CIFL: Seadogs Defeat Knights, 33-20

SACRAMENTO-The Seattle Seadogs defeated the Sacramento Knights 33-20 in a Week 4 CIFL contest.

After trading punts to open the game, Sacramento went on a 9-play, 43-yard drive. Shane Sandlin pit the Knights on the board with a 44-yard field goal to go up 3-0 with 6:49 to go in the first quarter. Seattle started moving down the field, but Roman Shoe fumbled and Heath Gillock recovered for the Knights at the Sacramento 46-yard line. After six plays gained 21 yards, Sandlin kicked a 50-yard field goal to make it 6-0 with 1:46 remaining in the first.

After another exchange of punts, the Seadogs would march 80 yards on 10 plays. Curtis Kesterson finished it off with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Eldron Calloway to put Seattle up 7-6 with 7:04 left in the second quarter. The Knights would punt again, and the Seadogs embarked on a 15-play, 82-yard drive. Kesterson and Calloway would strike again with a 9-yard touchdown pass with 37 seconds to go, and Seattle was ahead 14-6 at the half.

Seattle would punt to open the second half, and Sacramento would come up empty on a 55-yard field goal attempt by Sandlin. The Seadogs would drive 40 yards on 9 plays, and Tyne Dill kicked a 32-yard field goal to go up 17-6 with 2:30 to go in the third quarter. On the ensuing Knights possession, Hack Nunseth fumbled the ball and Ranse Noland recovered for the Seadogs at the Sacramento 34-yard line. Following a 3-play, 5-yard drive. Dill kicked a 46-yard field goal to make it 20-6 with 1:16 left in the third.

Following a Sacramento punt, Seattle went on a 5-play, 46-yard drive. Kesterson finished it off with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Mack Ahmad and the Seadogs were up 27-6 with 12:35 to go in the fourth quarter. The Knights answered with a 9-play, 73-yard drive. Derrick Todd finished it off with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Forrest Gottfried to make it 27-13 with 8:25 to go in the fourth. After a Seattle punt, Todd would get picked off by Garth Baldinger, who returned it 31 yards to the Sacramento 15-yard line. Six plays later, Ahmad plunged in from the 1. The extra point was no good, and the Seadogs led 33-13 with 4 minutes remaining in the game. The Knights would march 57 yards on 8 plays, and Todd completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Chet Quince to make it 33-20 with 50 seconds remaining. A failed onside kick let Seattle run out the clock.

Seattle (3-1) gained 324 yards of total offense. The Seadogs ran for 98 yards on 29 carries. Isaac Thoms led the team with 48 yards on 9 carries. Kesterson went 17-of-32 passing for 232 yards and 3 TD. He was sacked once for a 6-yard loss. Calloway led the receivers with 8 catches for 102 yards and 2 TD. The Seadogs will visit the Anaheim Splash next week

Sacramento (1-3) gained 308 yards of total offense. The Knights ran for 79 yards on 24 carries, Todd was the leading rusher with 57 yards on 14 carries. He was 23-of-38 passing for 245 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. Quince was the leading receiver with 7 catches for 71 yards and a TD. The Knights have a bye next week before hosting the Portland Pride in Week 6.