Jintoza Throws Three Touchdowns as Maulers Beat Firebirds
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Emilio Jintoza threw three touchdown passes, and the Minneapolis Maulers pulled away in the second half to beat the Atlanta Firebirds 27-9. The victory moved Minneapolis to 6-2 and left Atlanta at 2-6.
The turning point came at the 11:26 mark of the second quarter, when Jintoza found Owen Jaindman for a 7-yard touchdown that gave Minneapolis a 10-3 lead. Atlanta never caught up after that.
Atlanta opened the scoring on a 26-yard field goal by Eric Graicklin at the 10:07 mark of the first quarter. Sandy Zonteda answered with a 48-yard field goal at 6:19 to tie the game at 3. Atlanta's only turnover came in that quarter, when Ernesto Rus fumbled at the 2:01 mark and Hunter Chainworth recovered the ball.
Graicklin's 48-yard field goal at 2:42 of the second quarter cut the margin to 10-6, and Minneapolis led 10-6 at halftime. Zonteda's 38-yard field goal at 8:59 of the third quarter made it 13-6. Then Jintoza hit Jaindman again, this time for 5 yards at 0:50, for a 20-6 lead. Those two drives produced a run of 10 unanswered points for Minneapolis.
Graicklin added a 52-yard field goal at 7:47 of the fourth quarter to make it 20-9. Jintoza finished the scoring at 2:33 with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Spencer Fundale that put Minneapolis up 27-9. The Maulers' largest lead, 18 points, came at the 2:29 mark.
Jintoza completed 29 of 38 passes for 279 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Ryan Keastworth caught 12 passes for 123 yards, and Yu-chen Yungzaki ran 18 times for 114 yards. Minneapolis outgained Atlanta 397 yards to 235 and held the ball for 35:52.
For Atlanta, Travis Hertrick completed 16 of 21 passes for 198 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Eric Daistford caught five passes for 88 yards. Ryan Thoon led the Firebirds with 10 tackles, and Riley Blen and Wim Wand each recorded two sacks.
Travis Crootman, Minneapolis outside linebacker, tore his ACL and is out for the season. Nate Codham replaced him. Hamish Hut, Atlanta safety, was shaken up in the third quarter, and Viktor Krosström took his place.
The win lifted Minneapolis to 6-2. Atlanta, now 2-6, has dropped to the bottom of the standings with six losses.
