MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jim Druckenmiller threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Daryl Hobbs with 20 seconds left Saturday night to give the Memphis Maniax a 29-23 victory over the Chicago Enforcers.
The touchdown pass, Druckenmiller’s third of the night, capped a 413-yard passing performance by the Memphis quarterback. Charles Jordan caught 10 passes from Druckenmiller for 240 yards.
The victory was the first home win of the year for Memphis (3-3), while the road woes continued for Chicago (1-5), which has now lost all four of its games away from Soldier Field.
Memphis had to rely on the passing game after starting running back Rashaad Salaam went out in the first half with a bruised shoulder. Replacement Rafael Cooper injured his knee and failed to return after halftime.
The Druckenmiller-to-Hobbs scoring pass offset Chicago’s go-ahead touchdown on a 7-yard run by LeShon Johnson with two minutes to play. The score, Johnson’s second of the night, gave the Enforcers a 23-22 lead.
The teams exchanged leads throughout the night after Memphis scored on the opening drive.
Chicago led 17-15 at the half as both teams scored easily. Each punted only once in the half, and Memphis had the only turnover, a fumble at the Enforcers 1-yard line that Chicago recovered in the end zone, thwarting a Maniax scoring drive.
The difference in the first half was the Enforcers’ ability to convert their extra points.
Chicago scored on a 25-yard run by John Avery, who had 78 yards rushing on the night, and Johnson’s first touchdown, a 3-yard run. Andy Crosland hit a 38-yard field goal for Chicago in the first quarter.
The Maniax touchdowns came on Salaam’s 1-yard run on the game’s opening drive, and a 39-yard pass from Druckenmiller to Jordan on the first play of the second quarter.
Jeff Hall’s 19-yard field goal cut the Enforcers’ halftime lead to 2.
Druckenmiller’s second touchdown pass, a 6-yarder to tight end Mark Thomas, gave Memphis a 22-17 lead, setting the stage for the exchange of scores in the final two minutes.
Summary
Enforcers-Maniax, Stats
Chicago 10 7 0 6--23
Memphis 6 9 0 14--29
First Quarter
Mem--Salaam 1 run (pass failed), 10:09.
Chi--Avery 25 run (Martin pass from McDougal), 7:59.
Chi--Crosland 38 FG, 3:46.
Second Quarter
Mem--Jordan 39 pass from Druckenmiller (run failed), 14:13.
Chi--Johnson 3 run (Johnson run), 11:28.
Mem--FG Hall 19, 00:12.
Fourth Quarter
Mem--Thomas 6 pass from Druckenmiller (Morgan run), 12:50.
Chi--Johnson 7 run (run failed), 2:00.
Mem--Hobbs 26 pass from Druckenmiller (Druckenmiller pass to Hobbs), 00:20.
A--17,434.
Chi Mem
First downs 15 25
Rushes-yards 16-144 2-15
Passing 260 399
Punt Returns 1-14 2-15
Kickoff Returns 6-91 5-53
Interceptions Ret. 1-0 0-0
Comp-Att-Int 13-28-0 26-40-1
Sacked-Yards Lost 2-14 1-12
Punts 2-35.0 2-38.5
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-1
Penalties-Yards 4-35 3-15
Time of Possession 27:36 32:24
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Chicago, Avery 11-78, Johnson 3-51, McDougal 1-16, Failla 1-(minus 1).
Memphis, Druckenmiller 6-54, Salaam 8-35, Cooper 7-16, Morgan 4-9.
PASSING--Chicago, McDougal 13-28-0-272, Team 0-0-0-(minus-12). Memphis, Druckenmiller 26-40-1-413, Team 0-0-0-(minus-14).
RECEIVING--Chicago, Bailey 5-56, Lord 3-67, Avery 3-64, Leverson 2-85.
Memphis, Jordan 10-240, Hobbs 7-101, Thomas 4-42, Cooper 2-14, Morgan 2-8, Crawford 1-8.
