Nunno's 37-Yard Field Goal Lifts Phoenix Over Atlanta
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Kazuki Nunno kicked a 37-yard field goal with 1:25 left, and the Phoenix Vultures beat the Atlanta Firebirds 22-19. The win moved Phoenix to 4-3-1 and dropped Atlanta to 2-6, after Atlanta had held the lead for most of the second half.
The go-ahead kick was the decisive play. Atlanta had trailed 19-16 with 0:16 left in the third quarter, and Nunno's 20-yard field goal at 3:17 of the fourth had tied it at 19. Phoenix then took the lead on the 37-yard kick, which left Atlanta 1:25 to answer and no score to show for it. Atlanta got the ball back at 0:34 with a 17-yard completion from Cole Gartson to Ernesto Rus that reached the Phoenix 47 on fourth-and-7, and the game ended there.
Phoenix struck first. Quinn Whemmore threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Walker Firter at 8:41 of the first quarter, and Nunno's 20-yard field goal at 3:08 made it 10-0. Atlanta answered with three field goals from Eric Graicklin, from 38 yards at 10:49, 42 yards at 6:02 and 48 yards at 1:56 of the second quarter, to pull within 9-10. Hamish Hut intercepted Whemmore at 5:13 of the second quarter, and Gartson's 36-yard touchdown pass to Connor Cheater at 0:17 gave Atlanta a 16-10 lead at the half.
Phoenix tied the game at 16 on Cody Stoockwood's 1-yard touchdown run at 7:40 of the third quarter. Graicklin's 31-yard field goal at 0:16 put Atlanta back ahead 19-16. Wyatt Breller recovered a Gartson fumble for Phoenix at 9:40 of the fourth quarter, and Phoenix rallied from there.
Whemmore completed 22 of 41 passes for 287 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Phoenix. Firter ran for 69 yards on 14 carries, and Niko Schussen caught six passes for 89 yards. Kyle Gesworth had six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble on defense.
Gartson completed 19 of 24 passes for 205 yards and one touchdown for Atlanta, with no interceptions. Jordan Thann ran 17 times for 158 yards. Ryan Thoon led the Atlanta defense with 10 tackles.
Wyatt Breller, Phoenix left end, has a torn ACL and is on injured reserve, and he did not return. Mateo Sonero, Phoenix free safety, has a concussion and is out, and he did not return. Brock Daimdale, Phoenix middle linebacker, has a high ankle sprain, is out four weeks and did not return. Jordan Thann, Atlanta running back, has a knee injury and is listed as questionable, and he did not return. Tate Mayr, Phoenix middle linebacker, was shaken up, is listed as questionable and did not return.
The win puts Phoenix at 4-3-1 and keeps Atlanta at 2-6, with the Firebirds' season now in a deep hole.
