Beef's Defense Dominates in First Victory
March 1, 2011 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Omaha Beef News Release
OMAHA, NE: The Omaha Beef's defense kept the Chicago Slaughter at bay allowing only 153 total yards on their way to the an opening season win 39-36 at the Sears Centre in IL. The Beef's offense was not too shabby either led by the return of quarterback James McNear to the roster who tossed and ran for two touchdowns each. In his aerial attack he completed 84% of his passes with 16 completions and rushed for 25 yards.
Head coach Andy Yost and his staff were pleased that the defense kept the Slaughter's offense squad off the field the majority of the game. Linebacker Ryan Reeves and defensive back Pig Brown led the Beef each with seven total tackles. Brown added a little bit more to his defensive attack anxious to put his team's offense back on the field. He was credited with a sack on his former teammate quarterback Ben Sankey dropping him for a four-yard loss. Showing his keen mind in reading the quarterback's actions, he picked off a pass at a critical time in the fourth quarter and returned it five yards as well. Defensive back/return specialist Courtney Grixby contributed two total tackles and break ups along with running back three kick offs for 29-yards.
Pressure from the defensive line and good coverage by the backs kept the Slaughter's quarterback on edge all evening completing only 15 passes in 32 attempts. Omaha was very stingy when it came to the attempted running attack of the opposition. With only six rushing attempts, the Beef allowed only 19-yards forcing a one dimension offensive strategy by the home team.
On the offensive side of the ball the Omaha Beef welcomed back their former quarterback McNear. In his first game back in the orange and black jersey, he dominated and controlled the game with his legs and arm.
With less than five minutes in the first quarter he gave his team an early lead rushing one yard for a score. The extra point by C.J. GRADOVILLE was no good.
After the Slaughter came back with a touch down and extra point, McNear immediately went to work. On the third play from scrimmage, he picked up his first touch down pass a 21-yard completion to Allen Burrell near halfway in the first quarter. The point after was missed again however the Beef had the led 12-7.
Right before the first quarter came to an end, the Beef's defense stopped the Slaughter and forced them to settle for a field goal making the score 12-10.
The Beef started the scoring in the second quarter with five out of six rushing plays. Scoring was Maurice Avery with a one yard plunge and with the extra point made the score 19-10.
The quarterback of the Beef again took little time to throw another passing touch down pass after the Slaughter was stopped. This time after two plays McNear tossed a 13-yard pass to Richie Ross to increase the score to 26-10 after the point after.
It took the Chicago team nine plays but finally found the end zone with a pass from Sankey to James Robinson to end the first half with the Beef in the lead 26-17.
The third quarter saw the Beef allow a field goal, touch down and a safety before they got back on their scoring drive. With a good combination of running and passing, McNear broke into the end zone on the seventh play of the drive with a one-yard plunge and with the extra point the Beef took the lead 33-29.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Slaughter's Sankey and his offensive group took a one-point lead with a five-yard rushing touch down by Daniel Dufrene 34-33. After that play the Beef's defense dug in.
The offense drives of the Omaha club took over 10 minutes off the clock and added six points with two field goals by kicker C.J. GRADOVILLEof 18 and 10-yards.
A key interception with less than two minutes in the game by Brown took the air out of the Slaughter.
Probably the most impressive play was with five seconds left in the game, the defense came through again forcing an incomplete pass by Sankey setting up a long game tying field goal that missed wide right as the game ended.
Indoor Football League Stories from March 1, 2011
- Friendly Wager Adds Excitement to this Weekend's Home Opener - Richmond Revolution
- Beef's Defense Dominates in First Victory - Omaha Beef
- Friendly Wager Adds Excitement to Weekend Game - Lehigh Valley Steelhawks
- Roughnecks Edge Wranglers, 60-46, in Allen on Monday Evening - West Texas Roughnecks
- Wranglers Come up Short in Home Opener - Allen Wranglers
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