Pittsburgh Maulers earn 1st win with TD on final play

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.