ANAHEIM-The Anaheim Splash have had a very difficult season, but they didn't give up the ghost, and kept trying every week. This week, the persistence paid off as they defeated the Championship Game-bound Michigan Bombers 18-16 in Week 15 of the CIFL season.
The Splash opened the game with a punt, and Michigan appeared to drive for a score when Norm Rancher fumbled and Stafford Vilmer recovered for Anaheim on their own 29-yard line. The Splash would punt again, placing the ball on the Bombers' 9-yard line. Michigan then went on an 8-play, 91-yard drive, highlighted by an 80-yard bomb from Gitch Tims to Dalls Kilburn. Bernest Noon would finish the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Bombers a 7-0 lead with 6:49 to go in the first quarter. Anaheim would have to punt again, and down it at the Michigan 5-yard line. After the Bombers went three-and-out, Bucky Oost mishandled the punt snap and had to fall on it, giving up a safety to make it 7-2 with 3:15 left in the first.
After trading punts twice, Anaheim went on the move with a 9-play, 44-yard drive. Harlan Finnegan hit Cobey Bumpers for a 3-yard touchdown pass to give the Splash a 9-7 lead with 4:45 left in the second quarter. Following another Bomber punt, Webb Cooper was overwhelmed on a running play and fumbled. Covie Warmack scooped it up and ran 15 yards to the Splash 10-yard line. Two plays later, Whitey Barnwell scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to put Michigan up 14-9 with 1:04 to go in the half.
Michigan opened the second half with a drive that was thwarted by a Thurman Cato interception that was returned 13 yards to the Anaheim 46-yard line. After trading punts, the Splash went on a 9-play, 51-yard drive, and Butler Elliott kicked a 46-yard field goal to make it 14-12 with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter.
The Bombers would punt, and down the ball on the Anaheim 7-yard line. Finnegan attempted to drive down the field, but was strip-sacked by Warmack, and JT Ruby recovered at the Splash 42-yard line. The Bombers attempted to put points of their own on the board, but Orey Calhoun missed a 48-yard field goal. Anaheim then drove 54 yards on 7 plays, and Elliott kicked a 25-yard field goal to give the Splash a 15-14 lead with 5:27 remaining in the fourth quarter. Michigan would punt on their next possession, then Brett Fusco fumbled and Foster Whitlock recovered for the Bombers at the Anaheim 49-yard line. The Bombers would go three-and-out, and downed it on the Splash 3-yard line. Bumpers was tackled in the end zone on the first play of Anaheim's ensuing possession for a safety, and a 16-15 Bombers lead with 1:52 remaining. On the safety kick, Kirk Norman fumbled the return, and Elliott would pick it up and run 11 yards to the Michigan 35-yard line. Three plays and four yards later, Elliott would kick a 48-yard field goal to put the Splash ahead 18-16 with 1:06 to go. The Bombers would try to reach the end zone, but came up short.
Anaheim (4-10) gained 265 yards of total offense. The Splash gained 76 rushing yards on 24 carries. Fusco led the team with 30 yards on 10 carries. He also caught 4 passes for 16 yards. Finnegan went 23-of-34 passing for 227 yards and a TD. He was sacked six times, losing 38 yards. Ham Lassiter caught 4 passes for 83 yards. Cooper caught 4 passes for 38 yards.
Michigan (9-5) gained 382 yards of total offense. The Bombers ran for 84 yards on 22 carries. Barnwell led the team with 75 yards on 11 carries and a TD. Tims was 24-of-40 passing for 309 yards and 1 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 11 yards. Rancher led with 5 catches for 11 yards. Kilburn caught 4 passes for 113 yards. The Bombers will face either the Portland Pride or Seattle Seadogs next week for the CIFL Championship.
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