Brearsby's 18-Yard Touchdown Catch Lifts Monarchs Past Rotters
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Kansas City's Cesar Pusales found Drew Brearsby for an 18-yard touchdown with 10:29 left in the third quarter, and the Monarchs held on for a 17-12 win over Las Vegas. It was Kansas City's third win in seven games, and Las Vegas fell to two wins in seven.
The Rotters led after the first two quarters and were ahead 12-7 at halftime, but the lead changed hands three times in all. Brearsby's catch gave Kansas City the lead for good, and the Monarchs never trailed again.
Las Vegas opened the scoring with a safety at 10:48 of the first quarter, when Henry Cist sacked Pusales for a loss of 10 yards in the end zone and put the Rotters up 2-0. Kansas City answered at 5:58 on Pusales' 12-yard touchdown pass to Gustavo Merito. Hayden Toondridge then hit Garrett Ston for a 25-yard touchdown at 2:13, and Las Vegas led 9-7 after one quarter.
Parker Tamton's 23-yard field goal at 6:17 of the second quarter made it 12-7. Brearsby fumbled at 1:44 of the second quarter, and Lane Fud recovered, but Kansas City's lead never came back.
In the third quarter, Pusales connected with Brearsby at 10:29 to put Kansas City in front. Hayden Crork's 26-yard field goal at 3:30 made it 17-12. Joel Vayford then intercepted Toondridge at 0:48 and returned the ball 2 yards, and the Rotters did not score again.
Toondridge completed 21 of 35 passes for 243 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Pusales went 20 of 26 for 185 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Brearsby carried 19 times for 142 yards and caught three passes for 26 yards and a touchdown. Merito caught seven passes for 77 yards and a score.
Kansas City ran for 192 yards to Las Vegas' 77. Cist had six sacks and 10 tackles for the Rotters, and Vayford had 11 tackles and the interception for the Monarchs.
Garrett Ston was lost to a torn ACL and is out for the season. Junior Tes left with an MCL sprain and was ruled out for the game. Marcus Setson was listed as questionable after a knee injury.
Kansas City improves to three wins in seven games, while Las Vegas drops to two.
