Panthers Beat Rotters as Grerwell Throws Three Touchdowns
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Troy Grerwell threw three touchdown passes, the last a 13-yard strike to Pedro Velaz with 0:54 left, as Cleveland Panthers beat Las Vegas Rotters 30-9. The win kept Cleveland unbeaten at 8-0 and dropped Las Vegas to 2-5.
Cleveland took the lead for good on Elvis Muruez's 37-yard field goal at 1:22 of the first quarter, and it never trailed. Las Vegas could not get closer than a tie, which came on Parker Tamton's 44-yard field goal at 5:04 of the second quarter.
Grerwell then found Keaton Coonby for a 2-yard touchdown at 3:03, and Cleveland led 10-3. Tamton's 53-yard field goal at 0:59 sent the Panthers into halftime ahead 10-6.
Coonby's 1-yard touchdown catch at 5:02 of the third quarter made it 17-6. Muruez added field goals of 43 yards at 14:46 and 31 yards at 7:51 in the fourth quarter, and Cleveland's lead reached 21 points at 0:50. Tamton's 34-yard field goal at 2:46 made it 23-9, and Grerwell's touchdown to Velaz closed the scoring.
Las Vegas turned the ball over twice. Andres Muana intercepted Hayden Toondridge at 0:13 of the first quarter, and Kenji Mungshima picked him off at 10:05 of the fourth. Cleveland committed no turnovers and gained 382 yards to 176, with 22 first downs to nine.
Grerwell completed 22 of 32 passes for 242 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Coonby carried 19 times for 152 yards and caught five passes for 34 yards and two touchdowns. Toondridge finished 13 of 24 for 111 yards with two interceptions, and Joaquin Dortares ran 15 times for 77 yards for Las Vegas.
Muana led the Cleveland defense with eight tackles, one sack and an interception. Esteban Mueloza led Las Vegas with 12 tackles.
Lars Krir, Cleveland's free safety, was ruled out with an MCL sprain expected to keep him out two weeks. Cody Thurk, Las Vegas' left tackle, was ruled out with a hamstring strain and is out one week.
Cleveland has won all eight of its games this season. Las Vegas has lost five of its last six, with its only win in that stretch coming in its opener.
