Bolts storm back and rally to beat Omaha, improve to 2-0

If at first you don’t succeed, try again. That was theme of the Brooklyn Bolt’s second game on Friday, October 24 as the home team led a fourth quarter rally to edge the Omaha Mammoths, 15-13 to remain an undefeated 2-0 thanks to the late game theatrics of kicker Nick Marsh.

The Bolts hit the ground running, scoring a touchdown on their first drive, thanks to an early 32-yard pass to A.C. Leanard from quarterback Kolton Browning, followed by a three-yard run to the end zone by running back Kareen Huggins with under nine minutes left in the first quarter. However, a missed extra point attempt by Marsh only gave the Bolts a 6-0 lead.

Defense took over the game until late in the second quarter, when the Mammoths scored 13 unanswered points led by quarterback Brock Jenson, who ran for 27 yards for a touchdown. Then with under a minute, Jensen struck again, this time with a 53-yard completion to wide receiver Greg Hardin, putting Omaha at Brooklyn’s one yard line. Jensen then snuck in for his second touchdown. After a missed field goal, the Bolts went into halftime trailing Omaha 13-6.

The score would remain that way until the fourth quarter. With 10 minutes remaining and the Bolts going for the touchdown at fourth-and-goal, Browning ran for six yards for the TD. With a chance to tie the game, Marsh missed the extra point yet again, leaving Omaha with a slim one-point lead.

However, momentum shifted in favor of Brooklyn. At fourth and goal with 2:50 to go, Omaha went for a 26-yard field goal that would’ve put the Mammoths up by four. However, a key block by defensive back Deron Wilson kept the Bolts within one.

During the Bolts’ final drive, Leanard once again made a big catch, this time a 50-yard throw by quarterback Corey Robinson. This set the stage for Marsh, who missed two previous extra points. This time, with 15 seconds remaining, Marsh’s 36-yard field goal attempt was good, giving Brooklyn a 15-13 victory.

“It hadn’t been a good game for me. The fans knew that. I knew it,” said Marsh. “But I had the chance to redeem myself and I was excited to get that opportunity. That’s what the XFXL is: a second chance and opportunity.”

“I was proud of my team and how we fought back,” added Bolts head coach John Bock.
“When we went to training camp this year, we talked about being a second half football team. That’s why we condition the way we do. Our team holds together in the second half whether we’re up or not and I‘m just really proud of them.”

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