Bandits lose a heartbreaker

Renegades 47, Bandits 44

In a battle for sole possession of first place in the AIFL Southern Conference, the Bandits fell behind the Rome Renegades by 16 points in the first half. But a Chris Segaar field goal and a Robbie Jenkins to Redd Thompson touchdown pass with 3 seconds left in the half brought the Bandits within five points. They continued riding the momentum for the first 90 seconds of the third quarter, recording an interception which was turned into a 46 yard scoring strike from Jenkins to Bryan Still. After the teams exchanged the lead a couple of times, the Bandits pulled ahead by nine with 3:37 to go when Jenkins found Thompson for the duo's third touchdown. But a Marcus Brady touchdown pass and a Brady two-point run brought Rome within a point, and Danny Marshall knocked the ensuing kickoff through the uprights to tie the game. The Renegade defense stiffened, sacking Jenkins once and forcing Segaar to kick a field goal from two yards deep in his own end zone, which he hit hard enough but pulled to the right. The Renegades took over at their own 10 yard line, and with three seconds left in the game, called on Marshall, who had gone 2-for-4 kicking extra points and 1-for-5 on field goals, for the game winner. From 47 yards, Marshall's kick was true, and the Renegades escaped with a 47-44 win.

Player of the Game: Redd Thompson, who caught nine passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns. He consistently got open against Jermaine Collins, and when Jenkins wasn't under pressure from Rome's front four, Redd was an easy target.

Offensive Stars: Robbie Jenkins, with 279 passing yards and five touchdowns; Bryan Still made a diving catch and alertly got up and ran into the end zone when no defender touched him.

Defensive Stars: Bishlar Penson grabbed his fifth interception of the season; Shannon Davis intercepted a two-point pass attempt and ran it back for two Bandits points.

Other Links:	Times-Dispatch blurb
	Rome News-Tribune writeup

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