Block that kick, Spartans do and win season opener, 49-47
February 12, 2007 - World Indoor Football League 2 (WIFL 2)
Augusta Colts News Release
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA -- In a classic "whoever gets the ball last wins" scenario, it came down to the kicker who had the most important kick blocked, as the Augusta Spartans blocked a late field-goal attempt by Daytona Beach's Jaye Tyroff to edge the Daytona Beach Thunder 49-47 in the inaugural World Indoor Football League Sunday afternoon.
Daytona Beach closed to 49-47 on Bo Bartik's 17-yarder with 7:21 remaining and had a chance to win, but Tyroff's attempt was blocked by Voncellis Allen and the Spartans ran out the final seconds.
Brandon Thatcher threw for 243 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for two more to lead the Augusta Spartans to their first road victory in seven tries and the first against the Thunder in three.
"To see this kind of effort early is exciting,'' said Augusta coach Bubba Diggs. "I'm also excited to see what Brandon brings to the table.
Marvin Stone (8 catches for 110 yards) and Anthony Young (6-111) each caught two touchdown passes as the Spartans scored two unanswered touchdowns to turn a 32-31 deficit into a 43-32 lead.
"They are two veteran receivers who continue to mature and are deserving of an AF1 look," Diggs said. "Young sticks to his routes. He want to play another year in his hometown (North Augusta) to get to the next level.
Bartik finished with 195 yards and six touchdown passes, five to Blake Broadhurst.
The first quarter featured back-and-forth football, with both teams scoring twice and losing fumbles on consecutive plays. Satcher hit Stone with a 3-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive, set up by a 32-yarder to Stone two plays before.
Daytona Beach responded in two plays, both passes from Bartik to Broadhurst, the second for 26 yards. The tying touchdown made it 6-6, as both extra-point kicks were blocked.
Willie Butler ran in a Spartan score from the 1-yard line. Josh Logan's extra point was the only successful PAT of the quarter. Bartik came back with a 4-play drive culminating in a 10-yard touchdown pass to Broadhurst, and Augusta led 13-12.
After the exchanged lost fumbles, Satcher hit Stone for a 15-yard TD strike, and following a blocked field goal recovery, Anthony Young hauled in a leaping 14-yarder for a 25-12 lead.
Daytona struck back with a tough fourth-down rollout by Bartik, who came back over the middle to Broadhurst just over the goal line. The Thunder then took advantage of an E.J. Gordon interception to tie the game at 25. Bartik hit Clinton Crump in the end zone corner on what looked like a busted play as most players stopped running. Just nine seconds remained in the quarter.
A 40-yard hitch-and-go to Young took Augusta to the Daytona Beach 2-yard line. Satcher fumbled as time ran out, but somehow the Spartans were given an extra play, unexplained by the referees except to Thunder head coach Leon Bright. Satcher converted on a deflected pass to Young, and it was 31-25.
In the third quarter, the quarterbacks alternated keepers for touchdowns.
Logan's kicking problems continued, and Augusta led 37-32. An Adolph Brown interception off a deflection stopped the next Thunder drive, and led to a poorly-covered TD bomb to Young on the very next play.
But Joe Giddens intercepted the conversion attempt, and returned it all the way. Daytona got the two points and trailed 43-34. Then the Thunder struck quickly, with Cory McKinney hauling in a 34-yarder to pull within two points.
Back and forth, the teams swapped touchdowns again. Young took a handoff and ran a neat reverse for a 14-yard score, before Bartik hit Broadhurst deep in the end zone. His outstanding diving catch was followed by an incomplete conversion pass. Augusta led 49-47 with 6:27 left.
The Spartans play at Osceola Feb. 24.
World Indoor Football League 2 Stories from February 12, 2007
- Arrival of linemen beefs up camp, Pollock shines at receiver - Columbus Lions
- Another close one, Thunder falls by two to Spartans in opener - Daytona Beach Thunder
- Career day for Broadhurst - Daytona Beach Thunder
- Spartans QB Hatcher blessed with seasoned receivers - Augusta Colts
- Block that kick, Spartans do and win season opener, 49-47 - Augusta Colts
- WIFL opener in the books - WIFL 2
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