Bellisari's magic lifts Dayton past Marshals, 56-53, in overtime
May 22, 2005 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Dayton Bulldogs News Release
DAYTON, Ohio â After whipping up on Cincinnati by 33 points on May 9, it took some magic from quarterback Steve Bellisari as the Dayton Warbirds escaped with an exciting, 56-53, overtime win against the Marshals Saturday in a National Indoor Football League game.
Bellisari connected for seven yards with Maurice Lee in overtime to give Dayton (6-3) its second extra stanza victory of the season. The Warbirds, holding on to second place in the Atlantic East, defeated the Lakeland ThunderBolts, 59-52, in overtime on April 29, at the E. J. Nutter Center.
Back on May 9, Dayton had clobbered the Marshals, 63-30, in the Nutter Center and Cincinnati (4-4) had stopped the âBirds, 81-74, on April 23, in River Front Arena. Before an enthusiastic crowd of 3,800, Bellisari's 1-yard pass to Lee with 1:03 remaining in regulation and Justin McClain's extra point kick tied the game at 50.
After Cincinnati could not move the ball on the first possession of overtime, the Marshals elected to have kicker Jesse Obert attempt a 37-ytard field goal. Obert converted his fourth field goal of the game, a season-high in one contest, and the Marshals held a 53-50 margin.
Dayton got its return chance and Bellisari went incomplete to Lee and Sonte Wong on the first two plays of the possession. On 3rd and 10 at the Dayton 25, Bellisari found Lee for eight yards.
On a 4th and 2 yards call, Bellisari, whose running has been exceptional this season for a quarterback in the NIFL, kept the ball and burst for 10 yards to the Cincy 7-yard line.
The toss to Lee, his 15th catch of the game, for the winning touchdown was also his 4th TD of the game and 12th of the season.
Bellisari ended the game connecting on 19 of 29 for 220 yards and all four TDs to Lee. He had no interceptions for the fifth time this season. The former Ohio State star also led the team in rushing. He carried 13 times for 43 yards and one touchdown.
Pepe Pearson had two touchdowns on runs of 2 and 1 yards. He now totals 10 running scores.
Cincinnati led, 33-26, at halftime, but the game was tied four times in the second half.
Rayshawn Askew, the league's leading rusher, was held to his second lowest total of the season. Askew had 40 net yards on 18 carries (2.2 average). Against Dayton in the May 9th contest, Askew had a season-low 27 yards on 16 carries.
It was because Warbirds' linebacker Joe Cooper who keyed on Askew as part of the defensive strategy. Cooper had five total tackles this time, two for losses of nine yards.
Other top defenders for Dayton were Israel Elias with a quarterback sack, James Drayton with an interception and three pass breakups and Arden Banks with a pair of breakups and tackle for a loss.
Cincy quarterback Brett dietz was 15 of 26 with no picks. He had 176 yards and four touchdowns.
Ernie Samuels had four catches for 61 yards and a touchdown and Dan Fry had TD receptioins of 6 and 25 yards.
National Indoor Football League Stories from May 22, 2005
- Maulers Strike It Rich Against Drillers - Montgomery Bears
- Kreatures earn 34-16 1st-half lead; lose to Morays, 48-43 - Kissimmee Kreatures
- Bellisari's magic lifts Dayton past Marshals, 56-53, in overtime - Dayton Bulldogs
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