As time expired, the Tulsa Oilers kicked a game winning field goal to beat the Jacksonville Sharks, 31-28, in the opening round of the IFL playoffs, Saturday in Jacksonville, Florida.

With the win, Tulsa’s record improved to 12-5, and they will now face the Green Bay Blizzard (14-3) in the Eastern Conference Final, on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. in Wisconsin. Green Bay defeated Orlando 73-59 in their first-round game.

Jacksonville jumped out with a quick touchdown just two plays into the game. Sammy Edwards broke free for a 27-yard rushing touchdown to give the Sharks a 7-0 lead.

Tulsa answered on its ensuing possession, with TJ Edwards II finding Ketron Jackson Jr. on a 4-yard slant route just inside the goal line to tie the game at 7-7 with 8:28 remaining in the first quarter. Edwards II surpassed 4,000 passing yards in his Oilers career and recorded his 100th passing touchdown as an Oiler on the drive.

On the Sharks next possession, they put together another quick scoring drive of only three plays capped by a four-yard touchdown run from Jimmie Robinson Jr. to reclaim a 14-7 lead with 6:18 left in the opening quarter.

Both defenses settled down and both teams came up empty on field goal attempts in the second quarter. The Sharks finally broke through in the closing seconds of the half, as Robinson Jr. rushed in from three yards out with eight seconds remaining to extend Jacksonville’s lead to 20-7 after Tulsa’s John McMullen blocked the extra point. Tulsa fumbled the ball on the ensuing kickoff, and Jacksonville had another opportunity to attempt a field goal, but McMullen came through again, blocking a field goal attempt to keep the deficit at 13 points heading into the locker room.

Tulsa came out of halftime with resolve, as the team needed just two plays to find the endzone, as Edwards powered in from one yard out to trim the deficit to 20-14 with 12:56 remaining in the third quarter. After forcing a defensive stop, the Oilers took their first lead of the night when Caleb Ramseur scored on a 3-yard rushing touchdown, giving Tulsa a 21-20 advantage.

Jacksonville answered with another touchdown and added a deuce to move back in front, 28-21, despite McMullen blocking his third kick of the night and second extra point attempt.

Tulsa continued to battle, overcoming a costly fumble by Edwards at the Jacksonville goal line. With less than a minute remaining, Edwards capped a late drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game at 28-28.

On the ensuing kickoff, Axel Perez’s squib kick took a favorable bounce off a Jacksonville player and into the hands of Tulsa’s Trenilyas Tatum, giving the Oilers possession with 52 seconds remaining. Tulsa quickly moved into scoring position, setting up Perez for a 21-yard field goal attempt as time expired. Perez’s kick was good, giving the Oilers the victory.