Pittsburgh Maulers earn 1st win with TD on final play
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The 2022 version of the Pittsburgh Maulers earned their first victory Sunday, and they did so in dramatic fashion.
Quarterback Vad Lee, signed off the street five days prior, threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Bailey Gaither on the final play of the game, leading the Maulers to a 21-20 victory over the Houston Gamblers.
It was the second touchdown connection between Lee and Gaither in the fourth quarter.
After the Maulers got off to an 0-4 start, they released quarterback Josh Love, who had split time with Kyle Lauletta under center, and added Lee, a 29-year-old who played at Georgia Tech and James Madison from 2012-15.
After Houston (1-4) made a field goal to take a 20-15 lead with 3:39 to play, the Maulers started a drive at their own 29. It was a methodical march. Lee completed 7 of 9 passes on the drive. Tre Walker caught four of them, the last of which set up the Maulers (1-4) with a third-and-5 from the 9-yard line with four seconds to go.
After each team took a timeout, Lee hit Gaither with a quick slant to give the Maulers a 21-20 victory.
Lee was 19 for 32 for 170 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, Lauletta also played, completing 5 of 9 passes for 51 yards. Garrett Groshek was their leading rusher with 23 yards on seven carries. He caught two passes on the game-winning drive.
Houston scored on its first possession, getting a 24-yard scoring strike from Clayton Thorson to Isaiah Zuber, so the Maulers trailed for most of the game.
Houston also scored on its first possession of the second half, a drive culminating in a 1-yard run by Thorson, to take a 17-6 advantage.
The Maulers pulled to within 17-9 on a 24-yard field goal by Ramiz Ahmed late in the third quarter. It was his third field goal of the game.
The Maulers defense made its biggest play with 7:10 left in the fourth quarter. Olive Sagapolu sacked Thorson and forced a fumble recovered by Carlo Kemp at the Houston 26.
One play later, Lee hit Gaither for a 30-yard touchdown pass to make it 17-15 with 6:26 to play.
Thorson went 11 of 24 for 165 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Gamblers. Mark Thompson ran 17 times for 80 yards.
The Maulers will face the New Orleans Breakers next Sunday at noon.