Tanner Bler Kicks Los Angeles Past Indianapolis in Late Field Goal
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Tanner Bler kicked a 37-yard field goal with 6:38 left in the fourth quarter, and Los Angeles held on to beat Indianapolis 16-13. It was the first lead of the game for the Seabees, who had trailed by as many as seven points before tying the score in the third quarter.
Bler's kick was the decisive play, and it gave Los Angeles a lead the Racers never answered. Los Angeles had tied the game at 13 when Nick Cheacksby ran in from 8 yards with 7:51 left in the third quarter. Indianapolis had led 10-3 after Heath Groot connected with Ryan Stoolings on a 16-yard touchdown pass with 5:11 left in the second quarter.
Graham Cheard opened the scoring with a 26-yard field goal with 4:48 left in the first quarter, putting Indianapolis up 3-0. Bler answered with a 34-yard field goal at 12:56 of the second quarter to tie it at 3. Stoolings' touchdown followed, and Bler then hit a 39-yard field goal as time expired in the half, cutting the lead to 10-6. Cheard's 39-yard field goal at 10:53 of the third quarter made it 13-6 before Cheacksby's touchdown tied the game.
Indianapolis gave up its best chance to pull away on turnovers. Clay Pind intercepted Groot at 11:16 of the first quarter, and Edwin Coena picked off Carson Jockworth at 1:21 of the second quarter, returning it 11 yards. Groot lost a fumble at 0:13 of the third quarter that Tate Cunrick recovered, but the score stayed 13-13.
Groot finished 22 of 34 for 244 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Esteban Morrano ran 17 times for 108 yards, and Troy Brulford caught nine passes for 97. Jockworth was 14 of 19 for 214 yards with one interception for Los Angeles, and Jesse Bradsby ran 19 times for 79 yards. Mason Rird caught five passes for 87 yards. Jesse Diswood led the Los Angeles defense with 13 tackles, and Wade Wearham had eight tackles and a sack for Indianapolis.
Indianapolis outgained Los Angeles 409 yards to 331 and held the ball for 31:23 to 29:22. Its offense was 9 of 16 on third down, while Los Angeles converted seven of 13. Indianapolis committed eight penalties for 73 yards and two turnovers, against five penalties for 27 yards and one turnover by Los Angeles.
Quinn Ressby, Los Angeles right tackle, was ruled out with a shoulder sprain and is listed at four weeks. Miles Bludson, Indianapolis right guard, was ruled out with an ankle sprain.
Los Angeles moved to 3-6 with the win. Indianapolis fell to 5-4.
