Wednesday, July 5, 2017

CIFL: Portland Shows Its Pride, Comes Back Over Seattle, 31-28

SEATTLE-Early on, it looked for all the world like the Seattle Seadogs were going to cruise to the CIFL's West Division Title. But the Portland Pride came back from being down 21-0 to take a 31-28 victory in a Week 13 game.

It took Seattle just three plays to start the scoring as Curtis Kesterson capped off a 79-yard drive with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Chili Jerris to make it 7-0 with 13:21 to go in the first quarter. Portland drove toward a score, but Theodis Durkin missed a 38-yard field goal attempt. After a Seadogs punt, the Pride tried to move downfield again, but Reuben Findley was picked off by Hudie Aiken at the Portland-44 yard line. Four plays later, Kesterson hit Edgar Vincent for a 10-yard touchdown pass to go up 14-0 with 1:08 left in the first.

Findley was intercepted again, this time by Harlan Fortner at the Pride 28-yard line. However, Tyne Dill would miss a 36-yard field goal attempt. The teams would trade punts, and Seattle would drive 52 yards on two plays. Kesterson threw a 44-yard bomb to Blake Gilkey to put the Seadogs up 21-0 with 5:12 to go in the half. The Pride then went 66 yards on 15 plays. Facing a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Kenny Boren ran in for the touchdown to make it 21-7 with 49 seconds remaining.

On the second half kickoff, Boren fielded the ball at his own 11 and returned it 48 yards to the Seattle 41-yard line. After five plays netted five yards, Durkin kicked a 53-yard field goal to make it 21-10 with 12:50 left in the third quarter. The Seadogs responded with a 5-play, 57-yard drive. Kesterson threw his fourth touchdown pass, an 8-yarder to Lyndon Fabrizio making it 28-10 with 10:33 remaining in the third. The Pride started their next possession at their own 5-yard line, and drove 86 yards on 15 plays. Durkin kicked a 26-yard field goal to make it 28-13 with 4:10 left in the third quarter.

On the ensuing drove, the Seadogs drove to the Portland 6-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Dill lined up for a 23-yard field goal attempt, but it was blocked by Josh Ebbert who scooped it up and ran it back to the Pride 40-yard line. The teams would exchange punts, the Pride went for it on fourth down at the Seadogs' 45-yard line, but the pass fell incomplete with 9:32 remaining in the fourth. Seattle drove again, but Dill would miss a 53-yard field goal attempt. Portland then went 57 yards on 9 plays. Findley threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Shelton Pick to close the gap to 28-20 with 5:20 remaining in the game. The Seadogs tried to run out the clock, but Isaac Thoms' fumble was recovered by Jonah Thurston at the Seattle 37-yard line. Three plays later, Findley connected with Pick for an 18-yard touchdown pass. The 2-Point conversion was successful, and the Pride tied the game at 28 with 3:27 to go in regulation. Seattle went three-and-out, and Wendell Millstone shanked the punt off his foot, as it went five yards before going out of bounds at the Seadogs' 23-yard line. The Pride went 19 yards on 5 plays, and Durkin nailed a 21-yard field goal with 49 seconds to go to put Portland and Seattle in a first-place tie.

Portland (7-5) gained 342 yards of total offense. The Pride ran for 93 yards on 34 carries. Boren led the team with 66 yards on 20 carries and a TD. Findley went 28-of-47 passing for 258 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 9 yards. Rex Doran led the receivers with 12 catches for 77 yards. The Pride host the Sacramento Knights next week.

Seattle (7-5) gained 349 yards of total offense. The Seadogs ran for 60 yards on 13 carries. Roman Shoe gained 39 yards on 8 carries. Kesterson went 23-of-35 passing for 326 yards and 4 TD. He was sacked five times, losing 37 yards. Gilkey caught 9 passes for 137 yards and a TD. The Seadogs went 0-for-9 on third down conversions. The Seadogs will host the Washington Warthogs next week.

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