MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Backup quarterback Brian Kuklick threw for
207 yards and a touchdown, and Jay Taylor kicked a go-ahead field
goal in the fourth quarter to lead the Orlando Rage to a 21-19
victory over the Memphis Maniax on Sunday night.
The victory left the Rage (5-0) as the XFL's only undefeated
team, while Memphis (2-3) has lost all three of its home games.
Kuklick, subbing for starter Jeff Brohm who was knocked out of
the game with a concussion in the first quarter, connected with
Dialleo Burks on an 81-yard pass with 8:41 left in the third
quarter to give the Rage an 18-16 lead.
Memphis kicker Jeff Hall, who booted a 49-yard field goal with
1:50 left before halftime, added a 34-yarder with 2:15 remaining in
the third to put Memphis back in the lead.
But Taylor's 39-yarder with just more than 13 minutes left gave the
Rage the lead, and Memphis never threatened again, reaching only
the Orlando 46 the rest of the way.
Memphis led 16-12 at halftime thanks to Hall's field goal and
touchdowns from Rashaan Salaam, on a 5-yard run in the first
quarter, and Charles Jordan, on a 44-yard pass from Jim
Druckenmiller early in the second.
Salaam's touchdown came after Orlando's Derrick Clark fumbled at
the Rage 24 on the game's second play.
Orlando's first-half touchdowns came in the first quarter on a
1-yard run by Clark and a 23-yard pass from Brohm to Mario Bailey.
The latter touchdown was set up by a turnover when Salaam
fumbled at the Maniax 46.
Druckenmiller threw for 189 yards, while Salaam finished with 90
yards rushing.
The Rage, the XFL's leading rushing team, was held to 115 yards
on the ground, 23 yards below its average.
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