Chargers News: Bolts Beat Cardinals On Last Second Field Goal
Move over Nick Novak! Rookie kicker Josh Lambo (the kids are already calling him Lambogini), converted on three field goals including a 47-yard, game winner as time expired to give the San Diego Chargers a 22-19 win on Saturday. The Texas A&M product converted his first fg from 53 yards to show off his strong leg and kicked two out of four kickoffs for touchbacks.
Philip Rivers and Melvin Gordon both got the night off. Gordon was battling a minor ankle injury during the week and Coach Mike McCoy decided to rest him. No reason to risk further injury just to get him some reps, get him ready to go for the regular season. Rivers will probably play the first half in the third preseason game and that will do it for him this preseason.
Arizona Cardinal’s QB Carson Palmer hooked up with John Brown for a 17-yard TD pass to make it 6-0 in the first quarter. The snap to the holder on the extra point hit him in the head and was aborted. The Cards would add a field goal early in the second quarter to make it 9-0 before the Chargers would get on the board.
Outside linebacker Kavell Conner picked off Drew Stanton and took it down to the AZ 12 yard line. Branden Oliver punched it in from three yards out to make it a 9-6 game. Nick Novak missed the extra point and left the game because of muscle tightness, opening the door for Lambo.
As time expired in the first half Josh Lambo hit the 53-yard field goal to tie the game at 9 all.
Kellen Clemens started for the Bolts and went 9-15 for 88 yards. Third string QB Brad Sorenson went 13-25 for 122 yards and a pick. The other Chargers TD came on a Dreamius Smith 1-yard run. He led the Chargers in rush attempts (8) and yards (12).
The Chargers defense looked great sacking Cardinal QB’s six times, including two by Melvin Ingram. Donald Butler, Darius Philon, Jeremy Attaochu, and Nick Dzubnar also got in on the action.
#MelvinIngram #SupaMel #NoChance @chargers. http://t.co/rmUA4TZhAm
— Andy Gil Garcia (@AndyGil13) August 23, 2015
Newly signed runningback Chris Johnson was planning on planning but decided last minute to sit out for the Cardinals. Rookie runningback David Johnson impressed in his debut. He scampered for 66 yards on 13 carries.
Austin Pettis led the team with 4 receptions and added 30 yards. Keenan Allen had two receptions but also dropped two passes, but he’ll be fine once things get serious.
Wide receiver Dontrelle Inman left the game in the first half with a concussion, other than that the Chargers prevented getting dinged up.
The Chargers third preseason game takes place back at home in San Diego on August 29, at 5:00 pm.
Bolt up! 2-0 record in meaningless games.
Nick was born and raised in San Diego where he became a Chargers and Padres fan, attending numerous home games throughout the years with his dad. He then went on to attend college at the University of Arizona. There he earned his degree in marketing and now lives in San Francisco where he dreams of the the sunny beaches of San Diego. Bear Down.