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Lightning clinch first postseason berth in team history

July 12, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - DB Mervin Brookins Jr. recorded an arenafootball2 record-tying five interceptions and ran two back for touchdowns to help the Stockton Lightning (5-9) clinch their first National Conference wild card berth in franchise history, defeating the Central Valley Coyotes 57-31 before 3,802 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday in Week 16 of af2 play.

The Lightning advanced to ArenaCup postseason play with some help, as Corpus Christi was bounced from postseason contention with a 57-47 loss to Arkansas while the Boise Burn eliminated the Tri-Cities Fever in a 63-21 rout. The Lightning win officially sealed the playoff picture for the top eight teams with two weeks remaining in the regular season schedule.

"We got massive pressure on the quarterback," said Lightning head coach Chad Carlson. "Mervin had soft hands and was one half of what the defense was producing tonight. I didn't set my mind on the playoffs before tonight - I set my mind on beating a good rival. But congratulations to our franchise - it's an awesome thing for the city of Stockton. We need to keep going though and not just be satisfied with tonight's mark."

Brookins' record setting night, coming a month after he was assigned by the Lightning as a free agent, tied the league record shared by Alvin Ray Jackson of Albany, set earlier this year against Mahoning Valley. Brookins notched ADT Defensive Player of the Game, JLS Ironman of the Game and Cutters Catch of the Game honors which included a 54-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter.

"I wasn't even aware that it was a record until after the game," said Brookins. "The key was practice. Intensity of practice this week was at an all-time high. Our coaches stress technique and angles. We had to stay focused; as long as our defensive backs play angles correctly and play their technique, it comes down to playing the ball.."

In total, Stockton forced Central Valley into coughing up the football six consecutive times which induced a 29-0 run for the Lightning.

Central Valley drew first blood on a 16-yard touchdown pass from QB Ryan Porter to John Roberson with 9:12 left in the first quarter before the Lightning roared back with a 29-0 blitz which spanned two quarters. QB Chad Cavender threw two 19 and 11 yard touchdown passes to Brandon Horace and Troy McBroom to help Stockton assume a 13-7 lead after one quarter.

Following FB Peter Tuialuuluu's one-yard blast and Stephen Irvine's 19-yard field goal, Brookins sent the Stockton Arena crowd into delirium with the game's highlight play, nabbing Porter's bomb down the left sideline in the end zone and eluding a series of Coyote tacklers for the 54-yard return, hiking the Lightning lead to 29-7.

Central Valley made the Lightning sweat with a goal-line stand at the end of the first half and followed with Porter's three-yard TD bullet to former Lightning receiver Phil Goodman which cut the Lightning edge to 29-14 with 7:54 left in the first half.

McBroom's 35-yard touchdown bomb from Cavender and Maurice Holmes' 17-yard TD interception return off backup QB Joe Taula helped the Lightning answer with a 43-14 led with 3:24 remaining in the third quarter. Taula, who stepped in for Porter after leaving the game with a foot injury, connected with Roberson on a 27-yard touchdown missile with 2:07 left to cut the Lightning lead 43-21.

Taula found LaMonte Jones on a eight yard touchdown lob with 9:59 left in the game to help the Coyotes slash the deficit to 43-28 but the Lightning jettisoned any Coyotes rally hopes on the ensuing series.

Cavender found Horace on a 44-yard bomb with 7:30 left and Brookins followed with his af2 record-tying fifth pick of the game and 28-yard touchdown return with 5:11 left, putting the Lightning ahead 57-28.

Kyle Hooper wrapped up the scoring with a 38-yard field goal for Central Valley with 1:11 left.

The Lightning, who were led in the absence of WR Etu Molden with Horace's seven receptions and 122 receiving yards, eliminated the Coyotes from postseason contention for the first time since 2005, breaking a three-year postseason run.

Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score

Central Valley Coyotes (3-11) 7 0 14 10 31

Stockton Lightning (5-9) 13 16 14 14 57

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: Brandon Horace (Stockton)

Aaron's Defensive Player of the Game: Mervin Brookins Jr. (Stockton)

JLS Ironman of the Game: Mervin Brookins Jr. (Stockton)

The Big Catch of the Game: Mervin Brookins Jr. (Stockton) - 2nd quarter interception, touchdown

Nifty Big Hit of the Game: Steve Allen (Central Valley)

Attendance: 3,802

The Lightning head back on the road for Week 17, facing the host Amarillo Dusters at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 18 at Amarillo Civic Center. The game can be heard and viewed online, free-of-charge, courtesy of Nifty Online TV at www.niftytv.com/af2.

Season tickets for the 2010 Lightning regular season and group tickets and individual tickets for the 2009 regular season are on sale now. For more information on season tickets, merchandise, or other information, please call the Lightning at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonlightning.com.



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