Detroit Hot Rods Beat Boston Wolf Pack After Safety Flips Lead

Riley Kade — JRSports One

Hayden Gai's sack of Riley Mirtwell produced a fourth-quarter safety that put Detroit ahead for good, and the Hot Rods beat Boston 20-16. Boston had led 13-12 after three quarters, and Detroit answered with three scoring plays in the fourth.

The turning point came at 13:21 of the fourth quarter. Gai sacked Mirtwell for a loss of 8 yards, a safety that moved Detroit ahead 14-13. Moments earlier, Nelson Tosino had intercepted Isaac Deaworth at 13:30 and returned it 3 yards.

Lane Cirley ran 3 yards for a touchdown at 4:03 of the first quarter, and Jason Mast's 40-yard field goal at 5:27 of the second made it 10-0. Mirtwell then hit Gavin Mowby for an 8-yard touchdown at 1:23 before halftime, and Detroit led 12-6 at the break.

Boston took its only lead of the game on Joel Gendwood's 1-yard touchdown catch from Mirtwell at 3:05 of the third quarter, making it 13-12. Detroit then went back in front on the Gai safety, and Mast added field goals of 29 yards at 10:04 and 23 yards at 2:45 to make it 20-13. Garrett Jeackford's 32-yard field goal at 0:17 gave Boston its final points.

Mirtwell completed 21 of 30 passes for 213 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Cirley carried 22 times for 136 yards and a touchdown, and Josh Thun caught six passes for 110 yards for Detroit. Deaworth finished 15 of 26 for 169 yards with one interception. Andrew Crackmore ran 20 times for 87 yards and caught five passes for 77 yards for Boston. Detroit outgained Boston 397 yards to 270.

Jason Kustwood led Detroit's defense with 10 tackles and one sack, while Nicolas Von made 11 tackles for Boston and Tosino added eight tackles and the interception.

Detroit quarterback Jun Ninno suffered a hamstring strain and is out two weeks.

The win moved Detroit to two wins and six losses. Boston fell to one win and six losses.