Arena Fan
03-31-2008, 10:36 AM
Guard falls short in home opener
By Brad Crawford
The Augusta Colts spoiled the Fayetteville Guard’s American Indoor Football Association home opener Sunday, winning 47-36 at the Crown Coliseum behind three rushing touchdowns from the Colts’ Jonathan Mathis and a pair from quarterback Anthony Young.
With just 59 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and trailing 41-36, Fayetteville’s onside kick attempt — after a Daryl Bright touchdown reception from Earl Harvey — was unsuccessful as Augusta recovered at the Guard 10-yard line.
Mathis scored his third rushing touchdown of the game just three plays later for Augusta to seal the victory.
“We have to learn to play every down,” Guard head coach Reggie Pinkney said. “I’m proud of the way our guys practiced this week and played today, but we have to play every down and limit our mistakes.”
Augusta (2-1), playing in its inaugural season under coach Bubba Diggs, forced six fumbles, with the most important turnover coming with just over five minutes remaining in the first half.
Trailing 19-12 with 5:04 to play in the second quarter, Guard quarterback Jasun Thompson was sacked from behind by the Colts’ Ralph Scott, fumbling the football at Fayetteville’s own 10-yard line.
Young cashed in the Guard’s fourth lost fumble of the game one play later with a touchdown run that gave his team a 25-12 lead.
“Our wins will come. We just have to keep working hard and getting better,” Pinkney said. “I thought we did some positive things in the second half and have something to build on now, but we need to play more consistent.”
The Guard (0-2) responded on its second possession of the third quarter when Thompson connected with Daryl Bright for a 23-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone. The pair hooked up again on the short two-point conversion attempt to pull back within seven at 27-20.
Defensive end Joe Morrison helped the Guard out to a quick two-touchdown lead at 12-0 in the first quarter after scooping up a Mitch Locke fumble and returning it 25 yards for the score.
Morrison seemed to be the only player on the field that thought the play had not been blown dead by an official, as he walked untouched into the end zone.
Fayetteville’s J.R. Hair, a local product from Cape Fear High School and former player for Greensboro College, anchored the Guard secondary against the Colts with six pass deflections, three tackles, and a pair of vicious hits on Augusta receivers.
“We made a run in the fourth quarter, and I thought we had a chance of winning after Quincy’s (Malloy) safety,” Hair said. “We need to focus on next week now and try to get a win.”
Hair says he is still learning the transition as a cornerback from the collegiate level to a safety in the fast-paced indoor game.
“We didn’t have any of this fast-motion before the snap in Greensboro,” Hair said. “I like covering a player who is stationary, that way all I have to do is back-pedal. I just need to stay disciplined to get a good grasp of coverage in arena football.”
By Brad Crawford
The Augusta Colts spoiled the Fayetteville Guard’s American Indoor Football Association home opener Sunday, winning 47-36 at the Crown Coliseum behind three rushing touchdowns from the Colts’ Jonathan Mathis and a pair from quarterback Anthony Young.
With just 59 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and trailing 41-36, Fayetteville’s onside kick attempt — after a Daryl Bright touchdown reception from Earl Harvey — was unsuccessful as Augusta recovered at the Guard 10-yard line.
Mathis scored his third rushing touchdown of the game just three plays later for Augusta to seal the victory.
“We have to learn to play every down,” Guard head coach Reggie Pinkney said. “I’m proud of the way our guys practiced this week and played today, but we have to play every down and limit our mistakes.”
Augusta (2-1), playing in its inaugural season under coach Bubba Diggs, forced six fumbles, with the most important turnover coming with just over five minutes remaining in the first half.
Trailing 19-12 with 5:04 to play in the second quarter, Guard quarterback Jasun Thompson was sacked from behind by the Colts’ Ralph Scott, fumbling the football at Fayetteville’s own 10-yard line.
Young cashed in the Guard’s fourth lost fumble of the game one play later with a touchdown run that gave his team a 25-12 lead.
“Our wins will come. We just have to keep working hard and getting better,” Pinkney said. “I thought we did some positive things in the second half and have something to build on now, but we need to play more consistent.”
The Guard (0-2) responded on its second possession of the third quarter when Thompson connected with Daryl Bright for a 23-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone. The pair hooked up again on the short two-point conversion attempt to pull back within seven at 27-20.
Defensive end Joe Morrison helped the Guard out to a quick two-touchdown lead at 12-0 in the first quarter after scooping up a Mitch Locke fumble and returning it 25 yards for the score.
Morrison seemed to be the only player on the field that thought the play had not been blown dead by an official, as he walked untouched into the end zone.
Fayetteville’s J.R. Hair, a local product from Cape Fear High School and former player for Greensboro College, anchored the Guard secondary against the Colts with six pass deflections, three tackles, and a pair of vicious hits on Augusta receivers.
“We made a run in the fourth quarter, and I thought we had a chance of winning after Quincy’s (Malloy) safety,” Hair said. “We need to focus on next week now and try to get a win.”
Hair says he is still learning the transition as a cornerback from the collegiate level to a safety in the fast-paced indoor game.
“We didn’t have any of this fast-motion before the snap in Greensboro,” Hair said. “I like covering a player who is stationary, that way all I have to do is back-pedal. I just need to stay disciplined to get a good grasp of coverage in arena football.”