Wild Card Playoff Games, 2027

played in Champaign, IL

41 degrees, rain, 13 mph wind

Denver Death	0	7	0	10	-	17
Champaign Thunder	7	3	14	7	-	31

Scoring Summary
1Q: 03:53 CHM - R.J. Einard 5 run (Daryl Riley extra point)
2Q: 07:55 DEN - Winston Hodgson 17 pass from Cory Sanders (Jimmy O'Neill extra point)
2Q: 00:07 CHM - Daryl Riley 18 field goal
3Q: 10:03 CHM - Jeffrey Donovan 1 run (Daryl Riley extra point)
3Q: 02:57 CHM - Bennie Sandlin 9 pass from Roosevelt Cardinell (Daryl Riley extra point)
4Q: 14:09 DEN - Jimmy O'Neill 36 field goal
4Q: 11:25 CHM - Bennie Sandlin 17 pass from Roosevelt Cardinell (Daryl Riley extra point)
4Q: 04:23 DEN - Rondell Farley 1 pass from Billy Cowsette (Jimmy O'Neill extra point)

Scoring Summary
1Q: 03:53 CHM - R.J. Einard 5 run (Daryl Riley extra point)
2Q: 07:55 DEN - Winston Hodgson 17 pass from Cory Sanders (Jimmy O'Neill extra point)
2Q: 00:07 CHM - Daryl Riley 18 field goal
3Q: 10:03 CHM - Jeffrey Donovan 1 run (Daryl Riley extra point)
3Q: 02:57 CHM - Bennie Sandlin 9 pass from Roosevelt Cardinell (Daryl Riley extra point)
4Q: 14:09 DEN - Jimmy O'Neill 36 field goal
4Q: 11:25 CHM - Bennie Sandlin 17 pass from Roosevelt Cardinell (Daryl Riley extra point)
4Q: 04:23 DEN - Rondell Farley 1 pass from Billy Cowsette (Jimmy O'Neill extra point)

Team Statistics DEN CHM
Record 11-6 13-4
First Downs 19 27
- by Rushing 2 6
- by Passing 13 19
- by Penalty 4 2
Total Net Yards 352 454
- Offensive Plays 68 64
- Yards per Play 5.18 7.09
Net Rushing Yards 129 111
- Rushing Attempts 32 34
- Yards per Rush 4.03 3.26
Net Passing Yards 223 343
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt 33 - 19 - 0 30 - 22 - 0
- Gross Passing Yards 239 343
- Sacks/Yards Lost 3/16 0/0
- Yards per Pass Play 6.19 11.43
Fumbles/Lost 1/1 2/2
3rd Down Conversions 6/16 8/13
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down 8.0 5.2
4th Down Conversions 2/3 0/0
Penalties/Yards 9/82 6/35
Punt Returns/Yards 1/10 2/16
Kick Returns/Yards 1/20 3/91
Interception Ret./Yards 0/0 0/0
2pt Conversions 0/0 0/0
Red Zone Visits 4 6
- Red Zone TDs/FGs 2/1 3/1
Avg. Drive Start OWN 25 OWN 35
Time of Possession 29:30 30:30

Team Statistics	DEN	CHM
Record	11-6	13-4
First Downs	19	27
- by Rushing	2	6
- by Passing	13	19
- by Penalty	4	2
Total Net Yards	352	454
- Offensive Plays	68	64
- Yards per Play	5.18	7.09
Net Rushing Yards	129	111
- Rushing Attempts	32	34
- Yards per Rush	4.03	3.26
Net Passing Yards	223	343
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt	33 - 19 - 0	30 - 22 - 0
- Gross Passing Yards	239	343
- Sacks/Yards Lost	3/16	0/0
- Yards per Pass Play	6.19	11.43
Fumbles/Lost	1/1	2/2
3rd Down Conversions	6/16	8/13
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down	8.0	5.2
4th Down Conversions	2/3	0/0
Penalties/Yards	9/82	6/35
Punt Returns/Yards	1/10	2/16
Kick Returns/Yards	1/20	3/91
Interception Ret./Yards	0/0	0/0
2pt Conversions	0/0	0/0
Red Zone Visits	4	6
- Red Zone TDs/FGs	2/1	3/1
Avg. Drive Start	OWN 25	OWN 35
Time of Possession	29:30	30:30

