AFL: Drive Defeat Kats, 27-14

DETROIT-The Detroit Drive won their fourth game in their last five defeating the Nashville Kats 27-14 in a Week 7 AFL game.

The Drive opened the game by moving the ball 80 yards on 11 plays. Patch Brolie put the finishing touches on the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to give Detroit a 7-0 lead with 10:33 left in the first quarter.

The teams exchanged punts, then the Kats would move 64 yards on 9 plays. Curt Wardlaw opened the second quarter with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Damien Holden to tie the game at 7 with 14:51 to go in the second. Detroit would answer back with an 11-play, 86-yard drive. Lou Couch completed the drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Vern Kelly giving the Drive a 14-7 lead with 9:33 left in the half. The Kats punted the ball away, but Detroit would turn the ball over when Artie Thom fumbled and Lyndon Trimmer recovered for Nashville at his own 17-yard line. However, the Kats were forced to punt again, and Detroit moved 62 yards on 8 plays. Brolie ran in from the 6-yard line with 42 seconds left to give the Drive a 21-7 lead at the half.

There was no scoring in the third quarter. The teams traded punts, and Nashville had a chance to score, but Daniel Stevenson missed a 38-yard field goal midway through the third. After another Detroit punt, Nashville moved towards a potential score again, but Butch Bryant picked Wardlaw off in the end zone for a touchback. The Drive punted again, and Wardlaw was victimized by another interception, this time by Cord Biggs at the Detroit 24-yard line.

Following that pick, the Drive went 42 yards on 10 plays. Cletis Frayer would kick a 49-yard field goal to extend the lead to 24-7 with 9:58 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Kats responded with a 5-play, 66-yard drive, ending with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Wardlaw to Alza Chipman to make it 24-14 with 8:02 remaining in the fourth. The teams would trade punts, then Detroit ran it out with a 6-play, 16-yard drive ending with Frayer kicking a 51-yard field goal making it 27-14 with 57 seconds to go.

Detroit (4-3) gained 382 yards of total offense. The Drive ran for 150 yards on 39 carries. C.J. Jetton led the team with 43 yards on 9 carries. Couch was 18-of-27 passing for 242 yards and a TD. He was sacked once for a 10-yard loss. Kelly (84 yards, TD) and Brolie (89 yards) each caught 6 passes in the game. The Drive will host the Grand Rapids Rampage next week.

Nashville (4-3) gained 278 yards of total offense. The Kats ran for 84 yards on 24 carries. Oliver Osler led the team with 70 yards on 19 carries. Wardlaw was 17-of-26 passing for 221 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 27 yards. Holden (32 yards, TD), Chipman (26 yards, TD) and Angus Shibest (29 yards) each caught 3 passes in the game. The Kats visit the Orlando Predators next week.