In another barnburner of a game for the Los Angeles Lycans, it would come down to the last play of the game to decide the winner. In a back-and-forth game with a blocked extra point, another kickoff return touchdown, and missed opportunities, the Lone Star Glory were able to gallop out of town with a 27-23 victory. With the win, the Glory improves to 4-3, while the Lycans fall to 3-4.
After an impressive game last week, Sully Richardson fell back into turnover problems early in this one. On the third play of the opening drive, Richardson would be picked off by Bo Martin, Jr. and he would take it to the house for a Pick 6. After the extra point by James Troll, the Glory had the lead 7-0 early in the first quarter.
The second drive of the game for the Lycans would prove to be more fruitful. Richardson was back on his game, going four for five on the drive for forty yards, hitting four different receivers. Robert Johnson would have trouble getting going, with the Glory defense keying on him early. Unfortunately for the Lycans, the drive stalled at the LSG 29-yard line. Rob Emms connected from forty-six yards away, to inch the Lycans closer at 7-3.
The Los Angeles defense would force a three-and-out on the next Lone Star drive but would give the ball right back a few plays later. After a completion to Jack Flash, two runs by Johnson, and an incomplete pass, Richardson would find Glory CB Mickey McGuire along the sideline for another interception. Lone Star would capitalize on the turnover with a nine-play drive that resulted in Troll knocking down a 50-yard field goal to put the Glory on top 10-3 early in the second quarter.
The Lycans would answer right back with an 11-play 74-yard drive of their own to tie the game. The air game was back on track with Richardson spreading the ball around, going seven for nine for sixty-five yards. Johnson would find a little running room as well, with nine rushing yards on the drive. Chris Lee would cap off the scoring drive with a six-yard grab to knot the score at 10 after the Emms PAT.
Again, the Lycans defense stepped up and forced a three-and-out, as the Glory could get nothing going. On the ensuing drive, Johnson would find some room on the ground, amassing twenty yards. However, it was the passing game again that would dominate the Glory defense. Richardson stayed hot going six for six for fifty-two yards, hitting Davius Reid, Tommy Ramen, Terrance Weary, Lee, and Flash with the pigskin. Flash would find the endzone from eight yards out for the touchdown, but the Emms PAT would be blocked, leaving the score 16-10 Los Angeles near the half.
The second half would start with a Lone Star turnover on their first possession. Ryan Yoseph stepped in and picked off an Ace Fenech pass right near midfield, giving the Lycans prime field position. After moving the ball to the 35-yard line, the AI would decide to punt instead of giving Rob Emms a chance from fifty-two yards out to extend the lead. We will never know how this might have changed the game; but, every team must overcome decisions like this. Sid O’Lindy would pin the Glory deep in their own territory with a nice punt.
Lone Star would go ninety yards after the questionable decision to retake the lead. Fenech would find four different receivers on the drive, Adam Williams, Deuce Fenech, Greg Soto, and Ziggy Hronec, with Ike McBride finding room for ten yards on the ground. It was Williams who would find the endzone, and the extra point from Troll would put the Glory back on top, 17-16 a little over halfway through the third quarter.
Los Angeles would answer right back on their next possession. Robert Johnson would finally find an opening in the Glory defense with a 39-yard jaunt on the first play. He would pick up four more yards a couple of plays later, before Richardson would go back to the air. Reid, Lee, and Ramen would each catch two balls on the drive, with Ramen finding paydirt from three yards to make the score after the PAT, 23-17 with 0:16 left in the third quarter.
For the third time in two weeks the Lycans special teams could not stop their opponent on the kickoff. Greg Soto would return the kickoff 102 yards for the touchdown. After the PAT by Troll, the Glory was ahead 24-23 at the end of the third quarter.
The next three drive would all result in punts before the exciting ending to this one. Ace Fenech would drive his team down to the 33-yard line before James Troll would kick a 50-yard field goal to extend the Lone Star lead to 27-23 with 1:45 left in the game.
The Lycans would go to the air to move the ball down the field. Richardson was finding receivers all over the field to give his team a chance at the end. With two seconds left from the thirteen-yard line, Richardson would look for Lee in the back corner of the endzone; but, it would be denied by Martin, Jr. to end the game. Final score: Lone Star Glory 27 Los Angeles Lycans 23.
Ace Fenech was 20-25 with one TD and one INT. Ike McBride had fourteen yards on ten carries and five receptions for thirty-nine yards. Greg Soto led the way for the Glory receiving corps with six grabs for fifty-three yards and a 102-yard KO return TD. Adam Williams found the endzone on one of his four grabs for thirty-six yards. Freddy Tramel paced the way with fifteen stops, while Evan Lacey chipped in twelve and Bogey Barr had ten. Mickey McGuire and Bo Martin, Jr. each had picks, with the latter returning one for a TD. James Troll knocked down both of his FGA and all three PATs.
The Lycans were led by Sully Richardson and his 42-53 for 312 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs. Robert Johnson rumbled on the ground for ninety-nine yards on twenty-two carries, while catching three balls for one yard. Tommy Ramen had four grabs for five yards and a touchdown. Chris Lee was once again the top receiver, hauling in twelve balls for 124 yards and a touchdown. Davius Reid was active in this one, catching eleven passes for 101 yards. Elzie Pryor chipped in six grabs for forty-three yards, while Jack Flash went for four and thirty yards with a TD. Terrance Weary had two catches for eight yards. Defensively, Rachelle Colston had eight tackles, and Danny Stinson had seven with one TFL to lead the way. Brogan Speraw and Ace Blackwell each had a TFL, while Ryan Yoseph had an interception. Rob Emms made his lone FGA, while he was two for three on PATs with the miss being blocked after a botched snap.