(Anaheim) – San Antonio raced out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter and never trailed holding on to beat the LA KISS 72-65 Saturday night at the Honda Center. It was the final home game of the year for the KISS.
The KISS (3-14) finally got on the board in the second quarter on a Donovan “Captain” Morgan touchdown. The KISS still trailed 44-28 at halftime but fought back and forged a tie at 65 with with 25 seconds left. But San Antonio (2-15) immediately hit the game winner when Matthew Bassuener found P.J. Berry for a 34 yard touchdown pass with six ticks left to ice it.
The KISS had one last chance but J.J. Raterink was sacked in the final play. Raterink connected with Brandon Thompkins on a 34-yard score with 45 seconds left and then found Morgan on the two point conversion to tie it. Morgan had a huge night for the KISS catching 10 passes for 178 yards and four touchdowns. But the Talons quickly untied it.
The Talons jumped on the KISS early. After Robert Quiroga scored on a 21-yard pass from Bassuener, Kelvin Rodgers recovered the ensuing kick off in the endzone for a 14-0 lead. Another quick score by Holmes and a P.J. Berry one-run yard run and before the first Bon Jovi tune had been jammed it was 28-0 Talons. J.J. Raterink hit a streaking Morgan for a 24-yard touchdown to open the second for the KISS’ first score, but Holmes hauled in a touchdown pass from Bassuener on the following series for San Antone.
Raterink and Morgan hooked up again for a score to cut it to 35-14. Garrett Lindholm booted a 27 yard field goal to extend the margin to 24. Fullback Andres Vargas provided a highlight on the next series for the KISS when he turned his first career catch into an 18-yard for a touchdown to get the KISS within 38-21.
A wide open Clinton Solomon ran under a pass and danced in for the score for San Antonio but A.J. Cruz returned it back to the Talons’ 15 on the ensuing kickoff. The KISS capitalized with a TD strike from Raterink to guess who? Morgan – to make it 44-28 at the break.
The KISS rallied for two touchdowns in the third quarter on a Kenny Guiton catch and a Raterink one yard run to slice the lead to just three at 44-41. However San Antonio’s Holmes scored his third TD of the game to close out the quarter and put the Talons up 51-41 after three.
The Teams then traded scores to 65-55 when the KISS erased a ten point lead in 36 seconds on the safety and Raterink’s strikes to Thompkins and Morgan.
Cruz had the KISS in scoring position all night with eight returns for 249 yards. Raterink completed 21 of 33 for 351 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also threw two picks. Basseuener was 13 of 23 for 243 yards and six touchdowns. Holmes had a pair of scores receiving and one rushing for the Talons.
With the loss the KISS were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
“You can’t fall behind by 28 points,” said KISS Coach Bob McMillen. “We gave up a touchdown in the endzone and made several other mistakes. You can’t do that and expect to win.”
The KISS have one road game remaining with Jacksonville before the 2014 campaign officially ends and the team focuses on 2015.
“I might not even be here. They might fire me and bring in someone else. I said we would make the playoffs and have a winning record. We did neither,” McMillen said.
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