New Orleans Edges Pittsburgh as Pais Santiago Ruasondo for Late Score
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Brandon Pais threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Santiago Ruasondo with 1:56 left in the fourth quarter, and New Orleans held on for a 17-16 win over Pittsburgh. The result lifted the Voodoo to 5-2 and dropped the Artillery to 1-6, after Mack Dollson's 18-yard field goal as time ran out left Pittsburgh one point short.
New Orleans had trailed 13-10 since Fausto Soena's 3-yard touchdown run at 8:27 of the fourth quarter. Pais's touchdown, which came on a drive that began after Pittsburgh had taken the lead, put the Voodoo ahead 17-13 and set up the final field goal.
Neither team scored in the first quarter. Pittsburgh opened the scoring on Dollson's 20-yard field goal at 11:45 of the second quarter. Julio Cuasuz answered with a 6-yard touchdown run at 9:10 that made it 7-3, and Reed Kemwell's 53-yard field goal at 0:53 gave New Orleans a 10-3 halftime lead.
Dollson hit a 42-yard field goal at 0:11 of the third quarter to cut the margin to 10-6. Soena's touchdown run at 8:27 of the fourth quarter then gave Pittsburgh its only lead of the second half. Ruasondo's catch at 1:56 reversed it, and Dollson's 18-yard field goal at 0:00 closed the gap.
Pais threw two interceptions, one to Gavin Thil at 7:16 of the third quarter and one to Mauricio Bierana at 11:24 of the fourth. Jordan Blear also intercepted Viktor Wurdorf at 0:15 of the second quarter, returning it two yards. Pittsburgh outgained New Orleans 435 yards to 313.
Pais completed 18 of 30 passes for 206 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. Cuasuz ran 10 times for 68 yards and a touchdown, and Ruasondo caught four passes for 62 yards and a score. Wurdorf was 28 of 36 for 273 yards with one interception and no touchdowns for Pittsburgh. Soena carried 25 times for 161 yards and a touchdown, and Adonis Nasoro caught 10 passes for 101 yards.
Eli Loolman, Pittsburgh's left end, was ruled out for the game with a high ankle sprain and is expected to miss four weeks. Eduardo Ruan of New Orleans was ruled out with a concussion, with a one-week absence expected, and Scott Shinn was ruled out with an ankle sprain. Thil, Pittsburgh's strong safety, was ruled out with a concussion.
The win gives New Orleans a 5-2 record. Pittsburgh falls to 1-6.
