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Ben Mauk completed 18 of 28 passes for 201 yards and six touchdowns as the Cincinnati Commandos cruised into the CIFL Championship Game with a 48-24 win against the Miami Valley Silverbacks Friday night at the Cincinnati Gardens.

Cincinnati took advantage of Miami Valley mistakes to build a 21-0 first quarter lead, and the Silverbacks could never pull closer than 16 points thereafter.  After Cincinnati scored on the opening possession of the game, James Spikes recovered a botched snap on Miami Valley’s first play from scrimmage and Ray Jackson scored one play later to make it 13-0.  A mishandled snap on a field goal attempt by Miami Valley set up a 1-yard touchdown from Mauk to Johnny Long to push Cincinnati’s advantage to three touchdowns.

Even without leading receiver Dominick Goodman, who is now playing in Germany with the Dresden Monarchs, and leading rusher Greg Moore, who had a UFL tryout, the Commandos managed to roll up 256 yards of offense, with Brandon Boehm, Robert Redd, and Long all hauling in a pair of touchdown passes.

Chris Stanford completed 9 of 18 passes for 89 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 48 yards and a score in his first professional start in place of injured Silverbacks quarterback Kyenes Mincy.

The Commandos will host the winner of Saturday’s Fort Wayne FireHawks at Wisconsin Wolfpack semifinal in the CIFL Championship  Game at the Cincinnati Gardens next Saturday, July 26.