AFL: Drive Defeat Dragons, 20-9

DETROIT-The Detroit Drive defeated the New York Dragons 20-9 for their first victory of the season in a Week 3 AFL game.

After New York punted on their opening drive, Detroit drove 49 yards on 14 plays, ending with a 48-yard field goal by Cletis Frayer to take a 3-0 lead with 7:07 to go in the first quarter. The Dragons responded by going 18 yards on 5 plays, and scoring on a 53-yard field goal by Jose Trust to tie the game at 3 with 4:15 remaining in the first.

After trading punts, Faron Emerson was picked off by McKinley Beaumont who raced 23 yards to the Dragons' 30-yard line. But Frayer would miss a 45-yard field goal attempt. The Dragons then drove 38 yards on 6 plays, ending with Trust kicking a 44-yard field goal to give New York a 6-3 lead with 8:28 left in the second quarter. The Drive would come storming back, going 80 yards on 8 plays. Lou Couch threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Lowell Winfrey to put Detroit ahead 10-6 with 3:54 left in the half. Omar Wheeley picked Couch off late in the half at the New York 40-yard line, but Trust missed a 51-yard field goal attempt. Frayer would then miss a 51-yard attempt of his own as the first half came to an end.

At the start of the second half, Stan Florin picked off Emerson in the end zone and streaked 52 yards on the return to the Drive 43-yard line. Detroit couldn't move the ball and punted, then New York drove 64 yards on 11 plays. Trust would end the drive with a 30-yard field goal to make it 10-9 with 6:05 to go in the third quarter. The Drive would responded traversing 70 yards on 10 plays. Couch finished it off by firing a 28-yard touchdown pass to Patch Brolie making it 17-9 with 36 seconds to go in the third.

The Dragons would be turned away on their next drive after a failed fourth down at the Drive 27-yard line. After a Detroit punt, Freddy Ashercraft fumbled after making a catch, and T.T. Presley recovered for the Drive at the Dragons' 29-yard line. Three plays would net four yards, and Frayer kicked a 42-yard field goal to make it 20-9 with 4:33 to go in the fourth quarter.

Detroit (1-2) gained 248 yards of total offense. The Drive ran for 74 yards on 33 carries. Brolie led the team with 28 yards on 10 carries. He also led with 5 receptions for 100 yards and a TD. Couch was 13-of-21 passing for 185 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 11 yards. The Drive host the San Jose Sabercats next week.

New York (0-3) gained 328 yards of total offense. The Dragons ran for 143 yards on 30 carries. George Larron led the team with 63 yards on 15 carries. Emerson was 21-of-37 passing for 190 yards and 3 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 5 yards. Ashercraft led the receivers with 5 catches for 44 yards. The Dragons host the Colorado Crush next week.