Shu's 48-Yard Field Goal in Overtime Lifts Liberty Past Splash
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Takumi Shu's 48-yard field goal with 5:03 left in overtime gave the Philadelphia Liberty a 23-20 win over the San Francisco Splash. Philadelphia never trailed, and the kick came after San Francisco had tied the game at 20-20 with 3:59 left in regulation.
The turning point came early. Lane Brinnham hit Hunter Jirt for a 25-yard touchdown at 10:39 of the first quarter, giving Philadelphia a 7-0 lead and starting a run of 17 unanswered points. The Liberty's largest lead was 17 points, at 17-0 with 8:14 left in the second quarter.
Shu added a 45-yard field goal at 12:47 of the second quarter to make it 10-0. Marcus Grunings then found Shota Sihara for a 2-yard touchdown at 8:18, and Philadelphia led 17-0 at the half.
San Francisco got on the board at 9:30 of the third quarter, when Troy Cead threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Sora Shonoka to cut the deficit to 17-7. Cead found Andrew Thamdale for another 3-yard score at 5:19, and the Splash trailed 17-14. Shu's 54-yard field goal at 1:10 restored the six-point lead at 20-14.
Wes Wind kicked a 24-yard field goal at 12:18 of the fourth quarter to make it 20-17. Philadelphia's only turnover came at 9:05, when Landon Blarick intercepted a pass from Brinnham. Wind's 30-yard field goal at 3:59 tied the game at 20-20, and neither team scored again in regulation.
Cead completed 26 of 32 passes for 221 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for San Francisco. Shonoka carried 19 times for 116 yards and caught five passes for 32 yards and a touchdown. Brinnham completed 20 of 24 passes for 191 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Jirt caught 11 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown.
Splash free safety Jake Vanson left with a concussion at 5:04 of the first quarter and was ruled out for the game, and Clay Leat replaced him. Liberty strong safety Caleb Whurklin suffered a Lisfranc injury, was placed on injured reserve and is out 11 weeks.
Both teams finished the game at 3-5.
