Wednesday, June 28, 2017

CIFL: Warthogs Pull Away From Knights, 24-7

SACRAMENTO-The Washington Warthogs spotted the Sacramento Knights an early lead, but responded with 24 unanswered points to prevail 24-7 in a Week 13 CIFL game.

The Knights opened the game with a turnover, as a Bernest Herbert fumble was recovered by Orlan Kirby at the Sacramento 43-yard line. The Warthogs would ultimately punt, and the Knights went 64 yards on 4 plays, the final 45 coming on a touchdown pass from Derrick Todd to Chet Quince to go up 7-0 with 11:15 to go in the first quarter. The teams would trade punts through the remainder of the quarter.

The exchange of punts would continue until early in the second, when Washington would go on a 6-play, 36-yard drive. Corliss Wardell would take the ball on a quarterback keeper and run for a 15-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7 with 9:11 remaining in the half. Sacramento would get into position to score, but Shane Sandlin missed a 51-yard field goal attempt. The Warthogs would then move 59 yards on 10 plays. Marshall Garver ended the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run to give Washington a 14-7 lead with 3:20 left in the second quarter. A 42-yard fullback option pass from Herbert to Todd on the subsequent drive went for naught as Alphonse Cortez picked off a Todd pass at the Knights 14-yard line. The Warthogs punted, and Sacramento drove again, only for Todd to get picked off by Burke Angus at the Knights 7-yard line, and the half would end with Washington running out the clock.

The third quarter would start with the teams trading punts. A Warthogs drive would then be thwarted by a Lane Drope fumble recovered by the Knights' Cleveland Newby at the Sacramento 27-yard line. The Knights would punt, and it went into the end zone for a touchback. The ensuing 7-play, 80-yard drive featured two successful halfback option passes. Archie Colvin completed a 34-yarder to Harrison Crocker, then four plays later, Garver hit Wardell for a 4-yard touchdown pass to open the fourth quarter and give the Warthogs a 21-7 lead with 14:51 left.

Sacramento would move down the field, highlighted by a 14-yard pass on a fake punt by Butch Covington to Liam Kelly, only to get turned away on fourth down at the Washington 16-yard line. The Warthogs would subsequently drive 51 yards on 13 plays, ending with a 50-yard field goal by Stephan Hooper to make it 24-7 with 2:59 remaining in the game.

Washington (7-5) gained 354 yards of total offense. The Warthogs ran for 180 yards on 44 carries. Garver led the team with 77 yards on 16 carries and a TD. Wardell went 12-of-23 passing for 136 yards, ran for 19 yards on 5 carries and a TD and caught a 4-yard touchdown pass. Crocker led with 4 receptions for 52 yards. Next week, the Warthogs visit the Seattle Seadogs.

Sacramento (2-10) gained 358 yards of total offense. The Knights ran for 31 yards on 12 carries. Brett Gold led the team with 12 yards on 3 carries. Todd went 24-of-45 passing for 306 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked four times, losing 35 yards. Herbert caught 5 passes for 64 yards. Hack Nunseth caught 5 passes for 49 yards. Sacramento visits the Portland Pride next week.

Monday, June 26, 2017

CIFL Week 12 Standings

EAST DIVISION W L T PF PA HOME
Michigan Bombers 8 3 0 280 197 4-2
Detroit Neon 7 4 0 298 241 5-2
Houston Hotshots 6 5 0 228 226 4-1
Washington Warthogs 6 5 0 274 291 5-2
WEST DIVISION W L T PF PA HOME
Seattle Seadogs 7 4 0 293 216 3-1
Portland Pride 6 5 0 245 258 4-1
Sacramento Knights 2 9 0 238 299 1-5
Anaheim Splash 2 9 0 197 325 2-2
Week 12 Scores (Home team in ALL CAPS)
WASHINGTON 36, Anaheim 23
DETROIT 28, Houston 0
Seattle 34, PORTLAND 24
Michigan 20, SACRAMENTO 12
Week 13 Games
Washington (6-5) at Sacramento (2-9) (Warthogs -8)
Houston (6-5) at Anaheim (2-9) (Hotshots -4)
Portland (6-5) at Seattle (7-4) (Seadogs -9)
Detroit (7-4) at Michigan (8-3) (Bombers -6)

CIFL: Seadogs, Bombers Control Their Own Destiny

NOTE: I know it's been a couple of months since I last updated this. I have pretty much been in Baseball mode in this time frame, and the UFL has kind of taken a backseat. So today, I will post a cliffs-notes version of recapping the last two CIFL games of Week 12 followed by the standings. And I will try to get back to a semi-regular posting schedule going forward. OK, enough apologizing, let's get back to the recaps.

With a 34-24 road victory over the Portland Pride (6-5), the Seattle Seadogs (7-4) can wrap up the CIFL West Division championship with a win over the Pride at Seattle next week.

Roman Shoe ran for 89 yards on 19 carries and scored two first-half touchdowns. Chili Jerris caught a touchdown pass to go with five catches for 79 yards. Curtis Kesterson went 20-of-37 passing for 218 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. For the Pride, Reuben Findley went 25-of-39 passing for 300 yards, 2 TD and 3 INT and scored on a 16-yard touchdown run. Rex Doran caught 9 passes for 80 yards. The two teams will meet again in Seattle next week.

Meanwhile in Sacramento, the Michigan Bombers (8-3) were able to keep the Sacramento Knights (2-9) out of the end in the second half and won 20-12.

The Bombers ran for 99 yards on 31 carries, with touchdowns by Whitey Barnwell and Bernest Noon. Gitch Tims was 20-of-37 passing for 319 yards. Dalls Kilburn led with 6 catches for 98 yards. The Bombers will host the Detroit Neon next week, and a Michigan win could net the Bombers the CIFL East Division title. Derrick Todd came back from injury in the second quarter, replacing Dennis Sentry for the Knights and went 14-of-23 passing for 174 yards and a 8-yard touchdown pass to Chet Quince. The Knights host the Washington Warthogs next week.