KETTERING, OH – The Gem City Gangsters secured a 30-14 victory over the Phoenix Predators at home on November 11, improving their record to 9-2 and maintaining first place in the division. Under the guidance of head coach Kermit Thomas, the Gangsters controlled the game primarily through a strong running attack and key defensive plays.

The game began with an early interception by Gem City’s Willie Rayburn in the first quarter, setting the tone for a defensive battle. Phoenix’s Stephen McMillan converted a 44-yard field goal to put the Predators on the board first, but that was their only lead in the contest.

Phoenix stretched their lead to 6-0 with a second field goal in the second quarter by McMillan. However, the Gangsters responded quickly. Quarterback Neil Anderson connected with wide receiver Bennie Blizzard for a 62-yard touchdown pass, marking the first score for the home team. David White added the extra point, giving Gem City their first lead at 7-6.

The Gangsters’ offense continued to gain momentum as Bennie Blizzard contributed two rushing touchdowns, and fellow wide receiver Joey Belladonna added a rushing touchdown as well. Anderson finished with 170 passing yards and three total touchdowns, though he threw two interceptions.

Defensively, the Gangsters were dominant. Wilson Santiago led the charge with four sacks and forced a fumble, while Rulon Gardner added two sacks. The defense tallied a total of seven sacks and forced one fumble over the course of the game. Their efforts resulted in two interceptions, interrupting Phoenix's attempts to build sustained drives.

The Predators struggled to keep pace despite a decent passing day from quarterback Seth Fairchild, who completed 20 of 36 passes for 188 yards with one touchdown but was intercepted three times. Phoenix’s running game yielded 78 yards and one touchdown.

Special teams battles were notable for both squads, with multiple long punts and fair catches marking field position changes. Rodney Wright and Robert Thompson exchanged long punts, helping set up territorial advantages during the contest.

With this win, the Gem City Gangsters remain undefeated within the division at 4-0 and continue to lead with a 9-2 overall record. The Phoenix Predators slipped to 8-3 and second in the division. Both teams failed to convert on third downs as neither recorded any third-down conversions during the game.

The Gem City Gangsters will look to build on this victory as they prepare for next week’s matchup. The team's balanced attack and dominant pass rush were critical factors in containing a tenacious Phoenix unit.

Final statistics show the Gangsters with 39 carries for 107 yards on the ground, and 17 completions on 30 passing attempts for 170 yards. The Predators managed 20 completions on 36 attempts for 188 yards through the air, with their ground game producing 78 yards on 21 carries.

Kermit Thomas’s squad showed resilience and capitalized on key moments to control the contest from start to finish.