Randuz Catch With 18 Seconds Left Lifts Denver Past Dallas
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Lorenzo Zosales threw a 24-yard touchdown to Manuel Randuz with 0:18 left, and Denver beat Dallas 27-24 after trailing by 14 points. The win lifted the Yetis to 6-2 and left the Dragons at 3-5.
Dallas had led 24-19 after Derek Carkwood's 36-yard field goal with 2:37 remaining, and Zosales took over at his own 40-yard line for the final drive. Randuz's touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion, gave Denver its first lead of the night and the final margin.
Dallas scored first. Isaac Cannby hit Alexis Lunino for a 33-yard touchdown at 7:03 of the first quarter, and Denver answered with a 41-yard field goal from Carkwood at 4:44. Wade Gundridge added a 24-yard field goal at 14:52 of the second quarter to make it 10-3, before Zosales found Spencer Misby for a 4-yard touchdown at 0:23 that tied the game at 10.
Dallas pulled away in the third quarter. Cannby connected with Eric Merkrick for a 4-yard touchdown at 6:52, and Merkrick ran 28 yards for another score at 1:21 that put Dallas ahead 24-10 and produced the largest lead of the game, 14 points. Denver then scored 17 unanswered points. Juan Bisuez ran 2 yards for a touchdown at 9:51 of the fourth quarter, and Carkwood kicked a 36-yard field goal at 2:37. A Cannby pass was intercepted by Tyler Ceawood at 5:42 and returned 5 yards, which set up the Denver drive that ended with Randuz's touchdown.
Zosales completed 28 of 38 passes for 292 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Cannby went 19 of 27 for 226 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Merkrick carried 24 times for 143 yards and a touchdown, and he caught four passes for 43 yards. Bisuez added 76 rushing yards and a touchdown for Denver. Matt Whock led Denver with 11 tackles and one sack, and Dalton Cenford had 10 tackles and one sack for Dallas.
Geraldo Rantoro, the Dallas middle linebacker, was ruled out for the game with a hamstring strain and is expected to miss 8 weeks. Joel Tuelada, the Dallas cornerback, also left with a hamstring strain, is out for the game and is expected to miss 2 weeks.
Denver's 17-point run and the win gave the Yetis a 6-2 record, while Dallas dropped to 3-5 after its second loss in a row.
