Friday, March 31, 2017

CIFL: Seadogs Hold Off Neon, 26-20

AUBURN HILLS, MI-The Seattle Seadogs defeated the Detroit Neon in Week 9 of the CIFL season by the final score of 26-20.

Seattle started with a 6-play, 39-yard drive. Tyne Dill finished it off with a 47-yard field goal to give the Seadogs a 3-0 lead with 12:41 remaining in the first quarter. After a Detroit punt, the Neon got a break when Milt Argulles picked off Curtis Kesterson and returned it 21 yards to the Seattle 39-yard line. On the following play, Cooney Lehigh fired a 39-yard touchdown pass to Lewis Belle to give Detroit a 7-3 lead with 9:28 remaining in the first. Seattle would punt, then Lehigh would get picked off by Hudie Aiken at midfield. Three plays later, Kesterson threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Trent Dillon giving the Seadogs a 10-7 lead with 5:29 left in the first quarter. Following a Neon punt, Seattle moved 28 yards on 6 plays, and Dill would kick a 36-yard field goal to make it 13-7 with 1:07 to go in the first.

Detroit would answer back with a 15-play, 72-yard drive. DJ Pilgrim would kick a 29-yard field goal to make it 13-10 with 7:54 remaining in the second quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Grant Nathaniel returned it 79 yards to the Neon 19-yard line. Four plays later, Kesterson threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Eldron Calloway to make it 20-10 with 6:07 to go in the half. Both teams traded punts, then Kale Black fumbled and Ranse Noland recovered for the Seadogs at the Neon 23-yard line. After a 4-play, 18-yard drive, Dill kicked a 22-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining to put Seattle up 23-10 at the half.

Detroit would punt at the start of the second half, then Jack Jacklin would intercept a Kesteron pass and return it 14 yards to the Seattle 26-yard line. After a 9-play, 62-yard drive, Pilgrim would connect on a 29-yard field goal to make it 23-13 with 7:38 to go in the third quarter. The Seadogs went three-and-out, then the Neon moved the ball 76 yards on 15 plays. Black would score on a 9-yard touchdown run and close the gap to 23-20 with 14:54 to go in the fourth quarter.

The Seadogs would answer with an 8-play, 44-yard drive. Dill finished it off with a 46-yard field goal to make it 26-20 with 11:38 left in the fourth quarter. The Neon would punt, then Leonard Echols would return a Seattle punt 24 yards to the Seadogs 33-yard line. But just as Detroit was on the verge of scoring, Cooper Fusco would intercept a Lehigh pass at the Neon 2-yard line. The Seadogs would punt again, and the Neon had the ball at the Seattle 45-yard line. This time, the Seadogs would turn Detroit away on fourth down at the 27 and run out the clock.

Seattle (6-3) gained 267 yards of total offense. The Seadogs ran for 86 yards on 28 carries. Mack Ahmad led the team with 35 yards on 4 carries. Kesterson went 18-of-34 passing for 181 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was not sacked in the game. Chili Jerris led the receivers with 5 catches for 58 yards. The Seadogs will host the Michigan Bombers next week.

Detroit (4-4) gained 363 yards of total offense. The Neon ran for 111 yards on 26 carries. Black led the team with 42 yards on 7 carries and a TD. Lehigh went 22-of-42 passing for 277 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 25 yards. Enrique Covey was the leading receiver with 6 catches for 41 yards. The Neon will host the Washington Warthogs next week.

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