Mustangs Win On Two-Point Conversion, 63-62
June 16, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Milwaukee Mustangs News Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - In a must-win situation, the Milwaukee Mustangs (5-8) defeated the divisional rival Pittsburgh Power (3-10) 63-62 in dramatic fashion on the road Saturday evening.
Trailing 62-55 with eight seconds remaining in regulation, Gino Guidugli found Dwayne Eley, Jr. for a 15-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to one point. That set up a two-point conversion attempt for the win with only three seconds left on the clock. From the eight-yard line after a delay of game penalty, Guidugli dropped back and fired to the middle of the end zone where a wide open Jared Jenkins, who had beaten the press coverage of the defender, cradled the ball in for the conversion and the decisive margin of victory.
Guidugli finished 18 of 38 for 278 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. Andrae Thurman and Jared Jenkins each hauled in six catches for 105 and 100 yards, respectively, to lead the team, while Thurman led the way with three receiving touchdowns.
Milwaukee's defense opened the game with a fourth down stop which set up a one-play drive that saw Guidugli connect with Thurman on an 18-yard touchdown pass for the early lead. Pittsburgh bounced back with a 34-yard touchdown catch by P.J. Berry to tie the game before taking a 13-7 lead on a 21-yard touchdown catch by Oderick Turner. The Mustangs closed the first quarter on top when Guidugli heaved a pass off of his back foot on fourth down to Jenkins, who corralled the ball with one hand and pulled it in for the score.
Pittsburgh opened up the second quarter with a 28-yard scoring reception by Mike Washington to go ahead 20-14.
The Mustangs regained the lead with a 2-yard scamper by Eley, Jr. only for the Power to answer back with another long receiving touchdown by Berry as he was falling to the turf to take a 26-21 advantage.
Justin Lawrence added his fifth rushing touchdown of the season on the Mustangs' next possession, but a string of unfortunate events would sting the Mustangs right before halftime.
After Milwaukee recovered its own onside kick, Guidugli's arm was hit as he was about to throw and the Mustangs recovered the ball in the end zone for a Power safety. The Mustangs then attempted another onside kick following the safety, but the ball was recovered by Randy Hymes, who raced into the end zone for a 34-27 Power lead.
Milwaukee drove down the field on its last possession of the half, but Guidugli was intercepted and Pittsburgh was able to add a field goal.
The Mustangs came out of the locker room on a mission, marching down the field and scoring on a 3-yard quarterback sweep by Guidugli. But Pittsburgh continued to get the lucky bounce, as a Bryan Randall pass tipped off of Hymes's hands into Washington's for a 25-yard touchdown. Facing a 10-point deficit, Guidugli was intercepted again deep in Power territory, but the Mustangs' defense held its ground and stopped Pittsburgh on four downs. That set up a quarterback sneak by Guidugli which cut the Power lead to 44-41 at the end of three quarters of play.
The Power scored on another Turner touchdown reception and tacked on a field goal to control the game, 54-41, to start the fourth quarter. But the Mustangs narrowed the gap to six after Thurman took a nine-yard pitch into the end zone and then took the lead as Thurman hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass with one minute remaining.
Though Pittsburgh took back the lead with 23 seconds left when Randall snuck into the end zone from one yard out, Milwaukee got the ball back with one drive left and took full advantage of the opportunity, reversing the outcome of a week ago and taking home a 63-62 win.
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