Fauner Catches Three Touchdowns as Rotters Beat Liberty
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Toby Fauner caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Hayden Toondridge with 12:25 left in the fourth quarter, and the Las Vegas Rotters beat the Philadelphia Liberty 23-14. The win lifted Las Vegas to 2-5, while Philadelphia fell to 3-5.
The game turned on a 54-yard field goal by Parker Tamton with 2:52 left in the third quarter, which gave Las Vegas a 9-7 lead and its first advantage of the game. Philadelphia had led 7-6 at halftime.
Philadelphia opened the scoring in the second quarter when Lane Brinnham threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Bailey Palham at 3:56 to make it 7-0. Las Vegas answered at 0:45, when Toondridge hit Fauner for a 1-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 7-6. Josh Wistfield recovered a fumble by Yu-chen Junmura at 0:22, and the Liberty kept their one-point edge into the locker room.
Tamton's field goal came after a scoreless third-quarter stretch for Philadelphia's offense. Las Vegas then pulled away in the fourth quarter. Fauner's 33-yard touchdown catch at 12:25 made it 16-7, and the nine-point margin at 12:21 was Las Vegas's largest lead. Brinnham answered with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Palham at 8:22, trimming the score to 16-14. Fauner's 5-yard touchdown catch at 2:33 restored the nine-point cushion at 23-14. Blake Whetton intercepted Brinnham at 2:05 and returned it 9 yards to end the threat.
Toondridge completed 25 of 39 passes for 285 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Fauner caught 12 passes for 167 yards and all three of the Las Vegas touchdowns through the air. Brinnham went 14 of 24 for 139 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Shota Sihara led Philadelphia on the ground with 58 yards on 17 carries. Las Vegas turned the ball over once to Philadelphia's three, a difference that proved decisive. Emilio Tesoza, a Las Vegas defensive tackle, had five tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles. Matt Gimley added 12 tackles and one sack for Philadelphia.
Caleb Whurklin, Philadelphia's strong safety, left with a concussion at 9:17 of the third quarter and was ruled out for the game. Hunter Theack, a Las Vegas strong safety, was placed on injured reserve with a torn labrum in his shoulder and is expected to miss 13 weeks. Nate Blickham, a Las Vegas fullback, was ruled out with a shoulder sprain and will miss two weeks.
The win leaves Las Vegas at 2-5 and Philadelphia at 3-5.
