SACRAMENTO-The Detroit Neon jumped out to a big early lead and coasted to a 40-21 victory over the Sacramento Knights in Week 7 of the CIFL season.
On the opening kickoff, Sacramento's Herb Inman would fumble and kicker DJ Pilgrim recovered for Detroit at the Knights 8-yard line. Two plays later, Cooney Lehigh tossed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Denver Smits to give the Neon a 7-0 lead with 14:04 left in the first quarter. After the Knights went three-and-out, the Neon went on a 10-play, 55-yard drive ending with a 34-yard field goal by Pilgrim to make it 10-0 with 8:45 to go in the first. Sacramento moved down the field, only for Brett Gold to fumble, and Eugene Strand recovered at the Knights 25-yard line. After a 10-play, 47-yard drive, Pilgrim would nail a 45-yard field goal on the final play of the first quarter to make it 13-0.
Following another Sacramento punt, Detroit drove 66 yards on 7 plays. Lehigh finished it off with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Leonard Echols to put the Neon up 20-0 with 10:35 remaining in the second quarter. On Sacramento's next drive, Stand would pick off Derrick Todd at the Neon 26-yard line. Detroit would punt, and Todd would get picked off again, this time by Russ Toby at the Detroit 22-yard line. The Neon went three-and-out, and Mitchell Payson would finally put the Knights on the board with a 67-yard punt return to make it 20-7 with 1:37 to go in the half. Sylvester Ledd fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, and Thurman Cherry recovered for Sacramento at the Detroit 20-yard line. Five plays later, Bernest Herbert scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left to get within six at 20-14 at halftime.
The third quarter was a slow starter. Karl Show intercepted Lehigh at the Knights 43-yard line early in the quarter, but Sacramento went three-and-out. The Neon would punt, and the Knights moved into scoring position only for Shane Sandlin to miss a 56-yard field goal attempt. Pilgrim would subsequently miss a 54-yard field goal. Felipe Fann would then pick Todd off and sprint 31 yards to the Sacramento 7-yard line. Two plays later, Smits would score on a 4-yard touchdown run to make it 27-14 with 2:47 to go in the third quarter. On the ensuing Knights possession, Fann would sack Todd and force a fumble that was recovered by Toby at the Knights 16-yard line. After gaining nine yards on three plays, Pilgrim would add a 24-yard field goal to make it 30-14 with 20 seconds remaining in the third.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Todd was picked off by Milt Argulles at the Detroit 25-yard line. After trdaing punts, the Neon went on an 8-play, 60-yard drive ending with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Lehigh to Dete Troxel to go up 37-14 with 7:31 remaining in the fourth quarter. Sacramento would answer with a 16-play, 69-yard drive. Todd would throw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Tibbs to make it 37-21 with 3:36 remaining in the fourth. After a failed onside kick, Detroit gained 22 yards on 4 plays, and Pilgrim kicked a 40-yard field goal with 1:16 to go to make it 40-21.
Detroit (3-3) gained 386 yards of total offense. The Neon ran for 141 yards on 34 carries. Smits led the team with 54 yards on 12 carries and a TD. Lehigh went 18-of-32 passing for 245 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT and was not sacked. Echols led the receivers with 10 receptions for 135 yards and a TD. The Neon return home next week to face the Portland Pride.
Sacramento (1-5) gained 312 yards of total offense. The Knights ran for 117 yards on 22 carries. Todd led the team with 50 yards on 6 carries. He went 21-of-43 passing for 209 yards, 1 TD and 4 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 35 yards. Tibbs (57 yards, TD), Herbert (45 yards), and Inman (33 yards) each caught 5 passes. The Knights host the Anaheim Splash next week.
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