After the opening kickoff, many in the crowd at the Frank Erwin Center seemed a bit confused when backup quarterback Lang Campbell marched onto the field to lead the Austin Wranglers on their first offensive possession. Making the most of the rare starting opportunity, Campbell started the game well, connecting on his first two passes and directing an opening drive that resulted in a Sedrick Robinson 4-yard touchdown run, giving the Wranglers an early 7-0 lead.

Playing aggressive defense that included a video game-type, over the wall hit by Damon Mason, the Wranglers held the Naskville Kats to a field goal on the ensuing possession. This defensive stop by the Wranglers seemed to appease the still puzzled crowd and pointed to a positive outcome for the home team. 

With Adrian McPherson sitting on the sideline because of a prior violation of team rules, Lang Campbell again stepped out with the Wranglers offensive unit. This time, however, the results were less than acceptable to the gathering of over 11,000 fans.

To the dismay of the crowd, still baffled as to why McPherson was not in the lineup, the backup quarterback proceeded to throw two interceptions over the next two drives, the first leading to a Dan Alexander rushing touchdown for the Kats, while the second was returned 16 yards for a score by Ahmad Hawkins. Both extra point attempts by Nashville were right down the middle.

With his team down 17-7 and a horde of fans on their feet screaming their displeasure, Wranglers coach Brian Partlow inserted McPherson into the lineup with a minute left in the first quarter.

Looking sharp, McPherson completed his first two passes for 30 yards, finishing off the drive by handing the ball to fan favorite Dane Krager, who punched it in from one yard out, bringing the Wranglers to within 17-14 with just over 14 minutes left in the second period.

After successfully recovering an onside kick, Nashville responded with four straight rushes by Dan Alexander.  After gaining positive yards on two of his first three attempts, Alexander made his fourth one count when he blasted through the Austin defense for his second rushing score of the night. Nashville once again led by 10 points, 24-14. 

Not to be outdone, the Wranglers came back with a rushing touchdown of their own, their third of the evening, as Chad Dukes rambled for a 2-yards touchdown with 7:04 remaining in the second quarter. The extra point by Mark Lewis brought Austin back to within 3, 24-21.

The Kats and Wranglers would go on to finish the half by twice trading touchdowns through the air. The final of which, found Adrian McPherson hitting Otis Amey from one yard out. Going into the locker room, Nashville held a 37-35 edge.

After scoring 28-second quarter points and an opening second half that saw Rob Schroeder recover a Jeff Smoker fumble for a TD on Nashville’s opening drive, the Wranglers put themselves in a position to take control during the third period. With a 42-37 lead, momentum wasn’t enough as Dan Alexander pushed the Kats back in front with his third rushing touchdown of the game, giving Nashville a 44-42 edge after the extra point.

On the third pass of the following drive, McPherson was picked of at the Nashville 6-yard line, eventually leading to a Jeff Smoker 37-yard bomb to Cornelius Bonner with just over five minutes left in the third quarter. With a 51-42 lead, Nashville was again back in control.

McPherson then ended the third quarter with a touchdown pass to Otis Amey, his second scoring grab of the night.

To begin the fourth quarter, the both offensive units once again came out firing. After Jeff Smoker again found Cornelius Bonner deep for a 45-yard play, giving the Kats a 57-49 advantage, Austin answered with a 33-yard pass from McPherson to Kevin Nickerson. After the extra point, Nashville clung to a one point advantage.

The two teams again traded touchdowns through the air before Kenny Higgins caught an 8-yard pass from Smoker with 56 seconds left, putting Nashville up 70-63. It was all the visiting team would need.

Austin had an opportunity to tie the game with under a minute to play, but Keon Raymond intercepted a McPherson pass close to the Kat’s goal line to seal the 70-63 Nashville victory.

After falling to 1-3, Austin will travel to Dallas looking for a victory to propel them back into the Southern Division race. Nashville moved to 2-2 on the season and will travel to Colorado to take on the Crush.