Vegas Force Defeat Colorado Rockets 32-24 in Inaugural Sunshine Bowl

The Vegas Force defeated the Colorado Rockets 32-24 on July 25 at Lee's Family Forum, closing the inaugural Sunshine Bowl with a defensive stand and a game-sealing interception.

Vegas opened the scoring when quarterback Deon Fox broke free for a 15-yard touchdown run. Colorado answered on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Roberts to Khamal Peters, tying the game at 6-6 with 5:00 remaining in the first quarter after Vegas Force #22 blocked the extra-point attempt.

Fox put the Force back in front with a 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Roberts responded for Colorado by finding open space along the sideline and racing 40 yards untouched for a touchdown. The missed extra point left the game tied again with 6:00 remaining before halftime.

Vegas reclaimed the lead when Fox connected with Dominique Atkins on a 35-yard touchdown pass down the right side. Atkins secured the ball in the back of the end zone, sending the Force into halftime with an 18-12 advantage.

Fox was injured at the end of the first half after a 30-yard run ended at the Colorado 5-yard line, but he returned to direct the Force offense in the second half.

The Force extended their lead in the third quarter. After completing passes to #5 and Jaleel Rogers during the drive, Fox pitched the ball to #5 on second down. The runner shook off a defender behind the line and reached the corner of the end zone despite taking a hard hit. The touchdown gave Vegas a 24-12 lead with 9:00 remaining in the quarter.

Colorado answered after #15 fielded a hard onside kick and advanced it to the Vegas 6-yard line. The Force defense pushed the Rockets into a fourth-and-goal situation, but a defensive pass-interference penalty gave Colorado another set of downs at the 1-yard line. Roberts then scrambled left and threw back across the field to Jason Olacio, who was open in the end zone for a touchdown. Vegas Force #27 blocked the ensuing kick, keeping the Force ahead 24-18 with 2:30 left in the third.

The fourth quarter produced the game's sharpest momentum swings. A Vegas punt rolled to approximately the Colorado 5-yard line, pinning the Rockets near their own goal line. After #5 broke up a pass intended for Blake McOmber, a bad snap resulted in a safety and extended the Force lead to 26-18.

Colorado immediately answered on the safety kick. The Vegas returner struggled to control the ball in the end zone, then fumbled as he tried to bring it out. The Rockets recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. Their extra-point attempt was no good, leaving Vegas ahead 26-24 with 6:00 remaining.

Colorado's next kickoff pinned the Force at their own 5-yard line with 4:00 to play. Vegas responded with a pressure drive. #5 gained 7 yards, Rogers moved the chains with a 5-yard run, and Fox completed a 5-yard pass to #21. With 40 seconds remaining, Fox found #5 wide open for a 35-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 32-24.

The Rockets had one final opportunity after the kickoff went out of bounds. Vegas Force #17 Tim Wright tackled Roberts on two quarterback rushes during the possession. On the final play, Roberts threw into the end zone, where Vegas Force #23 made the interception and returned it to approximately the 5-yard line before going down to secure the victory.

Fox led the Vegas offense with two rushing touchdowns and two touchdown passes. #5 scored once on the ground and once through the air, while Atkins supplied a 35-yard touchdown reception. Rogers repeatedly contributed as a runner and receiver, including a 10-yard carry to the 1-yard line that set up Fox's second touchdown.

Roberts accounted for all three of Colorado's offensive touchdowns, throwing scoring passes to Peters and Olacio and adding a 40-yard touchdown run. The Rockets also produced a special-teams touchdown on their fourth-quarter fumble recovery in the end zone.