Dragons Pull Away From Monarchs Behind Cannby, Merkrick
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Isaac Cannby threw three touchdown passes and Eric Merkrick ran for two more as the Dallas Dragons routed the Kansas City Monarchs 48-13. The 35-point margin was Dallas's largest lead, and the win moved the Dragons to 4-5 while Kansas City fell to 3-5.
Dallas took control early. Brock Brordley's 3-yard touchdown run at 7:31 of the first quarter gave the Dragons their first lead, and they never trailed. Dallas went 24 unanswered points at one stretch, and the Monarchs' only early answer was Hayden Crork's 32-yard field goal at 12:22 of the second quarter.
Cannby hit Brordley for 4 yards at 6:16 of the second quarter to make it 14-3. He then found Oneil Seoro for 8 yards at 1:18, and Wade Gundridge's 63-yard field goal at 0:07 sent Dallas to halftime ahead 24-3.
Cannby's 2-yard pass to Brordley at 6:40 of the third quarter made it 31-3. Crork's 54-yard field goal at 3:29 cut the margin to 31-6, the last points Kansas City scored until the fourth quarter. Gundridge's 45-yard field goal at 14:49 pushed Dallas to 34-6.
Merkrick's 21-yard touchdown run at 6:29 made it 41-6. Graham Vunn's 64-yard touchdown pass to Brent Jurley at 3:36 gave Kansas City its final 13 points, but Merkrick's 46-yard run at 3:20 closed out the scoring at 48-13.
Two turnovers did not produce points. Gavin Brendrick intercepted Cannby at 1:35 of the first quarter and returned it 10 yards. Jared Cruller intercepted Vunn at 8:42 of the fourth quarter and returned it 6 yards.
Cannby completed 29 of 37 passes for 304 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Merkrick carried 12 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns and caught five passes for 43 yards. Dallas outgained Kansas City 492 yards to 284.
Vunn completed 8 of 16 passes for 133 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Jurley caught three passes for 73 yards and the touchdown. Gustavo Merito carried seven times for 69 yards. Carter Shenson had 11 tackles and two sacks for Dallas. Marcus Setson led Kansas City with 12 tackles, and Brendrick added eight tackles and an interception.
Junior Tes, a Kansas City cornerback, suffered a hamstring strain and was ruled out for eight weeks. Lucas Coondmore, a Dallas middle linebacker, suffered a hamstring strain and was ruled out for three weeks. Carlos Barroza, a Kansas City right guard, suffered an MCL sprain and was ruled out for one week. None of the three returned.
Dallas is 4-5 after the win, and Kansas City is 3-5 after the loss.
