WASHINGTON, DC-It came down to the last three seconds, but the Michigan Bombers held off the Washington Warthogs 21-14 in their opening CIFL game.
Both teams traded punts to start the game, and the Bombers drove into scoring position, but Orey Calhoun missed a 34-yard field goal attempt. Following another Washington punt, Michigan would go on a 9-play, 72-yard drive. Whitey Barnwell finished it off with an 11-yard touchdown run to give the Bombers a 7-0 lead with 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Following another Warthogs punt, Orlan Kirby intercepted Gitch Tims and returned it 12 yards to the Bombers 37-yard line. After 8 plays gained 20 yards, Stephan Hooper kicked a 34-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 9:33 left in the second quarter. The Bombers would punt, but Scooter Womack fumbled and Jack Ebony recovered for Michigan at his own 19-yard line. The Bombers drove into scoring position, but Calhoun missed a 35-yard field goal. Norvel Talie of the Warthogs would have his punt blocked, and Webb Lyday returned it 12 yards to the Washington 3-yard line. On the next play, Jerreld Caudill scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 14-3 with 1:35 remaining in the half.
There was no scoring in the third quarter. After trading punts, Talie was blocked again at the Bombers 28-yard line. Calhoun would miss a 49-yard field goal attempt. Following a Washington punt, Tims was picked off by Elvis Fearson who returned it 15 yards to the Warthogs 21-yard line. After that, the Warthogs drove 79 yards on 8 plays. Corliss Wardell finished the drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Archie Colvin. The 2-point conversion was successful to make the score 14-11 with 13:01 to go in the fourth quarter.
Calhoun would miss a 43-yard field goal attempt, and Washington moved again, going 58 yards on 9 plays. Hooper kicked a 26-yard field goal with 5 minutes to go in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 14. The Bombers then went on a 6-play, 74-yard drive. Tims finished it off with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Bernest Noon to give Michigan a 21-14 lead with 2:06 left in the fourth. The Warthogs started their next drive at their own 25, and drove to the Bombers 17-yard line facing a fourth-and-10 with 3 seconds left. Wardell threw a pass to Saul St. Paul in the end zone, but it was broken up incomplete.
Michigan (1-0) gained 419 yards of total offense. The Bombers ran for 130 yards on 23 carries. Barnwell led the team with 59 yards on 10 carries and a TD. Tims was 24-of-40 passing for 306 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 17 yards. Kirk Norman (76 yards) and Oneal Little (64 yards) each caught 5 passes in the game. The Bombers open their home schedule against the Sacramento Knights next week.
Washington (0-1) gained 341 yards of total offense. The Warthogs ran for 85 yards on 23 carries. Marshall Graver led the team with 46 yards on 9 carries. Wardell went 22-of-48 passing for 265 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked once for a 9-yard loss. Colvin was the leading receiver with 9 catches for 101 yards and a TD. The Warthogs host the Detroit Neon next week.
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