Times-Journal Sports Correspondent

The Montgomery Maulers moved one game closer to .500 with a 54-37 win over the Rome Renegades from Georgia in National Indoor Football League action this past weekend at Montgomery’s Garrett Coliseum.

The Maulers made their mark on the Renegade defense. With 3:10 left in the half Richard Rowe, former Southside Panther, fielded the kickoff at the three yard line and then sprinted down the sideline, shaking three Renegade defenders in his wake.

The return pushed the Maulers into the lead, 20-6.

In the second half, however the Renegades battled back and tied the game at 34-34 in the third quarter, thanks to three unanswered scores.

The Maulers are stopped on fourth and one giving the ball to a streaking Renegade offense.

The Renegades offense quickly stalled. Quarterback Bo Bartik dropped back to pass and was met by Jonathan Harrell from the Maulers. The collision resulted in Bartik coughing the ball up and it being recovered in the end zone for a touchdown, putting the Maul back on top, 41-34. Rowe returned his second kick of the night in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach for the opponents from Georgia.

The final nail in the coffin came when former Auburn quarterback Charlie Trotman connected with Mareno Philyaw, former Troy University wide receiver, with nine seconds left on the clock for the score.

So far this season Rowe has 512 return yards with his longest being 50-yards and has one touchdown.

Shiver pointed out that he has had two touchdowns called back because of penalties.

Rowe averages under 21-yards a return for the Maulers. He has also returned two field goals for 63 yards.

Rowe was one of the first players brought in by the Maulers.

Team-wise, the win puts the division in a state of turmoil.

The Maulers will be in action this Sunday, when they take on the Beaumont Drillers.

The Maulers have only a handful of games remaining on their schedule. They will play the Drillers twice and then will also have a home and home series left with the Lakeland Thunderbolts and will end their season with the Lubbock Lone Stars.