BlueCats Earn Victory Over First Place Extreme
June 4, 2007 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Evansville BlueCats News Release
EVANSVILLE, IN: The Evansville BlueCats earned an impressive 58-46 road victory Saturday night over the Bloomington Extreme. The BlueCats entered the game on a two game losing streak and were up against the Extreme who entered the game on a five game winning streak. Both streaks were snapped on Saturday night. The BlueCats went on the road and came out of U.S. Cellular Coliseum with a big victory coming off a bye week. The win improves Evansville to (3-6) on the season while the loss drops Bloomington to (5-4) and knocks them out of first place in the UIF Eastern Conference.
Evansville fell behind 14-0 early in the first quarter but battled back with two touchdowns, a rouge, and a safety to lead 16-14 entering the second period. Each team scored two touchdowns in the 2nd quarter but a Bloomington field goal put the Extreme on top 31-29 at the half. The teams traded the lead in an exciting second half with Evansville pulling away in 4th quarter. Brent Dearmon found Odest Shannon on a 39-yard touchdown pass with 1:23 left in the ball game to give Evansville a 51-46 lead. The BlueCats defense forced a Bloomington turnover on the next possession when defensive back Tarron Acuff came up with the interception. BlueCats running back Ray Kirkley put the game out of reach when he busted loose for a 25-yard touchdown run 2 plays later, resulting in the 58-46 final score.
BlueCats quarterback Brent Dearmon was making his second start for Evansville and completed 17 of his 23 pass attempts for 235 yards and 4 touchdowns. Dearmon also rushed for 14 yards. He averaged 13.2 yards per completion for the game and helped lead the offense to a season high 58 points and 313 yards of total offense.
Running backs Ray Kirkley and Odest Shannon both had big nights for the BlueCats. Kirkley scored 4 touchdowns in the game as he rushed for 53 yards and 3 touchdowns and caught one pass for 31 yards and another touchdown. Shannon led the BlueCats 233 all-purpose yards, with 5 receptions for 83 yards and 3 touchdowns, 144 kick return yards, and one carry for 6 yards rushing.
Dale Jennings added 5 receptions for 44 yards, Levron Williams had 3 receptions for 61 yards, and wide receiver Drouzon Quillen had 3 receptions for 16 yards in his BlueCats debut.
Bloomington quarterback Dusty Burk had a big game, passing for 263 yards and 6 touchdowns, but the BlueCats defense came up with 4 interceptions, and intercepted Burk twice more on two-point conversion attempts. Burk had only thrown 5 interceptions all season coming into the game.
The BlueCats defense held the Extreme to just 13 yards rushing and had a big night coming up with several big turnovers in big situations. Defensive back AJ Bryant led the way for the defense coming up with 8.5 tackles and 3 interceptions in the game. Bryant's 3 interceptions in Saturday's game is a new BlueCats team record and ties the UIF single game league record.
Tez Morris had 4.5 tackles and had the interception on one of the 2-point conversion attempts. Hunter Pingston added 4 tackles to the defensive effort in his first game with the BlueCats. Deion Holts had 3.5 tackles, one tackle for loss, a pass break up, and he blocked a 61-yard Peter Christofilakos field goal attempt, which resulted in a safety. John Winchester made 3.5 tackles including a tackle for loss and Tarron Acuff finished the game with 3 tackles, a pass break up, and one interception.
The Evansville BlueCats return home this Saturday night when they host the Rock River Raptors at Roberts Stadium. Gates open at 6pm and kickoff is set for 7:05pm. Donald Duck will be on hand to celebrate his 73rd birthday with the Evansville BlueCats, courtesy of Nick Nackery. For single game tickets, please visit ticketmaster.com or contact the Roberts Stadium box office at (812) 476-1383 extension 25. For group ticket rates and to purchase the Cold Stone Creamery Family Four Pack, please contact the BlueCats office at (812) 437-CATS. For more information on the Evansville BlueCats, please visit the website at www.evansvillebluecats.com.
United Indoor Football Association Stories from June 4, 2007
- BlueCats Earn Victory Over First Place Extreme - Evansville BlueCats
- Extreme to Face Horsemen Saturday - Bloomington Extreme
- Horsemen Fall to Rage 38-31 - Kentucky Horsemen
- Extreme looks to get back on winning track - Bloomington Extreme
- United Indoor Football Week Eleven Summary - UIF
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