Cisoza Eli Jirdlin in Overtime as Heat Beat Dragons
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Wilyer Cisoza threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Eli Jirdlin with 0:57 left in overtime, and the Los Angeles Heat beat the Dallas Dragons 30-27. Dallas outgained Los Angeles 525 yards to 432 and tied the game at 24 in the fourth quarter, but the Heat's final drive was the one that counted.
The decisive play came after a game that was tied 24-24 at the end of regulation. Cisoza's pass to Jirdlin gave Los Angeles its first lead since the third quarter, and Dallas never got the ball back with a chance to answer.
Dallas struck first, with Isaac Cannby throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to Sandy Biazena at 4:40 of the first quarter. Wade Gundridge kicked a 26-yard field goal at 11:14 of the second for a 10-0 Dragons lead. Los Angeles answered with Cisoza's 3-yard touchdown pass to Ramon Serruez at 6:56, then Serruez ran 21 yards at 2:22 to put the Heat ahead 14-10 at halftime.
Ben Gotham kicked a 24-yard field goal at 10:56 of the third quarter to make it 17-10. Eric Merkrick ran six yards at 7:00 to tie the game at 17. Cisoza then found Hunter Bloorwell for a 7-yard touchdown at 3:09, and Los Angeles led 24-17. Alexis Lunino caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Cannby at 3:58 of the fourth quarter to tie it again at 24. Merkrick fumbled at 12:12 of the fourth quarter, and Tate Lortwood recovered for Los Angeles, the only turnover of the game. In overtime, Gundridge kicked a 23-yard field goal at 2:16 to give Dallas a 27-24 lead before Cisoza's final touchdown.
Cisoza finished 22 of 31 for 259 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Serruez carried 18 times for 157 yards and a touchdown, and he also caught five passes for 64 yards and a score. Jirdlin had eight catches for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Cannby completed 32 of 40 passes for 301 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Merkrick ran 25 times for 201 yards and a touchdown, and Biazena caught nine passes for 100 yards and a score.
Nate Linmore led the Los Angeles defense with five tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles. Esteban Cuentillo made 12 tackles.
Ramon Sozales, Dallas fullback, went out with a high ankle sprain and was ruled out for the game. Nick Candham, a Los Angeles defensive tackle, was placed on injured reserve with a fractured leg and will miss 11 weeks.
The win lifts Los Angeles to 6-2. Dallas falls to 3-5 after losing a game it led 27-24 in overtime.
