The eighth NFA Championship Game was held at Mustangs Field in Detroit, MI for the second straight year. The Detroit Mustangs won the NFA West Championship for the second consecutive year. They would defeat the Cincinnati Buckeyes a week before at home in a "Playoff Bowl" 23-21 as a result of the "Tarkington Pass". In overtime, the Buckeyes had received the ball first. After a spectacular special teams play by the Mustangs, the Buckeyes were only able to advance the ball to the 5 yard line. A holding penalty during the return, moved the ball back to the 2.5 yard line. Buckeyes QB Frank Tarkington would drop back to pass on 3rd and 11 from inside the Buckeyes end zone. His pass would strike the goal post (which was on the goal line at the time) and fall incomplete. This was ruled a safety which awarded the Mustangs 2 points and ended the game. Coming into Detroit to play the Mustangs were the Baltimore Knights who were the NFA East Champions. They also had to play a "Playoff Bowl" against the defending NFA Champions, the Boston Bluejackets. Baltimore defeated the Bluejackets in Boston 28-10. This would be Detroit's third Championship Game appearance and Baltimore's second. These two teams met in Detroit two weeks prior on December 1, 1946. The Mustangs defeated the Knights 24-21.
GAME SUMMARY
The 1946 NFA Championship was another instant classic. In the first half, Baltimore would lead 14-0 as the Baltimore defense would contain the Mustangs offense and keep them off the board until just before halftime. Just before the half, Giles Richland was able to punch the ball into the endzone for a score to cut the Knights lead in half. In the third quarter Detroit was able to tie the game on their first possession of the second half. Boston would add a field goal, which would be answered by a Mustang field goal to tie the game a 17 at the end of three quarters. Early in the final quarter of the game, Baltimore would take a 7 point lead after Roy Ambrose rushed 11 yards for a touchdown. The following possession, Detroit would only be able to score a field goal to cut the lead to 4. Neither team would be able to score until the final seconds of the game. On Detroit's final drive, they would put together a clock killing 68 yard drive. Detroit would be at the Boston 6 on a first and goal with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game. Richland would attempt two passes which would fall incomplete. On 3rd and goal, Richland was able to pass the ball to Howard Mattingly for what would become a game winning touchdown. With just 4 seconds remaining in the game, Detroit took the lead 27-24. Baltimore would not be able to return the kick for a touchdown and the game would end. Detroit had won their first NFA Championship. Giles Richland was named MVP of the game for his gutsy performance.