New York Legion Beat Denver Yetis as Shinnworth Kicks Three Field Goals
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Luke Shinnworth's 56-yard field goal with 4:06 left in the fourth quarter put New York ahead by 10 and sealed a 23-13 victory over Denver. The Legion led after every quarter, and the win lifted them to 6-2, the same record as the Yetis.
The turning point came at 4:50 of the first quarter, when Miguel Dusuez found Henry Groortson for a 4-yard touchdown that gave New York a 7-3 lead. Denver had opened the game with a 45-yard field goal by Derek Carkwood at 9:52, and that was the only time the Yetis led.
Ford Hend's 2-yard touchdown run at 4:39 of the second quarter made it 14-3. Matt Whock intercepted Dusuez at 12:04 of the second quarter, but Denver did not score off the turnover. Shinnworth's 58-yard and 31-yard field goals in the third quarter pushed the margin to 20-3, the largest lead of the night at 17 points.
Denver cut the deficit in the fourth quarter. Carkwood's 34-yard field goal at 12:26 made it 20-6, and Manuel Randuz's 7-yard touchdown run at 9:59 made it 20-13. Two fumbles along the way changed the picture: Tyler Ceawood recovered a Hend fumble at 11:53, and Camilo Nusena recovered a Juan Bisuez fumble at 6:44. Shinnworth's 56-yard field goal then restored the 10-point margin.
Denver's last threat ended at 0:58, when Nick Chamwood intercepted a Lorenzo Zosales pass on third down and returned it one yard.
Dusuez completed 20 of 26 passes for 199 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Zosales was 25 of 32 for 258 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception. Hend carried 19 times for 124 yards and a touchdown, and Bisuez gained 105 yards on 14 carries for Denver. On defense, Brady Shearfield made 10 tackles, Dawson Shorkham had eight tackles and two sacks, and Lane Crur added two sacks and a forced fumble.
Denver lost safety Rhett Cooson to a Lisfranc injury, and he was placed on injured reserve. New York lost cornerbacks Carlos Pelada and Dawson Faidwood to hamstring strains and left end Lane Pirdale to a shoulder sprain. Denver cornerback Lane Cown was listed as questionable with a shoulder injury.
New York's win and Denver's loss leave both teams at 6-2.
