Brearsby Rushes for Two Scores as Monarchs Beat Racers
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Kansas City running back Drew Brearsby ran for 165 yards and two touchdowns, and Graham Cheard's rival Hayden Crork kicked four field goals as the Monarchs beat Indianapolis 32-20. Kansas City trailed 14-12 at halftime, then took control in the third quarter and never trailed again.
The turn came at 8:56 of the third quarter, when Brearsby ran six yards for a touchdown that gave Kansas City a 19-14 lead. The Monarchs answered each Indianapolis score and then pulled away in the fourth quarter.
Crork opened the scoring with a 33-yard field goal at 8:53 of the first quarter. Heath Groot found Hayden Kaimman for a 5-yard touchdown at 3:58 to put Indianapolis ahead 7-3. Cesar Pusales hit Cody Cheard for a 2-yard touchdown at 14:16 of the second quarter, and Crork's 29-yard field goal at 11:18 made it 12-7. Marcus Setson intercepted Groot at 13:55 and returned it six yards, and Indianapolis answered with Groot's 4-yard touchdown pass to Kaimman at 2:30 to lead 14-12 at the half.
Brearsby's go-ahead score came after the break. Graham Cheard's 42-yard field goal at 4:47 cut the margin to 19-17, and Miles Heas intercepted Pusales at 0:39 of the third quarter. Pusales came back to throw a 3-yard touchdown to Brearsby at 11:02 of the fourth quarter that made it 26-17. Crork added a 55-yard field goal at 6:32 for a 29-17 lead, the largest of the game for Kansas City. Graham Cheard's 37-yard field goal at 3:44 narrowed it to 29-20, and Crork's 41-yard field goal at 0:09 finished the scoring.
Groot completed 23 of 36 passes for 260 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Ryan Stoolings caught eight passes for 91 yards. Pusales was 23 of 30 for 203 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Gustavo Merito caught eight passes for 88 yards. Brearsby finished with 21 carries for 165 yards and one touchdown, and he added four catches for 26 yards and a second score.
Kansas City's defense was led by Setson, who had seven tackles and an interception. Elvis Muesino had 13 tackles for Indianapolis, and Jason Winnman added nine tackles and a sack.
Indianapolis lost left guard Mack Hulson to an MCL sprain. Running back Esteban Morrano suffered a knee injury, was listed as questionable, and did not return.
Kansas City improved to 3-4 with the win. Indianapolis fell to 5-3.
