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ANAHEIM – The LA KISS seemed to have figured out its offense Saturday night. Now they might want to work on their special teams.
The KISS committed two costly turnovers on kickoffs during the fourth quarter of their home opener, opening the door for the visiting Las Vegas Outlaws to storm from behind and win, 61-48, at Honda Center.
The KISS (0-3) had taken advantage of a turnover by the Outlaws on a kickoff return late in the third quarter to take their biggest lead of the game at 42-34 on quarterback Adrian McPherson’s fourth rushing touchdown of the game.
The Outlaws then faced third-and-15 on their ensuing drive, but Las Vegas quarterback J.J. Raterink converted on the play and then found Jomo Wilson for a 14-yard touchdown pass to pull Las Vegas back within one with 11:45 left.
The following kickoff then caromed off the goal post behind the Las Vegas end zone and Outlaws receiver Doug Williams recovered the loose ball at the L.A. 7. On the next play, Williams caught a touchdown strike from Raterink and the lead was 47-42 after the PAT clanked off the goal post.
Marcus Trice then misplayed a second straight kickoff, this time losing the grip as he tried to run out of the end zone, the Outlaws recovered at the 4 and Clinton Solomon then caught Raterink’s eighth touchdown pass of the game for a 54-42 with 7:48 left.
The KISS, which had combined for a league-low 65 points through the first two games, ended the streak of 20 consecutive points with a touchdown, but the ninth touchdown pass of the game for Raterink, this time to Wilson with 3:05 left, sealed the second straight win for the Outlaws (2-1).
Raterink, who played for the KISS last season when they finished 3-15 and last in the league in several offensive categories, finished 24 for 37 for 291 yards, nine touchdown passes and no turnovers.
McPherson, who has struggled with his accuracy during the first two games, finished 15 for 29 for 193 yards, three passing touchdowns and four rushing.
The Outlaws scored touchdowns on all four of their first-half possessions, while the KISS scored on three of four and that was the difference as Las Vegas took a 27-21 lead into the half.
The key stop for the Outlaws came after the KISS scored on a 5-yard touchdown pass to Thyron Lewis on fourth down, but another receiver was called for an illegal pick. McPherson then scrambled out of the pocket on fourth-and-goal from the 15 and netted only two yards, giving the ball back to Las Vegas.
The KISS nearly matched Las Vegas with a defensive stop of their own, but Gerald Young caught a 17-yarder on third-and-15 from the Outlaws 8 and they later converted on fourth down, setting up Wilson’s second short touchdown reception of the game for a 20-7 lead with 5:31 left in the first half
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