Outlaws Defeat Thunder as Time Expires, 48-46

June 28,2015

Outlaws Defeat Thunder as Time Expires, 48-46
LAS VEGAS – The Las Vegas Outlaws (5-8) defeated the Portland Thunder (3-10) thanks to a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dennis Havrilla as time expired Sunday afternoon at the Thomas & Mack Center.
In his first start of the season, the second-year signal-caller completed 21-of-34 passes for 214 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions to go along with a pair of rushing scores on the day. Veteran wideout Tysson Poots hauled in three of Havrilla’s four scoring strikes. On the Thunder side of the ball, fullback John Martinez set a new single-game franchise record with four rushing scores, while quarterback Kyle Rowley passed for 220 yards and three touchdowns on the day.
In what was an evenly matched game from start to finish, Martinez got the Thunder on the board first, scoring his first touchdown of the day from one yard out with 6:18 remaining in the first quarter. Havrilla and the Outlaws responded with a six-yard touchdown pass to Poots with just under four minutes to play in the opening period to knot the score at seven apiece.
Portland regained the lead in the second quarter when Rowley connected with receiver V’Keon lacey on a 10-yard touchdown pass. Following a missed extra point, the Thunder led 13-7. Las Vegas took its first lead of the game at the 3:21 mark in the second after Havrilla hooked up with Poots for a second time and Ernesto Lacayo booted in the PAT for a 14-13 Vegas lead. However, Portland took control again just before heading into the locker room, as Martinez carried the ball into the end zone from two yards out for a 20-14 halftime lead.
A Doug Williams touchdown reception with 9:40 to play in the third quarter put Las Vegas back on top briefly; however, Portland answered right back with a 33-yard pitch-and-catch from Rowley to Jared Perry. Havrilla and the Outlaws responded four minutes later in the form of a nine-yard touchdown pass to Poots, his third of the game. Portland closed out the third quarter scoring with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Rowley to Lacey at the 2:23 mark. For the second time in the game, the Thunder were unable to connect on a PAT try, as Kevin Goessling’s extra point attempt was blocked.
The final five scores of the game all came on the ground. Havrilla opened the fourth quarter scoring with a one-yard rush, while Martinez responded with a one-yard carry past the goal line of his own on the ensuing drive. With 6:46 left in regulation, Outlaws wide receiver Jomo Wilson got in the action, carrying in a four-yard run. Martinez tallied his fourth rushing score of the game with 2:31 to play. It appeared the Thunder had sealed a victory with less than a minute remaining following an interception by former Outlaws defensive back Dwight McLean. With 49 seconds to play, Martinez was stripped of the ball, resulting in a turnover and setting up the Outlaws’ game-winning drive. From one yard out, Havrilla took the ball into the end zone on a quarterback sneak to put the Outlaws on top, 48-46, as time expired.
Recently acquired defensive back Demarcus Robinson led Las Vegas with eight tackles on the day, while defensive linemen Jabari Fletcher and Terrance Carter were each credited with sacks. Thunder linebacker Dexter Davis led Portland with two sacks, while Marquis Jackson and KC Obi combined for another. Thunder defensive backs De’Mon Glanton and Dwight McLean logged the game’s only interceptions. Neither Duane Brooks nor Gerald Young, two of the League’s most feared kick return specialists, found the end zone in the game.