CIFL: Neon Defeat Splash, 34-21

ANAHEIM-The Detroit Neon defeated the Anaheim Splash 34-21 in a Week 14 CIFL game.

The game opened with Cooney Lehigh getting picked off by Thurman Cato who returned it 19 yards to the Neon 43-yard line. After six plays gained 24 yards, Butler Elliott kicked a 36-yard field goal to give Anaheim a 3-0 lead with 10:54 remaining in the first quarter. After trading punts, the Neon took just two plays to travel 64 yards. Lewis Belle covered the final 48 after catching a touchdown pass from Lehigh to give Detroit a 7-3 lead with 5:48 to go in the first.

The Splash would answer with a 15-play, 76-yard drive, settling for a 21-yard field goal by Elliott to make it 7-6 with 13:19 to go in the first half. The Neon would punt, then Felipe Fann would intercept a Harlan Finnegan pass and return it 18 yards to the Anaheim 29-yard line. Five plays later, Kale Black ran in for a 2-yard touchdown run to put Detroit ahead 14-6 with 8:20 left in the second quarter. After another exchange of punts, the Splash went on a 5-play, 92-yard drive. Finnegan threw an 81-yard touchdown pass to Kaleo Hendricks, and the successful 2-point conversion tied the game at 14 with 1:46 left in the half.

Early in the third quarter, Webb Cooper fumbled for the Splash, and Eugene Strand recovered for the Neon at the Anaheim 28-yard line. Seven plays later, Enrique Covey would score on a 1-yard touchdown run to give Detroit a 21-14 lead with 10:48 to go in the third quarter. A 37-yard kickoff return to the Neon 49-yard line by Benny Gee was wasted as Anaheim went three-and-out. Then, Eduardo Patrick's punt was blocked by Bat Brooks who fell on it at the Splash 46-yard line. The subsequent 8-play drive ended with Lehigh tossing a 16-yard touchdown pass to Denver Smits making it 28-14 with 7:22 to go in the third. The Splash answered back with a 9-play, 77-yard drive. Finnegan finished it off with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Brett Fusco to make it 28-21 with 3:15 left in the third quarter.

Detroit would drive 66 yards on 10 plays, and end the drive with a 22-yard field goal by DJ Pilgrim, extending the Neon lead to 31-21 with 13:18 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Splash would punt, and the Neon went on a 10-play, 52-yard drive ending with Pilgrim booting a 32-yard field goal to make it 34-21 with 5:03 to go in the game.

Detroit (8-5) gained 346 yards of total offense. The Neon ran for 79 yards on 26 carries. Covey led the team with 30 yards on 8 carries and a TD. Lehigh was 19-of-35 passing for 277 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 25 yards. Leonard Echols led the receivers with 5 catches for 86 yards. The Neon finish the regular season on the road next week against the Houston Hotshots.

Anaheim (3-10) gained 404 yards of total offense. The Splash ran for 91 yards on 24 carries. Fusco led the team with 52 yards on 16 carries. Finnegan was 22-of-37 passing for 341 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked four times, losing 28 yards. Gee was the leading receiver with 6 catches for 70 yards. The Splash end the regular season next week hosting the Michigan Bombers.