Fianita Throws Three Touchdowns as Chicago Beats Detroit

Riley Kade — JRSports One

Joel Fianita threw three touchdown passes, and Chicago pulled away from Detroit 27-6 in the second half. Detroit never led, and Chicago's 21-point margin was its largest of the night.

The turning point came with 0:32 left in the first quarter, when Austin Hetings kicked a 27-yard field goal to put Chicago ahead 3-0 and give the Cyclones the lead they would not give up. Detroit had no answer until the second quarter, when Jun Ninno was intercepted and the Hot Rods lost the ball in Chicago territory.

Fianita then hit Heath Whayder for a 2-yard touchdown at 8:33 of the second quarter, making it 10-0. Jason Mast added a 35-yard field goal at 2:09 and a 50-yard field goal at 0:00, and Detroit trailed 10-6 at halftime.

Chicago answered quickly after the break. Fianita found Brady Gronings for a 5-yard touchdown at 9:26 of the third quarter to make it 17-6. At 5:41, he connected with Whayder again, this time for 31 yards, and the Cyclones led 24-6. Hetings closed the scoring with a 23-yard field goal at 13:34 of the fourth quarter.

Fianita finished 18 of 29 for 184 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Adam Hor carried 21 times for 158 yards for Chicago. Grant Thowham caught seven passes for 65 yards. Ninno completed 10 of 27 passes for 89 yards with one interception and no touchdowns for Detroit, and Lane Cirley ran 14 times for 77 yards.

Chicago gained 354 yards to Detroit's 167, and it rushed for 217 of them. Hayden Gai and Aaron Fai each had three sacks for Detroit, while Peyton Grem had two for Chicago. Detroit allowed seven sacks and turned the ball over twice.

Chicago lost cornerback Matteo Zilmann to a fractured leg, and he is out for the season. Detroit lost linebacker Rafael Paneda to a torn meniscus, and he is out for the game and expected to miss six weeks.

Chicago has won four games and lost four. Detroit has won two and lost six.