Demons 39, Bolts 10
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Pat Barnes threw two touchdown passes and Juan Johnson rushed for 99 yards as the San Francisco Demons beat the Birmingham Bolts 39-10 on Saturday night.
The teams had difficulty consistently moving the ball in a steady rain at Pacific Bell Park, but Barnes led San Francisco to three quick touchdowns in the first half.
The Demons (3-2) played without starting quarterback Mike Pawlawski, who will be sidelined three weeks with a neck injury.
Barnes moved the Demons’ offense efficiently in his first start. He threw for 99 yards and hit Johnson and Brian Roberson with scoring passes. Roberson also rushed for 28 yards and another score.
Terry Battle scored on a 3-yard run early in the third quarter that gave San Francisco a 27-3 lead. Mike Panasuk added two field goals.
Birmingham (2-3) lost its second straight as quarterback Casey Weldon completed just 4-of-13 passes for 35 yards. He fumbled once and threw two interceptions.
Jay Barker came off the bench to throw for 106 yards — 92 on a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Stepfret Williams, the Bolts’ only score. Williams had four catches for 119 yards.
San Francisco’s Terrell Sutton returned a punt 42 yards for a score with 47 seconds remaining.
Summary
XFL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- BIRMINGHAM 0 3 0 7 10 SAN FRANCISCO 14 6 7 12 39 FINAL SCORING SUMMARY 1ST QUARTER: SAN - TD, PAT BARNES 2 YD RUN (JUAN JOHNSON RUN FOR CONVERISON), 5:49. Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards in 5:41. Key plays: Barnes 14-yard pass to Roberson to Birmingham 27; Moore 9-yard run to Birmingham 18; Barnes 7-yard pass to Roberson to Birmingham 11; Barnes 9-yard pass to Winans to Birmingham 2. SAN FRANCISCO 7-0 SAN - TD, BRIAN ROBERSON 19 YD PASS FROM PAT BARNES (PAT BARNES RUN FOR CONVERISON), 11:30. Drive: 6 plays, 35 yards in 3:25. Key plays: Cunninghan 26-yard punt return to Birmingham 35; Johnson 7-yard run to Birmingham 28; Barnes 10-yard pass to Roberson to Birmingham 14. SAN FRANCISCO 14-0 2ND QUARTER: SAN - TD, JUAN JOHNSON 11 YD PASS FROM PAT BARNES (PAT FAILED), 10:26. Drive: 4 plays, 20 yards in 2:48. Key plays: Palmer recovery of Bostick fumble at Birmingham 20. SAN FRANCISCO 20-0 BIR - FG, BRAD PALAZZO 30 YD, 13:54. Drive: 6 plays, 45 yards in 3:03. Key plays: Alexander 34-yard kickoff return to Birmingham 41; Bostic 45-yard run to San Francisco 14. SAN FRANCISCO 20-3 3RD QUARTER: SAN - TD, TERRY BATTLE 3 YD RUN (PAT BARNES PASS TO PITA ELISARA FOR CONVERISON), 1:57. Drive: 1 play, 3 yards in 0:37. Key plays: 49-yard interception return by Williams to the Birmingham 3. SAN FRANCISCO 27-3 4TH QUARTER: SAN - FG, MIKE PANASUK 22 YD, 0:29. Drive: 6 plays, 16 yards in 3:39. Key plays: Cunningham 30-yard punt return to Birmingham 21. SAN FRANCISCO 30-3 SAN - FG, MIKE PANASUK 42 YD, 7:52. Drive: 5 plays, 16 yards in 3:18. Key plays: Cunningham 8-yard punt return to Birmingham 40. SAN FRANCISCO 33-3 BIR - TD, STEPFRET WILLIAMS 92 YD PASS FROM JAY BARKER (CURTIS ALEXANDER RUN FOR CONVERISON), 9:25. Drive: 3 plays, 92 yards in 1:58. Key plays: Barker 92-yard pass to Williams. SAN FRANCISCO 33-10 SAN - TD, TERRELL SUTTON 47 YD PUNT RETURN (PAT FAILED), 14:18. SAN FRANCISCO 39-10 ATT: 33,403