Shockwave blast Lynx
April 29, 2007 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
San Diego Shockwave News Release
San Diego coach Bob Bees expressed some concern over how Los Angeles would respond after the 47 point drubbing his Shockwave put on the Lynx in the season opener and inaugural game for both teams at Cox Arena last month.
"They were less experienced than we were - they hadn't practiced together as much as we had," Bees commented before the game of the Shockwave's dominance of LA. "I expected a much closer game this time."
Much closer? The Shockwave jumped to a quick 27 - 0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, putting it in cruise control to annihilate the Los Angeles Lynx 61 - 6 before 2,733 fans at the Lynx's home field at the City of Industry Expo Center. In two games so far this season, the Shockwave have outscored the Lynx, 117 - 15.
"They're a good team and I expected they'd make some adjustments and be much tougher in their house," explained Coach Bees in his post game comments. "But overall we played very, very well tonight. The offense did well, the defense dominated and the special teams came up big too. LA just couldn't get it going."
To say the Shockwave had balanced scoring would be putting it mildly. The closest score of the night was San Diego's offense outscoring the San Diego defense and special teams 34 - 27.
The Lynx's lone score of the night came when quarterback Michael Hamilton hit wide receiver Jason Brim with a 8 yard touchdown pass with just 17 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Los Angeles missed the two-point conversion, making the score 34 - 6.
But that was as close as the game would get. Deondre Alexander took the ensuing kickoff down along the right dasherboard for a 39 yard return for touchdown as the first half ended. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown in the short history of the Shockwave.
The halftime score was 41 - 6. Shockwave quarterback Roman Ybarra had a strong first half, going 10-16-1 for 84 yards and two TD passes. Last week's starter Matt Pound came in for the second half and finished with one TD pass.
Everything seemed to came together for the Shockwave. Wide receivers Chris Pittman (2 TD catches) and Deondre Alexander (1 TD catch; 1 Kick-off return for TD). Running backs Ty Evans (2 TD's - 1 running; 1 receiving) and Ali Culpepper all scored. Culpepper finished the Shockwave scoring onslaught with a tough 18 yard TD run late in the 4th quarter.
On the other hand, the Lynx (0 - 3), made the least of their multiple opportunities; falling apart on seemingly every possession. LA's nightmare began early. Between the fumbled snaps, ill-advised laterals and poor special team coverage and execution; the Shockwave dominated across the board.
The Shockwave scoring parade got so large it needed a float. Linebacker Rico Curtis, normally a demon who stops scores, got himself into the scorebook not once but twice. Early in the game, Curtis recovered a Robert Harris fumble at the 1 yard line and rolled into the end zone for 6 points. Later, Curtis scored an unorthodox two point conversion; this time falling on a live ball in the end zone after the Lynx blocked a Shockwave extra point attempt.
Defensive back Kevin Burton, also had a hand in two scores, batting a first quarter fumble to teammate and fellow DB David Beverly who ran it in for a score. In the third quarter, Burton picked up another fumble and rumbled 42 yards for another score. Lineman Ricky Leungwai, coming off a big game last week against Pomona, completely obliterated LA's offensive line, harassing and sacking LA's quarterback 5.5 times. Overall, the Shockwave sacked LA quarterbacks six times.
The 4 - 1 first-place Shockwave return home on Saturday May 5th at 7:05 p.m. at Cox Arena against this simmering Southern California rival the Los Angeles Lynx. Don't miss the Cinco de Mayo festivities! Tickets remain on sale for this and other home games through Ticketmaster outlets, the Cox Arena box office, by going to www.sandiegoshockwave.com; or by calling 877.SHOCWAV (877.746.2928).
National Indoor Football League Stories from April 29, 2007
- Shockwave blast Lynx - San Diego Shockwave
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