ATLANTA-Vern Kelly set a single-game AFL record with four touchdown receptions in aiding the Detroit Drive to a 40-23 victory over the Georgia Force in Week 6 of the AFL season.
After Patch Brolie returned a short kickoff 35 yards to the Georgia 39-yard line. Detroit would move the ball 24 yards on 5 plays. Cletis Frayer would kick a 32-yard field goal to give the Drive a 3-0 lead with 11:34 remaining in the first quarter. The Force would answer, driving 78 yards on 9 plays. Bo Bull would run in from the 1 to give Georgia a 7-3 lead with 7:17 remaining in the first. Detroit then answered with an 8-play, 60-yard drive. Frayer would finish it off with a 27-yard field goal to make it 7-6 with 2:33 remaining in the first quarter. Bull fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Ryan Rostoski fell on it for the Drive at the Force 18-yard line. Three plays later, Lou Couch hit Kelly for a 7-yard touchdown pass to take a 13-7 lead with 58 seconds remaining in the first.
Following a Georgia punt, Detroit drove 51 yards on 13 plays. Frayer would kick a 28-yard field goal to extend the Drive's lead to 16-7 with 6:36 remaining in the second quarter. Yannel Gansz would get picked off by Ham Thom who took it back 25 yards to the Force 30-yard line. Six plays later, Couch and Kelly connected again on a 2-yard touchdown pass to make it 23-7 with 2:50 remanining in the half. Late in the half, both quarterbacks threw interceptions, then Gansz would end a 2-play, 11-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds left. Wilbur Ahmad would miss the extra point, and the Force trailed 23-13 at the half.
Georgia opened the second half with a 12-play, 35-yard drive. Ahmad would make a 35-yard field goal to get within a touchdown at 23-16 with 8:51 left in the third quarter. Detroit answered back with a 10-play, 80-yard drive ending with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Couch to Kelly making it 30-16 with 3:26 left in the third. Tad Adler would pick off Gansz at the Drive 22-yard line late in the quarter. The Drive went three-and-out, but McKinley Beaumont would intercept Gansz again at the Detroit 36-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
Following the pick, Detroit moved the ball 64 yards on 8 plays. Kelly would find the end zone for the fourth time as Couch hit him for a 17-yard touchdown pass to make it 37-16 with 10:10 to go in the fourth quarter. After trading punts, Georgia drove 29 yards on 2 plays. Gansz threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Gevan Crafton to make it 37-23 with 5:43 left in the fourth. An onside kick failed, and Detroit finished a 10-play, 32-yard drive with a 25-yard field goal by Frayer to make it 40-23 with 1:11 left in the game.
Detroit (3-3) gained 360 yards of total offense. The Drive ran for 136 yards on 38 carries. Brolie led the team with 44 yards on 14 carries. He also caught 4 passes for 65 yards. Couch was 22-of-36 passing for 224 yards, 4 TD and 1 INT. Kelly led the receivers with 7 catches for 60 yards and 4 TD. Next week, the Drive host the Nashville Kats.
Georgia (2-4) gained 242 yards of total offense. The Force ran for 48 yards on 17 carries. Bull led the team with 21 yards on 5 carries and a TD. Gansz was 18-of-33 passing for 229 yards, 1 TD and 4 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 35 yards. Crafton was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 91 yards and a TD. The Force visit the Grand Rapids Rampage next week.
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