Wednesday, October 25, 2017

AFL: Kats Beat Mustangs, 24-20

MILWAUKEE-The Nashville Kats took advantage of key fourth-quarter turnovers to score two touchdowns and beat the Milwaukee Mustangs 24-20 in Week 9 of the AFL season.

The game started with Nashville driving 73 yards on 6 plays. Oliver Osler finished it off with a 3-yard touchdown run to give the Kats a 7-0 lead with 12:04 to go in the first quarter. Following a Milwaukee punt, the Mustangs got a break when Rosey Rader stripped Curt Wardlaw of the ball and Wilson Cage recovered for Milwaukee at the Nashville 34-yard line. Six plays later, Bruce Baskerville threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to C.C. Cage tying the game at 7 with 6:10 to go in the first.

After trading punts, the Kats were on the move with an 11-play, 65-yard drive. Daniel Stevenson finished it with a 22-yard field goal to retake the lead 10-7 with 12:48 left in the second quarter. Milwaukee's next possession was thwarted by a Dave Symons fumble that was recovered by RW Burns at the Nashville 32-yard line. The Kats would punt, then the Mustangs drove 80 yards on 9 plays. Garrett Counts would score on a 2-yard touchdown run to give Milwaukee a 14-10 lead with 4:31 left in the half. After another Nashville punt, Milwaukee went on a 7-play, 29-yard drive. Rock Philbrook kicked a 41-yard field goal with 1:09 left to give the Mustangs a 17-10 halftime lead.

The teams traded punts to open the third quarter. Then the Mustangs drove 50 yards on 14 plays, and Philbrook kicked a 42-yard field goal to make it 20-10 with 6:26 left in the third. Travis Gargas would intercept a Baskerville pass at the Nashville 44-yard line. The teams would trade punts until late in the quarter. On a fourth down in Mustangs' territory, Dexter Gaither mishandled the snap on a punt attempt, and his desperate pass to Lyndon Avender fell incomplete.

After that play, the Kats would drive 31 yards on 5 plays. Wardlaw would throw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Cobey Kingston to make it 20-17 with 13:36 to go in the fourth quarter. The teams would trade punts, then a fumble by Rocky Coggins was recovered by Lyndon Trimmer at the Mustangs' 40-yard line. Ten plays later, Osler would score on a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Kats a 24-20 lead with 4:38 to go in the fourth. Milwaukee attempted to retake the lead, but Baskerville's pass was picked off in the end zone by Lando Reynolds, then Nashville ran out the clock.

Nashville (6-3) gained 334 yards of total offense. The Kats ran for 87 yards on 26 carries. Osler led the team with 60 yards on 15 carries and 2 TD. Wardlaw was 19-of-31 passing for 256 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked once for a 9-yard loss. Kingston was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 51 yards and a TD. Next week, the Kats visit the Albany Firebirds.

Milwaukee (4-5) gained 333 yards of total offense. The Mustangs ran for 47 yards on 24 carries. Manolo Gage led the team with 19 yards on 9 carries. Baskerville was 25-of-38 passing for 305 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 19 yards. Nelson Romine was the leading receiver with 7 catches for 75 yards. Next week, the Mustangs host the Arizona Rattlers.

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