse went 14-of-33 passing for 159 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 9 yards. Swane was Nashville's leading receiver with 7 catches for 119 yards and a TD. Nashville hosts the Colorado Crush next week.

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