Breakers Overtime Thriller 34-28 over St. Louis (Recap and photos)

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TODAY IN THE NJLMFL-WHERE THE LEGENDS PLAY

NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME

ST. LOUIS WOLFPACK at SAN JOSE BREAKERS

RECAP- This was an epic battle between 2 young teams fighting for a spot in the NFC Championship Game and a chance to play in Super Bowl 50. It took overtime to decide this one. The Wolfpack got things started early scoring on their first drive when RB Marion Barber ran 18 yds for a TD and a 7-0 lead. The lead didn’t last long because san Jose KR Justin Forsett ran the insuing kick back 94 yards to tie the game. Late in the first quarter San Jose DB Dennis Thurman intercepted Archie Manningat the Wolfpack 47. That led to a 29 yd TD run by Robert Newhouse and the Breakers led 14-7 after the first quarter. The teams went back and forth trading punts in the second quarter until Manning threw his second interception of the game in the form of a tipped ball that was intercepted by DL Vonnie Holliday of San Jose. This set up a Danny White to Fred Barnett 29 yd TD pass and the Breakers opened up a 21-7 lead with 2:33 left in the half. St. Louis got their offense together and scored on a Tim Hightower run from 9 yards with :31 left in the half to cut the Breakers lead to 21-14 and that’s how the half ended.

St. Louis held San Jose to a 3 and out on their 1st possession of the second half . The Wolfpack got the ball on their own 15 after the punt. Wolfpack head coach Mike Martz went to his backup QB Trent Green for the second half and he sparked the Pack driving them all the way to the Breakers 8 before the drive stalled. Kicker Phil Dawson came in to attempt a 25 yd FG but pushed the chip shot badly right and St. Louis came up empty. The Wolfpack paisd for their mistake when Breaker RB Michael Turner took the next play for an 80 yard TD run and a 28-14 lead with 7:34 left in the 3rd. The 3rd quarter would end 28-14 San Jose. The Wolfpack defense came to life forcing San Jose to successive 3 and outs. From their own 20 Trent Green found Antonio Freeman for 65 yards to the San Jose 15. Two plays later Marion Barber scored on a 2 yard run to make it 28-21 with 8:53 left in the game. St. Louis held san Jose to another 3 and out and got the ball at their own 48 following a poor punt.. Green took his time using short passes and their running game to move the ball. On a third and 7 play Green could not find a receiver but saw an opening and took of on a run and scored on a 21 yard run. Dawson’s extra point made it 28-28 with 3:18 left. On the insuing kickoff Justin Forsett fumbled and St. Louis recovered on the San Jose 34. It looked like San Jose was doomed after playing so well all afternoon. The Wolfpack were nearly in field goal range already. The veteran Green continued to use Barber and Hightower to move the ball to the 2 yard line and forcing San Jose to use 2 timeouts.On third and goal from the 2 San Jose DL Bill Pickell stopped Marion Barber for a 1 yard loss. With just :43 seconds left Phil Dawson came in to kick a 20 yard field goal which was basically an extra point. The San Jose crowd was shocked when Dawson’s kick hit the right upright and fell to the ground. Dawson missed 2 field goals from 20 and 25 yards. The Breakers had 1 timeout left and used it when White was sacked at the San Jose 42 and fumbled but Turner recovered to save another disaster. White hit Antonio Freeman to the Wolfpack 28 but with no timeouts left time expired and the game was sent to overtime.

THE OT- San Jose won the toss. Forsett returned the kick to the Breakers 48. Turner ran for 2 yards to the 50. On second down White hit Turner on a short pass to the Wolfpack 45. On third and 2 White found WR Tony Hill alone down the right side line. White’s pass was on the money and Hill had one man to beat. Hill eluded the final defender at the 10 and took it in for the game ending score. A review of the play showed that Hill did squeeze by the defender and the Breakers celebrated in the endzone with a 34-28 victory. The Breakers will play in the NFC Championship Game either at Carolina or home against Dallas. The new expansion teams are making themselves known in a hurry.

Scoring Turnovers St. Louis- 3…..San Jose- 2

St. Louis 7-7-0-14-0…28
San Jose 14-7-7-0-6…34

1st QTR
STL- Barber 18 yd run (Dawson kick)……………………………….7-0 9:53
SJ- Forsett 94 yard kickoff return (Gerela kick)……………………...7-7 9:21
SJ_ Newhouse 29 yard run (Gerela kick)…………………………….14-7 3:52

2ND QTR
SJ- Barnett 29 yard pass from White (Gerela kick)…………………..21-7 2:33
STL- Hightower 9 yd run (Dawson kick)…………………………….21-14 :31

3rd Qtr
SJ- Turner 80 yard run (Gerela kick)………………………………….28-14 7:34

4th Qtr
STL- Barber 2 yd run (Dawson kick)…………………………………28-21 8:53
STL- Green 21 yard run (Dawson kick)………………………………28-28 3:18

OT
SJ- Hill 45 yd pass from White……………………………………… .34-28 10:35

INT’s- SJ- Thurmann-1, Holliday-1, Phillips-1.

PHOTOS
1. Barber 18 yd TD
2. Newhouse 29 yd run.
3. NFL FILMS SHOT OF THE GAME- MASTERS OF DEFENSE “Hollywood and Harrison”
4. White to Barnett 29 yd TD
5. Hightower 9 yd TD
6. Turner 80 yd run.
7. Hill OT winner video review
8. Breakers celebrate victory