CIFL: Neon Defeat Knights, 33-20

AUBURN HILLS, MI-The Detroit Neon opened up the CIFL schedule with a 33-20 victory over the Sacramento Knights.

The Knights opened the game with a three-and-out, then the Neon went on a 9-play, 61-yard drive that ended with a 21-yard field goal by DJ Pilgrim to take a 3-0 lead with 9:42 to go in the first quarter. Following another Sacramento punt, Detroit went 35 yards on 9 plays. Pilgrim kicked another field goal, this one from 34 yards out, to go up 6-0 with 3:59 left in the first. Sacramento punted again, but Drew Bumpers would sack Cooney Lehigh in the end zone for a safety to make it 6-2 with 54 seconds remaining in the first quarter. After the safety kick, Derrick Todd of the Knights was picked off by Eugene Strand who sprinted 9 yards for a touchdown to give the Neon a 13-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Knights would make a run in the second quarter. After the pick-six, they moved 44 yards on 9 plays, and Shane Sandlin kicked a 34-yard field goal to make it 13-5 with 11:55 left in the half. After trading punts, Sacramento found themselves at their own 4-yard line. Todd finished a 6-play, 96-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Forrest Gottfried. Sacramento failed on a 2-point conversion and were down 13-11 with 3:30 remaining in the second quarter. Lehigh threw a long pass on Detroit's ensuing possession and was picked off by Cleveland Newby who took off 68 yards to the Neon 8-yard line. Two plays later, Brett Gold scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Knights an 18-13 lead with 2:53 left in the half.

The Neon opened the second half with an 8-play, 87-yard drive. The Neon scored on a 14-yard reverse by Leonard Echols. Detroit missed their 2-point conversion attempt, and the score was 19-18 in favor of Detroit with 10:54 left in the third quarter. After trading punts, Echols returned a punt 32 yards to the Sacramento 44-yard line. The six-play, 44-yard drive ended with Lehigh scoring on a 7-yard touchdown run to make it 26-18 with 1:45 left in the third.

The Knights punted early in the fourth, and the ball was downed at the Neon 2-yard line. Lehigh would get sacked in the end zone by Vernon Tobias and the score was 26-20 with 12:43 left in the fourth quarter. After a Sacramento punt, the Neon drove 65 yards on 8 plays. Lehigh finished the drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Enrique Covey to make it 33-20 with 6 minutes left in the game.

Detroit (1-0) gained 323 yards of total offense. The Neon ran for 84 yards on 25 carries. Denver Smits led the team with 41 yards on 7 carries. Lehigh went 21-of-32 passing for 275 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked five times, losing 36 yards. Covey (47 yards, TD) and Dete Troxel (74 yards) each caught five passes. The Neon will visit the Washington Warthogs next week.

Sacramento (0-1) gained 301 yards of total offense. The Knights ran for 72 yards on 21 carries. Gold lead the team with 47 yards on 12 carries and a TD. Todd went 19-of-39 passing for 260 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked five times, losing 31 yards. Gottfired led the receivers with 5 catches for 112 yards and a TD. The Knights will visit the Michigan Bombers next week.