Riptide Rust Steeldogs, 58-57
April 10, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
BIRMINGHAM, AL â After losing several games last season to missed field goals and PATs, the Riptide finally found the solution in all-af2 kicker Kimo Naehu. With two seconds left on the clock and down by two points, Naehu nailed a 37-yard field goal to win the game, 58-57 at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Complex in front of 7,112 fans.
Although the spotlight was on the San Diego quarterback situation leading up to this weekend's contest, it was the running game that got the job done for the âTide. The rushing attack accounted for four of the team's seven touchdowns. Offensive Player of the Game Quarterback Anthony Buich completed 17-of-36 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns. Naehu was flawless on three field goals and went perfect on PATs. With one score and two and a half tackles, WR/DB Anthony Griffin was awarded Ironman of the Game honors.
For the Steeldogs, Ray Nelson completed 9-of-20 for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Recently assigned OS Detronn Harris finished with three receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown and also returned a kickoff for a score. Defensive Player of the Game, Eldrick Hill made eight tackles.
It was a tug-of-war battle from the opening moments of the game. San Diego struck first with a 23-yard field goal. Taylor intercepted a Nelson pass on the next drive which the âTide capitalized on with a Griffin rushing touchdown. With 1:40 on the clock, Nelson ran the ball in for a score on a boot. At the end of the quarter, the âTide were on top, 10-7.
In the second quarter, the âTide continued its rushing campaign with Macrea chipping in with two rushing scores and WR/DB Ryan Smith taking one in. Through the air, Buich completed his first touchdown to Gonzalez. OS Detronn Harris returned a kickoff return for a touchdown after Macrea's first score. Nelson threw two 45-yard touchdowns in the quarter, one to Harris and one to WR/DB Devlon Holmes. Macrea blocked an attempted PAT after the Holmes touchdown leaving the score at the half, 38-27.
The Steeldogs took a page out of the Riptide playbook and spent the third quarter getting the job done on the ground. FB/LB Patrick Billings ran the ball in for two scores, from 20 and 2 yards out. The âTide's Buich threw his second touchdown of the game, this time to Taylor. Gonzalez also chipped in with another score after returning a kickoff for a touchdown. With both teams notching 14 points in the quarter, the âTide was still on top 52-41.
The final quarter of play saw the Steeldogs finally hitting their stride. Billings started the quarter off with a 5-yard touchdown run. WR/DB Eldrick Hill intercepted a Buich pass for a touchdown to put the Steeldogs up 54-52 with 9:35 on the clock. Naehu hit a 42-yard field goal to put the âTide back on top 55-54. With 11 seconds left in the game and on the one yard line, San Diego held the Steeldogs to a field goal, but Birmingham was still on top, 57-54. In a matter of just eight seconds, the Riptide set up for a Naehu field goal on the Birmingham 23-yard line. Naehu kicked it straight through the uprights, giving the âTide the victory, 58-57 with one second left on the clock.
Offensive Player of the Game: Anthony Buich, SDG
Defensive Player of the Game: Eldrick Hill, BRM
Ironman of the Game: Anthony Griffin, SDG
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