Riptide feel second half "Blitz," lose 49-43 in longest game in af2 history

April 7, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release


The first arenafootball2 game played in the state of California was truly a tale of two halves when the Bakersfield Blitz overcame a 27-3 late second quarter San Diego Riptide advantage to win 49-43 in overtime as 9,747 fans watch the first game in both teams' franchise histories at the San Diego Sports Arena Saturday night.

Blitz OS Steve Wofford caught the game-winning 19-yard touchdown with 4:22 left in overtime to complete the longest game in af2 history (70 minutes and 38 seconds of game play) and the first in the history of both franchises.

In a losing effort, Riptide OS Marty Graham was named the Game's MVP after compiling the largest all-purpose yardage night in af2 history with 401 (197 receiving/199 returns/4 rushing) and four touchdowns. Graham grabbed touchdown strikes of 40, 16, 36 and 46 yards and had five of his seven kickoff returns go for more than 20 yards each. His receiving and return yards also top all single-game marks in the af2 this season.

It took the Blitz 29:38 before scoring their first touchdown, a QB bootleg by Chad Elliot from one-yard out. The Riptide went into the half up 27-10.

The second half was all Blitz when they converted three Riptide QB Kane Claunch interceptions into 20 points and held the Riptide to just 100 total yards of offense in the second half and the overtime period combined.

Bakersfield tied the game, at 36, midway through the fourth quarter after Gabriel Buergey's two-yard burst up the middle. The tide turned in favor of the Blitz in the Riptide's ensuing offensive play when a Blitz lineman swatted a Claunch pass in the air and ADT Defensive Player of the Game Ricky Leung'wai grabbed it and ran 27 yards to give Bakersfield their first lead with six minutes remaining.

The Riptide tied it after Melvin Blue slipped in for a two-yard score with 2:56 left.

Bakersfield drove down to the Riptide 17 with only seven ticks remaining on the clock. Blitz kicker Robert Nycz attempted to win the game with a 33-yarder, but the snap bounced around before Nycz was nailed for a 27-yard loss and the clock ran out with the teams tied at 43.

After both teams traded 40+ yard field goal misses in overtime, San Diego started their second OT possession with two quick completions of 11 yards to Ryan Smith and 14-yarder to Graham to give the Riptide the ball at the Bakersfield 20. On the next snap Claunch had his third pass batted into the air and this time Blitz WR/DB J'Sharlon Jones grabbed it at the Blitz 15.

Two Elliot incompletions later, the Blitz faced a third and ten when Elliot hit Game IRONMAN Ryan Sloth (11 rec. 148 yards 1 TD/2.5 tackles and 1 pass breakup) for a 16-yard game and their fourth of six 2nd half/overtime third conversions. On the next play, Elliot hit Wofford for the game winner.



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