San Diego Breaks the Blitz, 34-30
July 25, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
SAN DIEGO, Calif. â It was another nail-biting fourth quarter showdown as the Riptide were able to come away with a win, 34-30, after Matt Guardia pounded the ball into the end zone with 1:42 left in the game. The win over the division leader Blitz and a loss by the Hawaiian Islanders keeps the Riptide's playoff hopes alive.
Both quarterbacks had a hard time finding the end zone in this low scoring affair. Blitz quarterback Chad Elliot completed 21-of-37 passes but also threw three interceptions. San Diego's Kevin Feterik connected on 13-of-21 passes for only 143 yards. With both quarterbacks struggling, it was up to the both teams defenses to keep the game close. The Blitz defense sacked Feterik twice, recovered three of four forced fumbles, scored two safeties, and picked off one pass. Along with the three interceptions, the Riptide defense blocked three field goal attempts by Bakersfield.
The first quarter started slow for both teams, featuring just two scoring drives. Bakersfield struck first when Elliot connected on a 16-yard pass to Nathan Munson, but the PAT was blocked and the Blitz was stuck with six. The Riptide closed out the first quarter when Feterik completed a 9-yard pass to Nakoa McElrath and the PAT was successful to give the âTide the lead 7-6.
The second quarter was a defensive showcase. Bakersfield offense scored early on a one yard run into the end zone. Ahmed Bhatti intercepted a Feterik pass on the next drive, but San Diego's McElrath intercepted an Elliot pass to give San Diego the ball back. Bhatti would not let that go and sacked Feterik in the end zone to record a safety. On the Blitz' next drive, Elliot threw another interception, this time it was by Ryan Smith. However, Smith stepped out of the end zone and was tackled in the end zone to give the Blitz their second safety. San Diego's defense stepped up and blocked a field goal attempt by Brian Walker, which led to a 14-yard touchdown pass from Feterik to Reyes, closing out the half, 16-14, in favor of the Blitz.
San Diego's defense blocked another field goal attempt in the third quarter and Ryan Cuthbert ran it in for a touchdown to put the Riptide up. The Blitz came right back on the next drive when Wofford ran the ball in for a score and Elliot made the two-point conversion to end the quarter with the Blitz on top, 24-21.
The fourth quarter started shaky for the Riptide as they tried three times to pound the ball in for six, but were unsuccessful. Bakersfield scored one more time in the quarter when Carter fumbled the missed field goal attempt and Mahanke recovered it in the end zone. San Diego would make its last stand scoring twice at the end of the game on a 40-yard pass from Feterik to McElrath for six and Guardia running the ball in from three yards out, 34-30.
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- San Diego Breaks the Blitz, 34-30 - San Diego Riptide
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