Hounds Take It To the Extreme 41-33

April 9, 2007 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Ohio Valley Greyhounds News Release


Trailing 33-20 headed into the fourth quarter Saturday night, things looked bleak for the Ohio Valley Greyhounds. Then they woke up. The Hounds scored 21 points in the fourth en route to their first victory of the season behind a strong running game and an opportunistic defense knocking off Bloomington 41-33.

For much of the first half the Extreme offense took advantage of the double headed attack of James Fuller and All-Time UIF rushing leader Rocky Harvey using an array of counters, crossing patterns, and straight runs giving the team 90 yard in the first two quarters. A switch at quarterback for the visitors and a pumped up Hounds D saw a much different result for the final two quarters as Bloomington would only muster 6 yards on the ground the entire second half, greatly contributing to their defeat.

Bloomington used the rushing attack to their advantage to start the game as they marched down the field on a six play, 30 yard drive that was capped off by a Tom Kudyba 4 yard plunge to give the visitors a quick 6-0 lighting. Peter Christofilakos' extra point would be blocked leaving the score at that. Ohio Valley was able to take the lead with Nick Romain going in from 11 yards out at the 4:06 mark of the first and John Wehrle making his triumphant return to WesBanco Arena by booting the PAT for a 7-6 Hounds lead. The back and forth affair would continue with Harvey rumbling in from 12 out to give the visitors lead back and this time the PAT was true for a 13-7 swing. The Silver and Blue tacked on another score minutes later with Fuller taking a 4 yard scamper to the house, but the Red Curtain Special Teams came down on Christofilakos again with another block leaving the score at 19-7 with Bloomington assuming a seemingly comfortable lead.

Ohio Valley then showed their first resurgence of the evening. Mounting a three play, 37 yard drive, the Hounds would see Freddy Ray dive over center from 1 yard out for six, and also would see the Extreme lose Dorian Pitts' services for the rest of the contest. The Texas Tech product already whistled for a personal foul on the Hounds opening drive after lying on Ray well after a tackle was whistled for two more flags after the TD and quickly shown the gate. Wehrle's kick would sail wide leaving the hounds down by six, however before the end of the half, Ray would find Darrel Dowery from two yards out for a score. Wehrle was money this time to give the home team a 20-19 lead at the break.

Coming out of the break with Steve LaFalce under center, the Extreme would basically abandon the running game, and initially it paid off as the QB found James Walton in the back of the end zone for a go ahead score, and the PAT put Ohio Valley down 26-20. After the Hounds O was unable to score again in the half, LaFalce found a wide-open Reggie Gray in the back of the end zone seemingly putting the game out of hand at 33-20 after the conversion kick. The Hounds would waste little time in the final frame though to make this one count. At the 13:47 mark Ray found Willie Austin in the back of the end zone, who made a beautiful one handed grab to close the deficit to six after Wehrle's PAT. Bloomington looked to put it out of hand on the next drive as LaFalce connected for what was seemingly a TD, but a facemask whistled on the O-Line drew the visitors back. Christofilakos was then unable to convert a 28-yard field goal, giving the Hounds all the momentum they needed. Eating up 4:21 from the clock, the Hounds capped off a nine-play 45-yard drive after the miss with Austin making another spectacular snag in the end zone from eight yards out. Wehrle hit the PAT to give the home team their final lead 34-33. Bloomington went for it all on their next play from scrimmage, but LaFalce was picked off by Durrell Preston. Ohio Valley attempted to run out the clock and on fourth and one ray faked a handoff to Romain and sneaked ahead for the clinching first down, or so it was thought. When Ray broke through the line all that was ahead of him was green and 21 yards later the martins Ferry product hit pay dirt...then he was hit by Terrill Mayberry as the visitors were flagged for their fifth unsporstmalike conduct penalty of the game. Wehrle's kick was good and after Devin Conwell picked off LaFalce on the final drive, it was all over.

The Hounds offensive attack finished with 162 yards, 59 of those by player of the game Keith Brooks who also caught three balls for 48 yards. Romain went for 54 and a score and Ray went for 49, finding pay dirt twice. Ray also went 12-22 through the air for 146 and no picks. Willie Austin made his three catches count. While he only had 22 yards, the former Wisconsin Badger had two scores and a first down. The Hounds return to action in Lexington next Sunday against the Lexington Horsemen. As always the game can be heard on AM 1600 WKKX or at www.wkkx.com.



United Indoor Football Association Stories from April 9, 2007


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