Drive Charts

Denver Death
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	11:31	2:47	OWN 27	4	11	Punt
1	3:43	3:43	OWN 27	5	10	Punt
2	11:31	3:44	OWN 20	9	80	Touchdown
2	5:57	2:43	OWN 23	5	6	Punt
2	1:50	0:33	OPP 27	3	-10	Missed FG
2	0:02	0:02	OWN 20	1	-2	Half
3	15:00	1:50	OWN 20	4	16	Punt
3	9:55	1:09	OWN 20	3	9	Punt
3	2:47	3:43	OWN 8	6	73	Field Goal
4	11:33	0:08	OWN 20	1	2	Fumble
4	11:19	7:05	OWN 20	17	80	Touchdown
4	2:20	2:04	OWN 27	10	52	Downs

Champaign Thunder
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	15:00	3:29	OWN 38	5	42	Missed FG
1	8:44	5:01	OWN 29	10	71	Touchdown
2	15:00	3:29	OWN 25	7	25	Punt
2	7:47	1:50	OWN 42	6	42	Missed FG
2	3:14	1:24	OWN 32	3	11	Fumble
2	1:17	1:15	OWN 44	6	55	Field Goal
3	13:10	3:15	OWN 19	8	81	Touchdown
3	8:46	5:59	OWN 19	11	81	Touchdown
4	14:04	2:31	OWN 20	5	22	Punt
4	11:25	0:06	OPP 17	1	17	Touchdown
4	4:14	1:54	OWN 49	3	24	Fumble
4	0:16	0:16	OWN 21	1	-2	Game

Game MVP: Roosevelt Cardinell, Champaign Thunder

Rushing Statistics

Denver	Att	Yards	Avg	LG	10+
Rondell Farley	13	28	2.15	10	1
Randal Heintz	9	76	8.44	57	1
Cory Sanders	8	20	2.50	4	0
Jamal Kelley	1	4	4.00	4	0
Otis Canada	1	1	1.00	1	0

Champaign	Att	Yards	Avg	LG	10+	TD
R.J. Einard	24	83	3.46	10	2	1
Roosevelt Cardinell	5	16	3.20	7	0	0
Jeffrey Donovan	5	12	2.40	6	0	1

Passing Statistics

Denver	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	TD	LG	Int	Rate
Cory Sanders	20	11	161	2/11	1	46	0	98.1
Billy Cowsette	13	8	78	1/5	1	19	0	104.0

Champaign	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	TD	LG	Int	Rate
Roosevelt Cardinell	30	22	343	0/0	2	44	0	133.0

Receiving Statistics

Denver	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG	TD
WR Winston Hodgson	7	8	101	14.43	17	21	1
WR Omar Jacobs	4	8	82	20.50	23	46	0
RB Rondell Farley	3	5	19	6.33	1	15	1
TE Mercury Hibbs	2	3	26	13.00	12	14	0
WR Junior Krykhtine	2	3	8	4.00	0	5	0
FB Jamal Kelley	1	1	3	3.00	2	3	0
TE Les Cortez	0	1	0	0.00	0	0	0
WR Damon Stone	0	1	0	0.00	0	0	0
RB Randal Heintz	0	1	0	0.00	0	0	0
TE Percy Mueller	0	2	0	0.00	0	0	0

Champaign	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG	TD
WR C.J. Emmons	6	8	52	8.67	20	12	0
WR Bennie Sandlin	5	7	91	18.20	46	44	2
TE Fred Lohr	4	6	53	13.25	25	20	0
WR Gerald Battle	2	3	29	14.50	13	15	0
TE Sedrick Blunt	2	2	40	20.00	4	22	0
WR Butch Bostic	1	2	22	22.00	11	22	0
RB R.J. Einard	1	1	33	33.00	26	33	0
TE Malcolm McReynolds	1	1	23	23.00	3	23	0

