WASHINGTON, DC-The Washington Warthogs spotted the Anaheim Splash an early lead, but pulled away in the fourth quarter to claim a 36-23 victory in a Week 12 CIFL game.
Both teams punted to start the game, then Corliss Wardell would get picked off by Jon Petrey at the Washington 7-yard line. Harlan Finnegan ran a quarterback keeper on the next play, and scored on a 7-yard run to put Anaheim up 7-0 with 9:01 to go in the first quarter. Burke Angus then took the ensuing kickoff for Washington and returned it 79 yards to the Splash 15-yard line. Unfortunately for the Warthogs, Stephan Hooper would miss a 30-yard field goal attempt. After trading punts, Anaheim went on a 7-play, 29-yard drive. Butler Elliott would kick a 51-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 1:54 left in the first.
Wardell would get intercepted again, this time by Breck Wilford who returned it 18 yards to the Washington 38-yard line. But Angus would later pick off Finnegan at the Warthogs 3-yard line. But the Splash would once again pick off Wardell, as Petrey did the deed at the 32-yard line. They would gain 3 yards on 3 plays, and Elliott kicked a 46-yard field goal to put Anaheim up 13-0 with 10:59 remaining in the second quarter. The Warthogs would finally get going offensively, and drive 73 yards on 8 plays. Wardell would get flushed out of the pocket, but take off for a 34-yard touchdown run to make it 13-7 with 7:20 to go in the half. Both teams would punt, and Anaheim would find themselves at their own 2-yard line. Finnegan would be sacked in the end zone for a safety by Reston Hanna to make it 13-9 with 2:47 left in the second quarter. Washington would get the ball off the safety kick, and move 53 yards on 9 plays. Archie Colvin scored on a 9-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left to give the Warthogs a 16-13 lead at the half.
The teams traded punts to open the second half, then the Splash went on a 15-play, 75-yard drive. Elliott ended the drive with a 21-yard field goal to tie the game at 16 with 4:04 remaining in the third quarter. A short kickoff by Anaheim, coupled by a 44-yard return by Scooter Womack gave Washington the ball at the Splash 34-yard line. After gaining 6 yards on 3 plays, Hooper kicked a 45-yard field goal to take a 19-16 lead with 2:25 remaining in the third.
Late in the third quarter, Angus picked off Finnegan at the Washington 12-yard line. The Warthogs then went on a 7-play, 88-yard drive ending with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Wardell to Saul St. Paul to make it 26-16 with 12:44 to go in the fourth quarter. Finnegan would get picked off again, this time by Alphonse Cortez who would take it 18 yards to the Anaheim 33-yard line. Washington then drove 24 yards on 6 plays, and Hooper kicked a 26-yard field goal to go up 29-16 with 8:20 remaining in the fourth. Anaheim took three plays to go 77 yards, and Finnegan threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Cobey Bumpers and make it 29-23 with 6:40 left in the fourth quarter. But the Warthogs would put it away with a 12-play, 72-yard drive. Colvin put the exclamation point on the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run with 1:14 remaining to make it 36-23.
Washington (6-5) gained 346 yards of total offense. The Warthogs ran for 160 yards on 33 carries. Marshall Garver led the team with 62 yards on 15 carries. Wardell was 15-of-34 passing for 196 yards, 1 TD and 3 INT. He was sacked once for a 10-yard loss. Colvin was Washington's leading receiver with 7 catches for 85 yards. The Warthogs will visit the Sacramento Knights next week.
Anaheim (2-9) gained 327 yards of total offense. The Splash ran for 76 yards on 23 carries. Brett Fusco led the team with 57 yards on 13 carries. Finnegan was 16-of-36 passing for 284 yards, 1 TD and 3 INT. He was sacked seven times, losing 33 yards. Vern Shores led the receivers with 4 catches for 28 yards. The Splash will host the Houston Hotshots next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment