Renegades Hand Wichita It's First Defeat, 40-36

The Renegades were victorious Saturday night as they defeated the Wichita Wild 40-36. Kansas City evened their record to 2-2 as they inflicted the Wild’s first loss of the season.

Kansas City began the game with running back O.J. Simpson returning the opening kickoff to midfield followed two plays later with the Renegades throwing for a touchdown to give them a 7-0 lead. The Wild's ensuing drive ended with quarterback Rocky Hinds being intercepted by Rashad Washington, but the Renegades were unable to capitalize on the turnover, missing their field goal attempt wide right.

The Renegades defense continued to stymie the Wild as Wichita drove to midfield but were unable to convert on fourth down and inches. Kansas City sniffed out the quarterback sneak and stopped Hinds.

The next offensive possession for Wichita ended with a three and out deep in Wild territory leading to a Renegades kick return touchdown by Simpson. Kansas City tried to convert a two-point conversion, but Wichita defensive back Kiaree Daniels intercepted the pass and returned it to the opposite endzone providing the Wild with two points to trail the Renegades 13-2 as the first quarter came to a close.

When Wichita got the ball back their offense still could not do any damage against the stiff Kansas City defense. After a Renegades sack the Wild attempted a fake field goal but Kansas City stopped it short of the first down marker.

On the very next play Wild defensive back Chris Hemphill intercepted a Xavier Lee pass. Hinds capitalized on the miscue by eluding a stiff Renegades pass rush to find wide receiver Joe Kassanavoid open in the back left corner of the endzone for a touchdown, slicing Kansas City's lead to 13-9.

The Renegades struck back quickly, however, running in a touchdown from four yards out, extending their lead to 19-9.

On Wichita’s next drive Hinds once again found Kassanavoid. This time for a 10 yard touchdown, cutting the Kansas City lead to 19-16.

On the Renegades next drive Wild defensive back Kendrick Harper intercepted Lee. Wichita drove down to the Kansas City three yard line, but time expired before Hinds was able to stop the clock, leaving the halftime score 19-16 in favor of the Renegades.

The Wild opened the second half by driving to the Renegades five yard line, but were unable to convert on a field goal. Kansas City followed it up a few plays later with a five yard touchdown run to push their lead to 26-16 over Wichita. The Wild offense responded quickly with Hinds connecting with wide receiver Rashad Daniels for a 23 yard touchdown pass, but the Renegades hit back immediately with a kickoff return touchdown, making the score 33-23. As the third quarter drew to an end, Hinds found running back Travis Ribbing open on a swing pass for a 12 yard touchdown pass, cutting the lead to 33-30.

The back and forth scoring continued in the fourth quarter, as Kansas City extended their lead to 40-30 with a 10 yard touchdown pass. With about six minutes left in the game, Hinds ran the ball in from five yards out, but kicker Alex Fambrough missed the extra point, leaving the score at 40-36 in favor of the Renegades. Kansas City proceeded to drive down the field on their next possession, but was hampered by a five yard offensive encroachment penalty, stalling the drive and forcing them to kick the ball back to Wichita. The Renegades defense rose to the occasion as Alphonso Hodge intercepted Hinds in the endzone preserving the 40-36 victory.

Kansas City will be on the road next Friday, April 12th, in Topeka as they take on the Kansas Koyotes at the Kansas Expocentre.