Kealfield Connects With Tairkworth as Racers Beat Hot Rods

Riley Kade — JRSports One

Ben Kealfield threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Heath Tairkworth with 1:54 left in the fourth quarter, sealing a 17-9 Indianapolis win over Detroit. The score capped a fourth quarter in which the Racers outscored the Hot Rods 7-3 and moved to 5-3.

Indianapolis took control in the third quarter. Esteban Morrano ran in from one yard out at 8:30 to put the Racers ahead 10-3, and they never trailed again.

Detroit opened the scoring with a 41-yard field goal by Jason Mast at 10:44 of the first quarter. Graham Cheard answered with a 41-yard field goal at 9:18 of the second to tie it 3-3. After Morrano's touchdown, Mast kicked a 48-yard field goal at 14:52 of the fourth to cut the lead to 10-6, then a 27-yard field goal at 5:28 to make it 10-9. Kealfield's touchdown pass to Tairkworth then put the game out of reach.

Earlier in the third quarter, at 3:35, a big hit by Grant Bralworth jarred the ball loose on a completion to Troy Brulford, and the Hot Rods' defense recovered.

Kealfield completed 22 of 30 passes for 177 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Morrano carried 22 times for 108 yards and a touchdown and added a 14-yard catch. Jun Ninno completed 25 of 33 passes for 235 yards for Detroit, with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Arturo Nurez caught seven passes for 68 yards, and Lane Cirley ran for 62 yards on 15 carries and caught five passes for 64 more. On defense, Pablo Teales recorded two sacks for Indianapolis, Caleb Chadworth made nine tackles, and Aaron Fai had seven tackles, a sack and a forced fumble for Detroit.

Dawson Harkton, the Indianapolis left tackle, was evaluated for a concussion and listed as questionable to return.

The win lifts Indianapolis to 5-3. Detroit drops to 2-6.