CHARLESTOWN, MI-The battle of the CIFL's first place teams did not disappoint in terms of the action, but a questionable decision on the overtime coin toss gave the Michigan Bombers a 27-21 victory over the Seattle Seadogs.
There was no scoring in the first quarter. After trading punts through the first half of the quarter, Marco Ancell of the Bombers picked off Seattle's Curtis Kesterson and returned it 13 yards to the Michigan 43-yard line. The Bombers drove into scoring position, but Orey Calhoun missed a 51-yard field goal. Consequently, Seattle drove 42 yards on 9 plays, and Tyne Dill would kick a 34-yard field goal to give the Seadogs a 3-0 lead with 12:37 remaining in the second quarter. After trading punts, Seattle would go on an 11-play, 56-yard drive. Dill finished it off with a 29-yard field goal to make it 6-0 with 2:34 left in the half. After a Michigan punt, Seattle was on the move again, but Dill would miss a 49-yard field goal attempt at the end of the half.
The third quarter saw the Seadogs punt, then the Bombers moved towards a score, but Calhoun missed a 25-yard field goal attempt. Kesterson would get picked off again, and Rickey Gabriel would take it 30 yards to the Seattle 10-yard line. Four plays later, facing a fourth-and-goal from the 2, the Bombers went for it, and Gitch Tims hit Kirk Norman for a 2-yard touchdown pass to give Michigan a 7-6 lead 2:05 to go in the third quarter. On the ensuing Seadogs possession, Kesterson would get intercepted again, as Foster Whitlock returned it 25 yards to the Seattle 11-yard line. Bernest Noon scored on a 1-yard touchdown run three plays later to make it 14-6 with 1:03 left in the third.
After the Seadogs were turned away on fourth down early in the fourth, Tims would get intercepted by Cooper Fusco at the Bombers 29-yard line. Four plays later, Roman Shoe ran in from the 1, and a successful 2-point conversion tied it at 14 with 12:46 left in regulation. The Bombers would respond with a 12-play, 65-yard drive. Tims would throw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Dalls Kinburn and Michigan retook the lead, 21-14 with 8:09 left in the fourth. Seattle then went on an 8-play, 57-yard drive ending with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Kesterson to Royce Lodge to tie the game at 21 with 4 minutes remaining in regulation time. A Bombers fumble on the ensuing kickoff that was recovered by Dill went for naught as the Seadogs were forced to punt. An interception of Tims by Fusco in the final minute also went for naught as the clock ran out, sending the game to overtime.
The Seadogs would win the toss, but elected to kickoff. The Bombers took advantage of the gift, and drove 69 yards on 9 plays. Whitey Barnwell scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 12:23 remaining in overtime to give Michigan the win.
Michigan (5-1) gained 354 yards of total offense. The Bombers ran for 104 yards on 31 carries. Barnwell led the team with 59 yards on 16 carries and a TD. Tims went 21-of-38 passing for 272 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 22 yards. Norman led the receivers with 6 catches for 52 yards and a TD. The Bombers will host the Houston Hotshots next week.
Seattle (5-2) gained 363 yards of total offense. The Seadogs ran for 109 yards on 25 carries. Shoe led the team with 99 yards on 19 carries and a TD. Kesterson went 23-of-48 passing for 268 yards, 1 TD and 3 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 14 yards. Trent Dillon led the receivers with 6 catches for 88 yards. The Seadogs continue their Eastern road trip with a game against the Washington Warthogs next week.
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