Li boots Clipper into China Bowl
The China Arena Football League Super Series roared into Guangzhou this past weekend, deciding playoff seedings and setting the stage for the indoor version of US gridiron to hit Shanghai for the China Bowl championship weekend on Nov 5-6.
In the most exciting game of 12 now in the books for the new indoor league, on Saturday night the Qingdao Clipper trailed the Shanghai Skywalkers for 59 minutes and 58 seconds. But the last two ticks saw the decision flip in favor of the Clipper after a historic kick that secured a 51-50 triumph.
Both teams took the field with records of 2-1, knowing a loss would eliminate them from a shot at the championship.
Shanghai, with the league’s hottest passer in Shane Austin, continued its explosive play in building a 28-20 lead at the half, but two quick strikes by the Clipper on the heels of another Shanghai major cut the margin to 35-34 late in the third quarter.
The Skywalkers went back in front by eight when Austin connected with Liu Shuai, who had seven catches for 91 yards on the night.
With just over four minutes remaining and Shanghai nursing a 49-48 lead, Clipper defender Jake Metz forced Austin into two incompletions and a sack, and Qingdao regained possession.
Starting at his own 23, quarterback Bryan Randall used two completions and a pair of handoffs to running back Jason Holman to get within range.
On fourth and goal from the six, coach Rod Miller sent out kicker Li Chaoran, who split the 9-foot-wide uprights with a 21-yard field goal to steal the victory. Li became the first Chinese player to score the winning points in a CAFL game.
On Sunday, the Guangzhou Power topped Shenzhen Naja 47-39, with Power quarterback JJ Raterink completing 17 of 28 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns to starry receiver Qiu Xunda.
The Guangzhou victory ensured Qingdao (3-1) will meet the Beijing Lions (4-0) in the inaugural China Bowl.
The Clipper hold the tiebreaker over Shanghai by virtue of their head to head victory regardless of the results of this week’s games.
Shanghai will meet GuangzhouintheNov5game between the third and fourth seeds and Shenzhen will face Dalian in the 5 vs 6 match up.