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Blitz Defuse the Lightning as they head toward playoffs

July 23, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Bakersfield Blitz News Release


Bakersfield -The Bakersfield Blitz clinched the last spot in the af2 playoffs after their 72-51 victory against the Stockton Lightning on Saturday, July 22.

Box Score 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final

Blitz 14 42 55 72 72

Lightning 3 16 30 51 51

After they were unable to gather points with a touchdown, the Lightning opened the game with a 45-yard field goal. After Blitz OS Rennard Reynolds's 34-yard reception, in the next play Blitz WR/DB DeRonn Finley put it in the end zone with a 3-yard rushing touchdown. The next score also went to the Blitz when WR/DB Nathan Munson had a 4-yard rushing touchdown. The first quarter ended at Blitz 72, Lightning 51.

In the first play of the second quarter, Lightning QB Josh Blankenship fumbled the snap, recovered by Blitz OL/DL Dwayne Parker-Draughon. The next play resulted in a 3-yard rushing touchdown by Finley. The Lightning responded with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by OL Chris Harris. Finley's second touchdown came in the second quarter with a 14-yard pass reception. As the quarter was coming to an end, the Lightning scored with an 8-yard touchdown pass to WR/LB Phil Goodman. However, the first half didn't end there. Within the last ten seconds, the Blitz gathered 2 touchdowns, a 2-yard rushing touchdown by FB/LB Nick Onaindia after he recovered his own fumble and WR/LB Eric Mahanke recovered Lightning WR/DB Kenyatte Morgan's fumble on the kickoff. The first half ended at Blitz 42, Lightning 16.

The third quarter started with an onside kick attempt that was recovered by Mahanke, giving the Blitz great field position. In the second play of the quarter, Onaindia scored with a rushing touchdown making the game, 49-16. The Lightning struck right back on the next drive when Blankenship connected with Goodman in the end zone bringing the game to 49-23. Midway through the third quarter, Mahanke recovered another onside kick making it easy for Neist to find Reynolds for a touchdown and expanding their lead, 55-23. With less than five minutes in the third quarter, Stockton scored with the seemingly unstoppable duo of Blankenship to Goodman inching closer to the Blitz, 55-30.

Right out of the fourth quarter gate Neist completed a touchdown pass to Reynolds, lengthening the Blitz's already sizable lead, 62-30. The Lightning answered back on the next drive with Blankenship finding Wallace open for a touchdown. On the next drive the Blitz had to settle with a 23-yard field goal by Jaret Johnson. Stockton, not losing faith, pursued the Blitz on the next drive by again turning to their relentless crew, Blankenship and Goodman. Nearing the end of the quarter, US Army Ironman of the Game, Eric Mahanke, recovered his third onside kick of the game resulting with the Blitz having great field position which led to Blitz back up QB, Ryan Porter handing the ball to FB/LB John Johnson for a rushing touchdown. At the end of the quarter, Blankenship once again connected to Goodman in the end zone. Nonetheless, the Blitz lead proved to be out of Stockton's grasp with the game ending at Blitz 72, Lightning 51, the Blitz getting their much needed and desired win.

U.S. Army Ironman of the Game: Erick Mahanke, Blitz

Schutt Offensive Player of the Game: DeRonn Finley, Blitz

ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Jerry Turner, Blitz

Cutters Catch of the Game: George Williams, Blitz

Attendance: 4,028

The Blitz will be playing home again next week when they take on the Everett Hawks on Saturday, July 22. Kick off is set for 7:00 p.m. at Rabobank Arena.

Great seats are still available for Blitz home games. For more information, please call 377-BLITZ (2548) or visit www.bakersfieldblitz.com.

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