Interception Statistics

Denver	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD

Champaign	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD

Fumble Statistics

Denver	Fumb	Recov	Force
Rondell Farley	1	0	0
Carlos Roland	0	1	1
David Grillo	0	1	0
Terry Desjardins	0	0	1

Champaign	Fumb	Recov	Force
R.J. Einard	2	0	0
Heath Warren	0	1	0
Kyle Jeffries	0	0	1

Punting Statistics

Denver	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20
Gabe Farley	5	223	44.6	41.4	52	2

Champaign	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20
Brandon Baxter	2	98	49.0	34.0	50	1

Kicking Statistics

Denver	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
Jimmy O'Neill	1/2	0/1	0/1	36	2/2

Champaign	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
Daryl Riley	1/3	0/0	0/0	18	4/4

Punt Return Statistics

Denver	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Winston Hodgson	1	10	10.0	0

Champaign	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Emmitt Alexander	2	16	8.0	0

Kick Return Statistics

Denver	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Rondell Farley	1	20	20.0	0

Champaign	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Emmitt Alexander	2	57	28.5	0
Gary Zytniak	1	34	34.0	0

Defensive Statistics

Denver	Tack	Asst	Sack	RPlay	PPlay
S Rico Byrum	7	0	0.0	26	22
ILB Carlos Roland	6	4	0.0	32	24
S Kennedy McWilliams	5	0	0.0	25	23
ILB Clifton Dzwonczyk	4	1	0.0	15	10
CB Sam Hastings	4	1	0.0	11	11
ILB Alan Cooley	4	0	0.0	21	17
OLB Lee Fountaine	3	1	0.0	23	23
CB Rufus DeWoody	3	1	0.0	20	16
CB Cary Chustz	2	2	0.0	19	19
DE Michael Lincoln	2	1	0.0	15	16
DE Terry Desjardins	2	1	0.0	24	20
S Matthew Erwin	1	2	0.0	8	9
CB Mario Cochrane	1	2	0.0	23	19
CB Raymond Gora	1	1	0.0	4	8
DT Nolan Grunow	1	1	0.0	16	21
OLB Eric Staple	1	1	0.0	25	23
DE David Grillo	1	0	0.0	29	22
WR Winston Hodgson	1	0	---	---	---
ILB K.C. Cuviello	1	0	0.0	11	9
DT Hugh O'Donnell	1	0	0.0	21	11

Champaign	Tack	Asst	Sack	RPlay	PPlay
OLB Tom Meier	10	2	0.0	24	28
OLB Kyle Jeffries	6	3	0.0	31	33
OLB Jared Shimada	5	2	0.0	27	28
DE Heath Warren	4	1	2.5	30	36
S Rod Rockett	4	3	0.0	28	27
CB Gary Zytniak	4	2	0.0	20	21
DE Ben Banks	3	0	0.0	31	33
DT Dana Wanat	3	0	0.0	10	12
CB Emmitt Alexander	3	0	0.0	29	28
DT Kelvin Mealey	2	2	0.5	29	33
CB Carlos Hines	2	1	0.0	26	32
S Percy Dodge	2	1	0.0	25	30
OLB Ellis Pomeroy	2	1	0.0	8	11
DT Rich Westbrook	1	2	0.0	23	27
C Butch Athanas	1	0	---	---	---

Pass Rush Statistics

Denver	Sack	Block	Hurry	Knock	PPlay
DE Michael Lincoln	0.0	1	1	0	16

Champaign	Sack	Block	Hurry	Knock	PPlay
DE Heath Warren	2.5	0	1	1	36
DT Kelvin Mealey	0.5	2	1	1	33
DT Rich Westbrook	0.0	0	4	1	27
DE Ben Banks	0.0	0	1	1	33

