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Brigade Clinches Playoffs with Theus's Record Setting Catch

July 20, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rochester Brigade News Release


Uncasville, CT- The Rochester Brigade (7-8) defeated the Mohegan Wolves (3-12) 28 to 18 at the Mohegan Sun Arena to clinch their first playoff spot in franchise history. Sealing the victory was OS Martino Theus, who caught his eighth pass on the night with 0:55 seconds remaining to break the league reception record of 148 catches.

The Brigade put the first points on the board, to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, as WR/DB Derek Baker caught a 46 yard touchdown bomb from QB Matt D'Orazio and Kicker Charles Eger connected on crucial extra point. The Brigade defense got a huge monkey off of their back as Baker registered the Brigade's first interception since June 1.

The Wolves scored early in the second quarter off a nifty trick play. QB Kevin Carty pitched the ball to WR/DB Andy Macaione, who would throw a 15 yard touchdown pass to OL/DL Jeff Cogell to move to within one point, but kicker Shawn Maclean missed the extra point to allow the Brigade to maintain a 7-6 lead. The Wolves' defense later responded to a challenge of their own after failing to recover the ensuing onside kick. The Wolves stopped the Brigade on the first four downs, but a Mohegan penalty allowed the Brigade another chance. Unfortunately, the Brigade came up empty after they failed to capitalize on an Eger 23 yard field goal which was blocked. Later in the quarter the Brigade took a 14-6 lead as their defense stepped up and DS Mark Herron recovered a key fumble that led to FB/LB LaMonte Coleman's first touchdown with the Brigade.

The first half ended with the Brigade stopping the Wolves four out of five times to maintain a 14-6 lead, which carried over into the third quarter. Neither team was able to muster up any offense in the third, allowing the score to remain stagnant after three.

In the fourth, the Wolves closed the gap to 14-12 as Carty hooked up with OS Brandon Burnside from five yards for the score; nevertheless, their attempt at a two point conversion failed as WR/DB Brent Burnside caught the ball out of bounds. On the ensuing kickoff, Baker returned his first kickoff of the season from 56 yards and Eger connected on the extra point to give the Brigade a 21-12 lead with 10:07 to play. The Wolves attempted a comeback as Carty connected with WR/LB Brian Shubin from eleven yards to make the score 21-18, but that was all the Wolves could offer on offense for the night.

The Brigade sealed the victory as Coach Saunders took a gamble with 0:55 seconds remaining in the game. Going for it on the fourth down with two yards to go, on the Wolves 22 yard line, his gamble paid off as D'Orazio connected with Theus for a historical touchdown. With the reception Theus is the current league record holder for receptions in a single season with 149 and one game to play.

With the victory, the Brigade clinched their first post season berth in franchise history and will face the Albany Conquest in the first round of the 2002 Arena Cup Championship. The Brigade will travel to New Haven to end their regular season on Saturday, July 27. Catch all of the action on WYSL 1040 AM with JC DeLass.

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