San Antonio, TX (AP) - In what many expected to be an easy Ice victory yesterday turned into a stinging defeat, as San Antonio took advantage of five turnovers and held off a late rally to post a 32-27 upset over Oregon.
Despite the loss, Oregon (8-5) maintained its hold on the final wild card spot because Boise (8-5) lost 27-24 in overtime to Shreveport (9-4). The team also stayed just one back of division leading Seattle (9-4), which lost 34-24 at home to the Memphis Express (3-10).
"We shot ourselves in the foot," said head coach <b>Kendrick Upshaw</b>. "If you turn the ball over five times, odds are you're not going to win."
<IMG SRC="
http://fof2forever.com/CFL/News/flowers1.jpg" hspace=5 border=1 ALIGN=LEFT> Despite taking an early 7-3 lead on a 45-yard touchdown pass from <b>Thomas Kuhn</b> to flanker <b>Matt Brunner</b>, the Oregon offense proceeded to give the game away, turning the ball over three times in six possessions. All three times, the Stingers took over in Oregon territory and scored. When the dust finally settled at the end of the third quarter, San Antonio had built a 32-7 lead.
Amazingly, the Ice nearly won the game. Thomas Kuhn, who struggled early, finally found his groove in the fourth quarter. Kuhn led three touchdown drives to pull the visitors within five points at 32-27 with :39 left in the game, but San Antonio recovered the onside kick to seal the victory.
"I just made too many mistakes," said Kuhn who, despite throwing four touchdowns, turned the ball over just as many times. All four proved to be decisive. His interception with 1:48 left in the first half led to a San Antonio field goal. His third-quarter fumble at the Oregon 13 led to San Antonio