Pass Defense Statistics

Denver	Caught	Defnsd	PPlay
CB Sam Hastings	4	0	11
CB Rufus DeWoody	4	0	16
CB Cary Chustz	3	0	19
S Rico Byrum	2	0	22
ILB Alan Cooley	2	0	17
S Kennedy McWilliams	2	0	23
OLB Eric Staple	1	1	23
CB Raymond Gora	1	0	8
ILB Clifton Dzwonczyk	1	0	10
OLB Lee Fountaine	1	0	23
ILB Carlos Roland	1	0	24
CB Mario Cochrane	0	1	19

Champaign	Caught	Defnsd	PPlay
S Rod Rockett	3	0	27
OLB Tom Meier	3	0	28
CB Emmitt Alexander	2	1	28
CB Carlos Hines	2	0	32
CB Gary Zytniak	2	0	21
OLB Jared Shimada	1	1	28
DE Ben Banks	1	0	33
S Percy Dodge	1	0	30
DT Dana Wanat	1	0	12
OLB Kyle Jeffries	1	0	33
CB Horace Nelson	1	0	8
OLB Ellis Pomeroy	1	0	11

Blocking Statistics

Denver	KeyBl	BlOpp	RPly	SckA	PPly
D.J. Peterson	1	3	16	2	19
Richard Tatum	1	3	26	0	33
Irving Gossett	1	1	20	0	28
Leland Conlan	0	6	23	1	22
Corwin Yates	0	3	27	0	30
Wendell Bleeck	0	3	28	0	27
Kyle Horn	0	2	14	0	18
Percy Mueller	0	2	21	0	13
Horace Adams	0	1	6	0	3
Jamal Kelley	0	1	13	0	18

Champaign	KeyBl	BlOpp	Panc	RPly	PPly
Mitch Howe	2	7	1	32	28
R.J. Oliver	2	4	0	26	25
Butch Athanas	1	5	0	32	29
Martin Rhodes	1	3	0	25	26
Leslie Kalu	1	2	0	29	26
Morris Gordon	1	2	0	23	10
Quentin King	0	4	0	11	6
Malcolm McReynolds	0	2	0	25	16
Fred Lohr	0	1	0	32	28

Special Teams Tackles

Denver	Tackles	STPlays
Clifton Dzwonczyk	2	19
Les Cortez	1	17
Raymond Gora	1	17
Jamal Kelley	1	9

Champaign	Tackles	STPlays
Carlos Hines	1	15
Malcolm McReynolds	1	13

Participation

Denver	RPlyOff	PPlyOff	RPlyDef	PPlyDef	STPly	Total Plays
Corwin Yates	27	30	---	---	7	64
Wendell Bleeck	28	27	---	---	7	62
Kennedy McWilliams	---	---	25	23	12	60
Carlos Roland	---	---	32	24	3	59
Richard Tatum	26	33	---	---	---	59
Omar Jacobs	25	30	---	---	1	56
Cory Sanders	32	22	---	---	---	54
David Grillo	---	---	29	22	2	53
Irving Gossett	20	28	---	---	5	53
Winston Hodgson	18	21	---	---	14	53
Rico Byrum	---	---	26	22	4	52
Leland Conlan	23	22	---	---	7	52
Lee Fountaine	---	---	23	23	4	50
Eric Staple	---	---	25	23	2	50
Rondell Farley	19	21	---	---	7	47
Terry Desjardins	---	---	24	20	2	46
Clifton Dzwonczyk	---	---	15	10	19	44
Mario Cochrane	---	---	23	19	2	44
Mercury Hibbs	12	22	---	---	9	43
Cary Chustz	---	---	19	19	3	41
Jamal Kelley	13	18	---	---	9	40
Les Cortez	10	12	---	---	17	39
Alan Cooley	---	---	21	17	1	39
Nolan Grunow	---	---	16	21	1	38
Rufus DeWoody	---	---	20	16	2	38
Hugh O'Donnell	---	---	21	11	5	37
Otis Canada	9	8	---	---	19	36
D.J. Peterson	16	19	---	---	---	35
Junior Krykhtine	13	14	---	---	8	35
Michael Lincoln	---	---	15	16	3	34
Kyle Horn	14	18	---	---	2	34
Percy Mueller	21	13	---	---	---	34
K.C. Cuviello	---	---	11	9	10	30
Raymond Gora	---	---	4	8	17	29
Sam Hastings	---	---	11	11	5	27
Damon Stone	8	10	---	---	9	27
Randal Heintz	11	10	---	---	---	21
Matthew Erwin	---	---	8	9	1	18
Horace Adams	6	3	---	---	7	16
Roman Coffey	---	---	6	7	3	16
Billy Cowsette	0	14	---	---	---	14
Gabe Farley	0	0	---	---	7	7
Jimmy O'Neill	0	0	---	---	6	6
J.J. Ondes	1	1	---	---	---	2
Alan Davison	---	---	0	0	---	0
Unknown	0	0	---	---	---	0

