Taylor Made Finish Gives 'Tide Victory Over Coytoes, 51-50
July 17, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
SAN DIEGO - On a fourth down goal line stand and trailing by five with six seconds left, the Riptide's Kane Claunch knew he could count on Steve Gonzalez to get open. Gonzalez hauled in the pass for a touchdown, giving the Riptide the come from behind victory, 51-50. The Riptide (5-9) broke their three game losing streak with this victory over the Coyotes (7-7). Gonzalez (Ironman of the game) notched his sixth 200+ all-purpose yard game and set a new Riptide single game scoring record with his six touchdown performance, five receiving and one kickoff return. Claunch completed 20-of-33 passes for 288 yards and six touchdowns. On defense, Maurice Taylor chipped in with 10.5 tackles and a crucial fumble recovery in the fourth quarter that set up the game winning touchdown by Gonzalez. For the Coyotes, George Williams (Offensive player of the game) hauled in 13 receptions for 148 yards and four touchdowns. Central Valley set the pace with a strong first quarter lead, 16-7. Juston Wood connected with Williams and Finley for two scores while Kicker John Gockman chipped in with a 32-yard field goal. San Diego's lone score came on a four-yard touchdown pass from Claunch to Gonzalez. The Riptide mounted a second quarter come back, coming to within four points of the Coyotes lead, 30-24. Gonzalez hauled in two touchdowns from Claunch while Williams hauled in two from Wood. Ryan Smith's eight yard touchdown run put the âTide within four. Vai Notoa rumbled into the endzone from 18-yards out for a Coyotes touchdown to start the third quarter. Gonzalez answered with a 57-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Williams and Gonzalez traded scores to end the third quarter, 43-38 in favor of the Coyotes. After trading scores to start the fourth quarter, it looked like the Coyotes had the victory in hand after Reynard Carrie intercepted a Claunch pass with five minutes left on the clock. With the Coyotes up by five, the âTide needed a turnover and a score to steal the victory. It was a Taylor made turnover as Nian Taylor forced a Wood fumble and Maurice Taylor recovered it, taking it all the way to the Coyotes 17-yard line. Gonzalez and Claunch sealed the victory on a one-yard pass to give the âTide the win, 51-50.
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