Morrano's Fourth-Quarter Touchdown Catch Lifts Indianapolis Past Houston
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Esteban Morrano caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Heath Groot with 6:32 left in the fourth quarter, and Indianapolis beat Houston 23-22. The Racers had trailed 22-17 since Hunter Towsings caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Nick Peasrick with 11:27 remaining, and the win lifts Indianapolis to 5-3 while Houston falls to 4-4.
Morrano's score was the last of three lead changes and the decisive one. Houston had led 13-10 at halftime and 16-10 after the third quarter's first stretch, but Groot answered with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Stoolings at 0:33 of the third quarter to make it 17-16.
Houston took a 7-0 lead on Peasrick's 14-yard touchdown pass to Grant Dalrick at 5:54 of the first quarter. Groot's 30-yard touchdown pass to Morrano at 1:04 tied it at 7-7. Owen Lonn's 50-yard field goal at 13:05 of the second quarter put Houston ahead 10-7, and Graham Cheard's 36-yard field goal at 7:08 tied it 10-10. Lonn hit a 19-yard field goal at 0:01 for a 13-10 halftime lead.
Lonn added a 40-yard field goal at 5:38 of the third quarter for a 16-10 Houston lead. Elvis Muesino intercepted Peasrick at 4:28 of the second quarter, returning the ball 2 yards. Miles Heas also picked off Peasrick at 3:48 of the fourth quarter.
Groot completed 25 of 34 passes for 242 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Morrano carried 14 times for 78 yards and caught six passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Peasrick finished 23 of 36 for 319 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, and Dalrick caught five passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. Peyton Lendwood led the Houston defense with 10 tackles, a sack and an interception, and Muesino had seven tackles, a sack and an interception for Indianapolis.
Victor Nusares, the Indianapolis middle linebacker, was out for the game with a concussion. Adam Vown, the Houston cornerback, was out with a hamstring strain and is expected to miss one week.
Indianapolis finished with 353 total yards and held the ball for 33 minutes, 21 seconds. Houston gained 399 yards and converted seven of 14 third-down attempts. With the win, the Racers improve to 5-3, and the Apollos drop to 4-4.