Champaign	RPlyOff	PPlyOff	RPlyDef	PPlyDef	STPly	Total Plays
Carlos Hines	---	---	26	32	15	73
Heath Warren	---	---	30	36	7	73
Ben Banks	---	---	31	33	3	67
Kelvin Mealey	---	---	29	33	5	67
Emmitt Alexander	---	---	29	28	10	67
Kyle Jeffries	---	---	31	33	2	66
Mitch Howe	32	28	---	---	5	65
Roosevelt Cardinell	34	30	---	---	---	64
Fred Lohr	32	28	---	---	3	63
Butch Athanas	32	29	---	---	---	61
Rod Rockett	---	---	28	27	3	58
Percy Dodge	---	---	25	30	2	57
Jared Shimada	---	---	27	28	2	57
Leslie Kalu	29	26	---	---	---	55
Malcolm McReynolds	25	16	---	---	13	54
Tom Meier	---	---	24	28	1	53
C.J. Emmons	26	25	---	---	1	52
Gary Zytniak	---	---	20	21	11	52
R.J. Einard	27	25	---	---	---	52
Martin Rhodes	25	26	---	---	---	51
R.J. Oliver	26	25	---	---	---	51
Rich Westbrook	---	---	23	27	1	51
Morris Gordon	23	10	---	---	12	45
Bennie Sandlin	14	16	---	---	13	43
Horace Nelson	---	---	3	8	19	30
Sedrick Blunt	8	6	---	---	15	29
Melvin Farmer	13	9	---	---	5	27
Al Prior	---	---	3	4	20	27
Ellis Pomeroy	---	---	8	11	5	24
Dana Wanat	---	---	10	12	1	23
Quentin King	11	6	---	---	5	22
Gerald Battle	3	4	---	---	14	21
Joey Tutwiler	0	0	---	---	20	20
Butch Bostic	5	14	---	---	---	19
Jeffrey Donovan	7	5	---	---	---	12
Walt Borders	---	---	5	3	1	9
Daryl Riley	0	0	---	---	9	9
Chester Flannery	2	1	---	---	5	8
Brenden Jamison	0	0	---	---	5	5
Carlton Di Pietro	---	---	0	1	3	4
A.J. Palkowski	0	0	---	---	3	3
Brandon Baxter	0	0	---	---	2	2
Robbie Wooden	---	---	0	1	---	1
Kirk Nobles	0	1	---	---	---	1
Marcus Reese	---	---	0	0	1	1
Unknown	---	---	0	0	---	0

Directional Rushing Statistics

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	8	80	10.0
Middle	16	38	2.4
Right	7	13	1.9
None	1	-2	-2.0

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	9	33	3.7
Middle	16	65	4.1
Right	8	15	1.9
None	1	-2	-2.0

Detailed Passing Statistics

Denver	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
Cory Sanders	20	11	2	1	0	2	4	3	0
Billy Cowsette	13	8	0	1	1	0	3	1	0

Champaign	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
Roosevelt Cardinell	30	22	6	1	3	2	1	0	0

Directional Passing Statistics

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	4	2	6	1.5
Short (0-8 Yds)	11	7	48	4.4
Medium (9-18 Yds)	11	7	105	9.5
Long (19+ Yds)	7	3	80	11.4

