Firebirds Pull Away From Largemouths as Hertrick Passes for 359 Yards
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Atlanta forced four Charlotte turnovers, and Eric Graicklin kicked six field goals as the Firebirds routed the Largemouths 34-3. The 31-point margin left Charlotte, now 5-4, without a touchdown in a game it never led.
Graicklin's 30-yard field goal at 11:43 of the first quarter put Atlanta ahead 3-0, and the Firebirds led at the end of every quarter. Charlotte's only other points came from Lane Himwell's 49-yard field goal at 7:31 of the first quarter, which cut the margin to 6-3.
Travis Hertrick found Eric Daistford for a 1-yard touchdown at 2:34 of the first quarter, and Atlanta led 13-3 after the extra point. Graicklin added a 39-yard field goal at 9:28 of the second quarter to make it 16-3. Two more field goals, from 23 yards at 10:13 and 20 yards at 1:05 of the third quarter, pushed the lead to 22-3.
Hertrick ran in from two yards at 9:27 of the fourth quarter to make it 29-3. The defense then scored at 4:23 when Leonel Peales sacked Jake Braton for a safety, and Atlanta led 31-3. Graicklin closed the scoring with a 23-yard field goal at 0:28 for the final score of 34-3.
Charlotte's four turnovers came at damaging moments. Hamish Hut intercepted Braton at 10:46 of the first quarter, and Braton threw two more picks, to Hyun-woo Tseongmura at 14:11 of the third quarter and to Wes Crannby at 7:19 of the fourth. Joel Cromson also lost a fumble at 4:28 of the second quarter, which Peyton Chadley recovered with Atlanta ahead 16-3.
Hertrick completed 32 of 38 passes for 359 yards and a touchdown without an interception. Peyton Foosby caught 11 passes for 132 yards, and Ernesto Rus carried 16 times for 86 yards. Atlanta outgained Charlotte 487 yards to 182. Braton completed eight of 20 passes for 100 yards with three interceptions. Cromson ran for 75 yards on 11 carries, and Carlos Yuzales led the Charlotte defense with three sacks.
Wyatt Fund, a Charlotte wide receiver, was ruled out with a fractured hand and is out five weeks. Atlanta cornerback Jesse Whackwood was ruled out with a concussion and is out two weeks, running back Jordan Thann has a hamstring strain and is out one week, and right guard Mack Lealham was listed questionable with an ankle injury.
Atlanta is 2-5 after the win, and Charlotte is 5-4 after the loss.
