Orlando Rage 17 New York / New Jersey Hitmen 12

Brian Shay's game-opening 95-yard kickoff return set up a touchdown and Brian Kuklick passed for another as Orlando clinched the Eastern Division title with a 17-12 win over New York / New Jersey Hitmen.

Shay's return set up a one-yard TD run by Derrick Clark just 40 seconds into the game. Kuklick, starting for the injured Jeff Brohm, fumbled late in the first quarter and linebacker Ron Merkerson returned it 43 yards for a touchdown to cut the Hitmen's deficit to 7-6.

But the Rage extended their advantage to 14-6 with 6:11 left in the second quarter when Kuklick connected with Dialleo Burks for a 20-yard TD. Jay Taylor's 20-yard field goal on the last play of the third quarter made it 17-6.

The Hitmen got within 17-12 on a 33-yard scoring pass from Wally Richardson to Mike Archie with 5:32 remaining. They got the ball back at their own 34 with 1:46 left and got to the Orlando 46 before four straight incompletions stalled the drive and e