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	2	2	13	6.5
Short (0-8 Yds)	17	14	229	13.5
Medium (9-18 Yds)	4	3	43	10.8
Long (19+ Yds)	7	3	58	8.3

Detailed Receiving Statistics

Denver	Targt	Caugt	Dropd	Yards	20+	PPlay
WR Omar Jacobs	8	4	0	82	1	30
WR Winston Hodgson	8	7	1	101	1	21
RB Rondell Farley	5	3	0	19	0	21
TE Mercury Hibbs	3	2	0	26	0	22
WR Junior Krykhtine	3	2	0	8	0	14
TE Percy Mueller	2	0	0	0	0	13
TE Les Cortez	1	0	0	0	0	12
FB Jamal Kelley	1	1	0	3	0	18
WR Damon Stone	1	0	0	0	0	10
RB Randal Heintz	1	0	0	0	0	10

Champaign	Targt	Caugt	Dropd	Yards	20+	PPlay
WR C.J. Emmons	8	6	1	52	0	25
WR Bennie Sandlin	7	5	0	91	1	16
TE Fred Lohr	6	4	1	53	1	28
WR Gerald Battle	3	2	1	29	0	4
WR Butch Bostic	2	1	0	22	1	14
TE Sedrick Blunt	2	2	0	40	1	6
RB R.J. Einard	1	1	0	33	1	25
TE Malcolm McReynolds	1	1	0	23	1	16

Red-Zone Rushing Statistics

Denver	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg

Champaign	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg
R.J. Einard	5	28	5.60	3.46
Jeffrey Donovan	2	1	0.50	2.40

Red-Zone Passing Statistics

Denver	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg
Cory Sanders	4	2	24	6.00	8.05
Billy Cowsette	4	2	11	2.75	6.00

Champaign	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg
Roosevelt Cardinell	7	3	43	6.14	11.43

Red-Zone Receiving Statistics

Denver	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg
WR Omar Jacobs	3	1	7	2.33	10.25
RB Rondell Farley	2	1	1	0.50	3.80
WR Winston Hodgson	2	2	27	13.50	12.63
WR Damon Stone	1	0	0	0.00	0.00

Champaign	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg
WR Bennie Sandlin	5	3	43	8.60	13.00
WR C.J. Emmons	2	0	0	0.00	6.50

Third Down Rushing Statistics

Denver	Rushes	Conversions
Cory Sanders	2	0

Champaign	Rushes	Conversions
R.J. Einard	3	2
Roosevelt Cardinell	1	0
Jeffrey Donovan	1	1

Third Down Passing Statistics

Denver	Att	Comp	Conversions
Cory Sanders	9	7	5
Billy Cowsette	3	3	1

Champaign	Att	Comp	Conversions
Roosevelt Cardinell	8	6	5

Third Down Receiving Statistics

Denver	Targ	Catch	Conversions
WR Winston Hodgson	5	5	3
TE Mercury Hibbs	3	2	2
RB Rondell Farley	2	2	1
RB Randal Heintz	1	0	0
WR Junior Krykhtine	1	1	0

Champaign	Targ	Catch	Conversions
WR Bennie Sandlin	4	2	2
TE Fred Lohr	2	2	1
WR C.J. Emmons	1	1	1
WR Gerald Battle	1	1	1

Section Attendance
Stadium 73,900 (75,000 capacity)
Upper Deck 21,800 (21,800)
End Zone 15,600 (15,600)
Mezzanine 9,000 (9,000)
Sideline Seats 13,800 (13,800)
Club Seats 8,600 (8,600)
Luxury Boxes 5,100 (6,200)

Section	Attendance
Stadium	73,900 (75,000 capacity)
Upper Deck	21,800 (21,800)
End Zone	15,600 (15,600)
Mezzanine	9,000 (9,000)
Sideline Seats	13,800 (13,800)
Club Seats	8,600 (8,600)
Luxury Boxes	5,100 (6,200)