Tucson, AZ -- The last few weeks for Detroit have had everyone praising QB Mitchem's play and after this game at Tucson, Mitchem showed why the Vampires give him the ball.
Though the Vampires started with the ball, the Toros struck first when WR Suhocki got behind Detroit's secondary and S Anthony had to pull to prevent the TD. The Vampires only allowed 12 yards after the 50 yd penalty, but K Hardwick was able to convert the FG. QB Mitchem's first drive looked bad, unable to find a single connection and taking a sack, and the second didn't look much better. The view from the sideline looked grim as TE Voinovich went around to the players and had some words.
Tucson looked in cruise control as they marched up the field, avoiding a potentially disastrous fumble by RB Johnson and finding themselves at the DET15. A deflated Vampires defense was struggling to get off the field, but when QB O'Neill tucked the ball, OLB McConnell saw an opportunity to attack, forcing a fumble recovered by DE Gray at the DET12.
QB Mitchem ran into the endzone for the first time in his career after the offense did a complete 180 and sustained an 88 yard drive. A FG from Greg the Leg as time expired in the 2nd quarter put DET up 10-3, and fans of the team could breathe again. Greg again connected a 33 yard FG in the 3rd quarter to put DET up 13-3, but TUC and O'Neill just wouldn't go away.
Special teams would shine for Tucson, pinning Detroit in their own 20 on two consecutive possessions and before long, the score was tied at 13-13. With 3:22 left on the clock, P Bethel punted the ball to O'Neill and despite a ferocious pass rush, the Toros marched 53 yards in 2:53 and took the lead 16-13.
"The play he made at the end of the game -- who does that?," TE Kai Vance, another hero of the game said. "He doesn't let open guys go, you know, even with the situation what it was. That's why you play the whole game."
Starting at the DET32 with 0:16 left on the clock, QB Mitchem would make a quick throw to TE Vance underneath the Toros prevent defense. Vance, one of the biggest TEs in the league, caught the ball and turned up field. A spin move around MLB Nordland and a crushing stiff arm to SS Burton netted the Vampires 38 yards, though he could have gone all the way if not for CB Tuholski's heroics. But with 0:08 left and no time to potentially execute another play, Greg the Leg took the field again and absolutely nailed a 47 yarder right down the middle.
The Toros just couldn't recover after that stunner and it was a simple matter for Greg to seal the deal in OT, 19-16.
Detroit comes home to play Tennesee while Tucson takes their struggling season to El Paso.
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GG Zenzog! My team is struggling with fumbles this year, and fumbling on your 15 in the first quarter spelled doom. My D pretty much collapsed after that and the O couldn't quite rise up enough.
Thanks Sverngold! It was quite the struggle... I might have to toss this GP in the trash. I tried to be more aggressive on defense, but I ended up giving up big plays...
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