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Brigade down Destroyers 45-24 for first-ever victory

February 19, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Kansas City Brigade News Release


One of the best defensive first halves of the season league-wide gave the Kansas City Brigade the cushion it needed to win the first game in franchise history. The Brigade allowed no touchdown passes and only 10 points in the first half on the back of two turnovers and solid kicking by Tim Seder. That effort set the tone for a 45-24 victory and the all-around solid performance the team has been expecting all season.

The game started with a turnover by each team, but the Brigade took advantage after B.J. Cohen recovered a Columbus fumble at the Kansas City one yard line late in the first quarter. After driving the length of the field Andy Kelly showed off his veteran skills on third-and-goal at the one yard line. He turned for a non-existent handoff to create a fake play but walked into the end zone for a 6-0 lead.

The Brigade defense did not relax with the early lead as Jeremy Beutler found his way into the backfield to disrupt a Billy Dicken throw on third down. Jacques Rumph caught the field goal try and returned it to the Columbus 20 yard line, setting up Seder's 20-yard field goal for a 9-0 lead early in the second quarter.

On Columbus' next drive Denario Smalls stepped in front of a Dicken pass at the Kansas City 11 yard line and took it down the sideline for touchdown, aided by a crushing block from Abdul-Salam Noah, for a 15-0 advantage.

The Destroyers blew the shutout on a Kelly fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Thabiti Davis, cutting the Brigade lead to 15-7 with less than five minutes to play in the first half. Seder answered with a 20-yard field goal with one minute left but Destroyers kicker Mark Lewis made a long field goal to put the score at 18-10. Not to be outdone, Kelly drove the Brigade inside the Columbus five yard line as the clocked ticked under 25 seconds and Seder converted a 21-yard field goal for a 21-10 halftime lead.

Columbus took the second half kickoff deep into Brigade territory looking to make a game of it, but Smalls came up big again, breaking up a third down pass and forcing a field goal that hit the upright.

Kelly sensed the potential momentum swing and went for the home run ball but it was intercepted in end zone and run all the way out to the Columbus 15 yard line. John Kaleo came in at quarterback for Columbus, but the result was the same. Smalls took away a pass near goal line for his second interception of game and Kelly then hit Jerel Myers for a 17-yard pass to move into Columbus territory. Two plays later Kelly found Myers all alone along the boards for an easy 11-yard touchdown pass. Seder's kick made it 28-10 late in the third quarter.

The Destroyers returned the kickoff to the Brigade eight yard line and got on the board for the first time since the 4:23 mark of the second quarter with a rushing touchdown to make the score 28-16. The Brigade then put the ball in the hands of the bruiser Dawan Moss to keep the defense on the field, and Seder put up some insurance points with a 39-yard field goal. The ensuing kickoff was an Arena Football classic. Seder's kick hit the bottom upright and Columbus had trouble corralling. The Brigade coverage team made it downfield in time for Travis Coleman to jump on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown to increase Kansas City's lead to 38-16 midway through the fourth quarter.

Columbus' offense still showed signs of life until Chris Pointer forced Davis to fumble as he was about to cross the goal line. Who else but Smalls recovered it in the end zone for a touchback. Kelly did not waste time putting the game away, lofting a deep ball towards the end zone that Smith ran under for a 25-yard touchdown to make it 45-16 with less than five minutes to play. The Destroyers put together one final scoring drive after the one-minute warning.

Offensive Player of the Game: Jerel Myers (5 rec., 71 yds., 1 TD) ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Denario Smalls (2 INT, I FR, 1 FF, 4 Pass Def., 6 Tkl., 1 TD) U.S. Army Ironman of the Game: Jacques Rumph (5 rec, 46 yds, 1 ret, 31 yds, 1 rush, 1 yd, 4 tkl)

Quotes

Coach Porter

"The defense has been real consistent as we continue to stay aggressive, but I wouldn't get spoiled by it, since every team has playmakers. The last two weeks we didn't get it done, but our team has always kept fighting and I'm proud of them. We now look to build upon this win, do the things we have been doing well better and work on improving what needs to be done."

QB Andy Kelly

"We are still having trouble in the red zone and that starts with the QB. Our defense kept us in the game today. We moved the ball down the field but still need to get better inside the 10 (yard line). We'll keep working on it. It feels good to get our first win and we will work hard to get many more"

DS Denario Smalls

"Our offense struggled a little, but our defense really stepped up. The key to our success is playing together as a football team."

"We all had good coverage today in the secondary and it feels good to give up less points in each of the four games."

WR/LB James Jordan

"We weren't going to let them come in here and beat us. We don't care what everybody's been saying about us losing, we were determined to get a W. We have kept our heads high and confident and it showed today."

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 19, 2006


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