Raptors down Tupelo 33-12
July 10, 2005 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Tennessee Valley Raptors defense played a starring role Saturday night - again.
After dominating last weekend in the team's first road win of the United Indoor Football season at Ohio Valley, the Raptors' defense backed that up by intercepting four passes against the Tupelo Fireants, returning two for touchdowns and posting five quarterback sacks.
The Raptors clinched a playoff berth with a 33-12 win over the Fireants.before an announced season-high crowd of 4,999 at the Von Braun Center.
"I think we got on them early with the defense and we got points on the board," said Tennessee Valley coach Dick Adams, whose team improved 6-8 overall, 5-2 at home and now gets set to close out the regular season next Saturday with a 7:30 home contest against the Omaha Beef.
Tennessee Valley opened the scoring at 12:45 in the first quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run by Kevin Galbreath. Steven Lee kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead. The touchdown was set up by Tyus Boyd's interception which gave the Raptors a first down on Tupelo's 14.
The Raptors struck again at 10:57 with Sean Hilliard's 20-yard interception return for a touchdown. Lee's kick made it 14-0.
Hilliard - the reigning UIF Defensive Player of the Week - intercepted Tupelo quarterback Matt Kohn's pass when defensive back Boyd hit the intended receiver as the ball arrived. The ball was knocked in the air and into Hilliard's hands. Hilliard ran into the end zone for the score.
"It was huge," Hilliard said. "It got momentum going."
"We just stayed on our keys, played sound defense," Boyd said of the defense's game. "Had the quarterback on the run all night. That's how you're supposed to play defense out there."
Tupelo (3-12) answered with Kohn's 3-yard touchdown run at 4:07, capping a 10-play, 34-yard drive. His two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, and the Raptors led 14-6.
Lee upped the lead to 17-6 with a season-long 47-yard field goal at 1:36.
The Raptors defense did it again at 6:11 in the second quarter with Tyrone Parsons' 40-yard interception return for a touchdown and a 23-6 halftime advantage. Lee's extra point try was blocked.
"It takes a team defense to make turnovers so I credit the whole defense," Raptors defensive lineman Fernandez Shaw said.
"Defense just turned it up another notch every week," linebacker Greg Cole said. "We just get stronger and stronger and practice harder and harder every day."
"I'd say it was a team win," Adams said.
After a scoreless third quarter, Lee's 19-yard field goal gave the Raptors a 26-6 lead at 13:12 in the fourth.
Raptors backup quarterback Ben Sankey connected with Galbreath for a 6-yard touchdown pass at 7:23. Lee's kick made it 33-6.
Tupelo finally answered at 1:48 on Terrance Charles' 10-yard touchdown run. Kohn was stopped short on a two-point conversion run.
"We give all kudos to the defense tonight," Galbreath said.
United Indoor Football Association Stories from July 10, 2005
- Raptors down Tupelo 33-12 - Tennessee Valley Raptors
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