Adrian McPherson’s four TDs on the ground weren’t enough for a Kiss win.
By Tim Peterson
(Anaheim) – The LA KISS committed two crucial turnovers in the second half on consecutive kick off returns and went on to fall to the Las Vegas Outlaws 61-48 Saturday night at Honda Center.
The KISS trailed most of the contest but rallied in the third quarter and led 42-34 after quarterback Adrian McPherson scored on an eight-yard run. But on the ensuing kick off the ball got away from returner Marcus Trice and the Outlaws recovered. JJ Raterink, formerly of the KISS, took advantage by throwing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jomo Wilson. On the next kick off Trice fumbled and Las Vegas recovered again. This time Raterink hit Doug Williams on seven-yard strike and just like that it was 47-42 Vegas. The KISS never led again.
“Unfortunately our special teams let us down tonight. We had an eight point lead and then turned the ball over there twice. It was the difference in the game. Those are things we can control,” said KISS had coach Bob McMillen.
Former Dodger skipper Tommy Lasorda was on hand to see the Kiss take on Las Vegas.
The KISS had fallen behind early when Raterink hit Wilson on a five-yard touchdown pass on the first possession of the game and later hooked up with Gerald Young for 33 yards out for a 13-7 lead.
McPherson fired a 24-yard TD pass to DeMarco Sampson in the first quarter to tie the game at seven before the Outlaws went back up.
Las Vegas led 27-14 after Raterink connected with Terrence Campbell on a 15-yard pass late in the second quarter. It looked like that would be the score at the half. But the KISS got a reprieve when they appealed the time on the clock and were awarded another play with one second left.
McPherson scrambled out of the pocket and into the end zone as time ran out and the KISS climbed to within 27-21 at the break.
The KISS took the lead early in the third on a 13-yard strike from McPherson to Donovan “Captain” Morgan. The teams then traded scores when LA caught a break. The Outlaws fumbled the ball and the KISS fell on it at the Las Vegas eight. McPherson ran it in for his fourth rushing touchdown of the night and it was 42-34 KISS.
Then things went sideways. The two turnovers led to two Vegas strikes and the KISS never recovered.
LA scored once more on a McPherson to Morgan 29-yard pass to make it 54-48 but it was too little too late.
“I never feel we do enough offensively unless we win,” said Morgan. “We all need to get better.”
Morgan finished with six receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns. McPherson had four rushing touchdowns and three passing. He threw for 194 yards overall.
“I thought I did okay but whenever you lose you have to do better,” said McPherson. “I thought I did a pretty good job of making plays.”
For Las Vegas Raterink completed 24 of 37 for 294 yards and nine touchdowns. Yes nine! Wilson caught four of those TD passes and had seven receptions total for 69 yards. Solomon had two touchdown catches.
The KISS dropped to 0-3 on the year and will face Orlando next week. The Outlaws improved to 2-1.
LV 13 14 7 27 61
LA 7 14 21 6 48
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