AUBURN HILLS, MI-Despite turning the ball over six times, the Detroit Neon kept the Houston Hotshots out of the end zone en route to a 28-0 shutout win in a Week 12 CIFL game to assure themselves of at least being in second place in the CIFL East by the end of this week, pending what happens with the Michigan Bombers.
Houston began the game marching down the field, but Martin Seal's 34-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Brodie Trout who scooped it up and returned it 48 yards to the Hotshots 26-yard line. However, on the next play, Ralston Eason was picked off by Van Bojovic who took it back 20 yards to the Houston 46-yard line. Following a punt, Detroit made a 6-play, 87-yard drive that ended with a 60-yard touchdown pass from Eason to Leonard Echols to give the Neon a 7-0 lead with 5:59 remaining in the first quarter. The Hotshots' ensuing possession ended with Jerome Prichard getting his punt blocked and he was swarmed down at his own 30. Five plays later, Enrique Covey scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0 with 1:19 remaining in the first.
The remainder of the half was filled with punts and turnovers. Following a Houston punt, Kale Black fumbled for the Neon and Stewart Lavue recovered for the Hotshots at his own 41-yard line. On the subsequent drive, Barney Brant was intercepted by Kinsey Clevinger at the Detroit 39-yard line. Eason would be picked off again, as Esteban Reed ran it back 28 yards to the Houston 46-yard line. The Hotshots would punt again, and Eason was intercepted once more, this time by Nathaniel Hatton at the Houston 26-yard line. After the Hotshots were buried on fourth down late in the half, Eason would get picked off one more time, with Joplin Shelby doing the deed at the Houston 48-yard line. Houston would again turn it over on fourth down at the Detroit 43-yard line with 12 seconds left and the teams went into the locker room.
The teams would trade punts to open the second half, then the Neon would embark on an 8-play, 90-yard drive. Black would finish the drive off with a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 21-0 with 1:04 remaining in the third quarter.
Houston would try to go for it on fourth down again early in the fourth quarter, but Hank Olive was stopped short on the Neon 14-yard line. Detroit then drove 86 yards on 12 plays. Eason finished it off with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Lewis Belle making it 28-0 with 7:26 left in the game. Felipe Fann would pick off Brant and returned it 29 yards to the Houston 31-yard line. But Covey would fumble and Lavue recovered for the Hotshots. After trading punts, Jack Jacklin would intercept Brant to put the finishing touches on the shutout.
Detroit (7-4) gained 427 yards of total offense. The Neon ran for 113 yards on 35 carries. Covey led the team with 88 yards on 19 carries and a TD. Eason went 19-of-29 passing for 314 yards, 2 TD and 4 INT. He was not sacked in the game. Belle (81 yards, TD) Echols (73 yards, TD) and Dete Troxel (65 yards) each caught 4 passes. The Neon visit the Michigan Bombers next week.
Houston (6-5) gained 256 yards of total offense. The Hotshots ran for 85 yards on 20 carries. Brant led the team with 32 yards on 6 carries. He went 20-of-44 passing for 219 yards and 3 INT. He was sacked seven times, losing 48 yards. Wallace Hinshaw (45 yards) and Lovell Pyle (43 yards) each caught 5 passes. The Hotshots visit the Anaheim Splash next week.
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