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SALT LAKE CITY — Snow is always a possibility in March when you’re playing football in Salt Lake City.
As the Salt Lake Stallions and Orlando Apollos were going through pre-game introductions, there was little visibility as snow blanketed Rice-Eccles Stadium #IceTheRice. The few fans who braved the cold and snow, and those viewing the NFL Network from home, could barely see the players.
But the game went on.
And it was the visiting Orlando Apollos who came out on top at the end in a 20-11 victory Saturday.
The "Florida boys" will "have something to talk about," after winning a game in a snow storm, Orlando head coach Steve Spurrier said.
“So it was a fun one, and it was a good game.”
The first half went to the kickers, who managed to make a combined three field goals to give the visiting Apollos a 6-3 lead at the break as both offenses adjusted to the blizzard on the field. But after the half, the conditions cleared and the teams managed to get things clicking.
Orlando opened up the playbook in the second half on a 45-yard pass by Garrett Gilbert to receiver Rannell Hall, who was downed at Salt Lake’s 1-yard line. The play was brought back to the 20-yard line for an illegal block penalty by Orlando’s Charles Johnson.
Two plays later, Gilbert connected with receiver Donteea Dye Jr. for a 20-yard passing touchdown — the first of the night for either team. Orlando converted on the ensuing 2-point conversion to take a 14-3 lead in the third quarter in what appeared to be an insurmountable lead given the lack of offense in the first half.
#FullSteedAhead@aafstallions
— KSL.com Sports (@KSLcomSports) March 3, 2019
(📸: Kim Raff, @AP_Sports) pic.twitter.com/YT2LS5UHAz
The Stallions would answer back on a 10-play, 75-yard drive on the following series that was capped off by a 14-yard rushing touchdown by backup running back Joel Bouagnon. Stallions quarterback Josh Woodrum connected with running back Terrell Newby for a completed 2-point try.
Orlando scored on the next series on a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Akeem Hunt, closing out an eight-play, 75-yard drive to extend their lead to 9 (20-11). The Stallions’ Henre’ Toliver stopped the ensuing 2-point try.
The Stallions had several opportunities to score in the game, but miscues in the red zone and an inability to convert on third down doomed the home team. Salt Lake finished the night going 1-of-9 on third downs, which Stallions head coach Dennis Erickson said made the difference on the night.
“It's freaking awful,” Erickson said. “You can't win games doing that.”
The Apollos fared slightly better than the Stallions on third down, going 5-of-13, to come away with the win. Orlando finished the night throwing for 240 yards on 22-of-32 passing by Gilbert.
The tide turned a bit against the Stallions in the third quarter when their starting running back Brandon Oliver suffered a groin injury and was forced to miss the rest of the game. Oliver finished the night with 71 yards on 17 carries as the team’s leading rusher.
“He played pretty well when he was in here, I thought,” Erickson said. “He's our starter now, and he's done a lot of good things, and then he got hurt.”
The Stallions will now travel to San Diego to take on the Fleet next Saturday at 6 p.m. MST at the SDCCU Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the NFL Network.
