DETROIT-The Georgia Force heard it all week.
They heard all week how they were backing into the AFL playoffs and the Detroit Drive would blow them out of the water when they met in the National Conference playoff. But Georgia gave Detroit all they could handle, and the Drive pulled out a 34-28 win by the skin of their teeth.
Both teams punted to start the game, but Dave Huntley returned the Georgia punt 38 yards to the Force 28-yard line. Four plays later, Rocky Adams scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to put Detroit up 7-0 with 9:35 to go in the first quarter. The Force would answer back with a 10-play, 84-yard drive. Norm Damron finished it off with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Paden Bonewell to tie the game at 7 with 4:05 remaining in the first. Detroit responded by going 70 yards on 7 plays. Adams would score again on a 7-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7 with a minute to go in the first quarter.
After a Georgia punt early in the second quarter, Detroit drove 83 yards on 5 plays, the final 57 coming on a touchdown run by Lovell Denson to give the Drive a 21-7 lead with 11:33 left in the half. The Force would punt again, and Detroit went on a 6-play, 38-yard drive ending with a 20-yard field goal by Cletis Frayer to make it 24-7 with 8:23 left in the second quarter. Bo Bull took the ensuing kickoff for Georgia and returned it 53 yards to the Detroit 31-yard line. After seven plays netted 20 yards, Wilbur Ahmad would kick a 28-yard field goal making it 24-10 with 5:56 left in the half. The Drive would punt, and Georgia drove into position for a 39-yard field goal. But a botched snap turned into a fake, and Yannel Gansz's intended pass for Ahmad fell incomplete. Detroit attempted to put some more distance between them and Georgia at the half, but Vern Kelly fumbled at the Georgia 14-yard line, and Tyrone Pickney recovered for the Force.
Georgia began the second half with possession, and drove 52 yards on 5 plays. Ahmad ended the drive with a 30-yard field goal to make it 24-13 with 12:26 to go in the third quarter. After a Detroit punt, the Force appeared primed to score again, but Stan Florin would pick off Damron at the Drive 36-yard line. Lou Couch would end the 10-play, 64-yard drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass to put Detroit up 31-13 with 1:16 to go in the third.
After trading punts, the Force would drive 80 yards on 3 plays. A 68-yard pass from Damron to Gevan Crafton would set up a 12-yard touchdown from Damron to Crafton, and the 2-Point Conversion made it 31-21 with 9:36 left in the fourth quarter. The Force attempted an onside kick, but failed to recover. Detroit would then move 34 yards on 9 plays, and Frayer would kick a 25-yard field goal to make it 34-21 with 4:23 to go in the fourth. On the ensuing kickoff, Bonewell fielded the ball at the Georgia 1-yard line and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown to make it 34-28 with 4:08 remaining in the game. After a Detroit punt, Georgia found themselves at their own 18-yard line with 1:13 remaining in the game. The Force managed to reach the Drive 14-yard line with 9 seconds left, but Damron was sacked by T.T. Presley and fumbled at the 24. Prince David recovered for the Force and ran to the 17 but was stopped and the clock ran out.
Detroit gained 446 yards of total offense. The Drive ran for 157 yards on 32 carries. Denson led the team with 9 carries for 72 yards. Couch was 19-of-31 passing for 296 yards and a TD. He was sacked once for a 7-yard loss. Huntley was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 128 yards and a TD. The Drive will now face either the San Jose Sabercats or the Dallas Desperados for the Arena Bowl next week.
Georgia gained 417 yards of total offense. The Force ran for 108 yards on 19 carries. David gained 57 yards on 3 carries. Damron went 23-of-36 passing for 337 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked four times, losing 28 yards. Bonewell was the leading receiver with 8 catches for 73 yards and a TD. Crafton caught 7 passes for 128 yards and a TD. Sidney caught 6 passes for 107 yards.
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