Brigade misses opportunities in 49-40 loss at Nashville Kats

Published on April 22, 2007 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Kansas City Brigade News Release


NASHVILLE - In typical Arena Football style, only a few plays decided the game between the Brigade and the Nashville Kats Saturday night at Nashville Arena. The Brigade dominated the action through the air but missed two extra points. Nashville recovered a kickoff that bounced off the bottom iron of the rebound net for an extra possession and touchdown. Those three plays turned out to be the difference as the Brigade lost 49-40.

Kansas City (4-3) will return home to the Hangar next week to complete a run of three straight Central Division games with the final contest of the season against the Colorado Crush (5-3). The Brigade and Crush are both 2-1 in the division, making the game especially critical as teams jostle for position after the halfway point of the season.

It looked like the start of a back-and-forth affair as the Brigade and Kats scored on the first three possessions of the game. But the direction changed on a Nashville kickoff following a touchdown for a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter.

In one of the quirks of Arena Football, the ball bounced high off the bottom iron of the rebound net, over the outstretched hands of Jerel Myers and Charles Frederick and into the arms of former Brigade defender Chris Pointer. Three plays later Dan Alexander converted the unfortunate turnover into a touchdown-he totaled an Arena Football-record six on the night-and a two score lead.

The teams traded touchdowns before one part of the game worked in Kansas City's favor. There was just enough time left in the first half for one well-played drive and the Brigade had the ball with an opportunity to cut the Kats advantage to a touchdown. Kansas City would also receive the ball to start the second half and could then tie the game.

Raymond Philyaw worked the offense near midfield by the one minute warning and then started to work the clock. Dawan Moss took a pitch to get the clock moving and literally ran over Kats defender Monty Montgomery for nine yards. Philyaw then hit Boo Williams on a short route that he turned into a 16 yard gain to the Nashville three yard line with 37 seconds left.

Knowing that the Kats expected Frederick to run the ball in that situation, Philyaw faked the handoff and looked to his left, where Williams had cleared out that side of the end zone, allowing Myers to cross in front and snag a touchdown pass. Clay Rush converted the extra point to bring the Brigade within a touchdown at 28-21.

A penalty backed up the Brigade to start the second half, but one pass to Myers changed the field position. Another short route turned into a 23-yard gain, putting the offense in Nashville territory. Philyaw completed three more passes in succession, the last a three yard scoring strike to Myers. Rush tied the game 28-28 with 11:29 left in the third quarter.

As the game had essentially started over, the teams traded touchdowns. But the Brigade needed to change the rhythm to throw off the Kats. Rush made a great onside kick that the Brigade coverage unit just couldn't find. The ball actually bounced off a Kats defender and rolled into the wall out-of-bounds without being touched.

Nashville took possession at the Kansas City eight yard line and scored on a touchdown pass from quarterback Jeff Smoker, his only one of the game. The Brigade, now down 42-34, had to answer but would be forced to start in the shadow of its own goal line after the kickoff went for a touchback.

Philyaw went for the home run on the first play from scrimmage as Myers broke free down the left sideline. He was interfered with before he could make the catch, though, and the officials called a spot foul to the Nashville 22 yard line. Kansas City couldn't make much headway after that and faced a long third down near midfield. Philyaw completed a pass to Gooch near the marker, but a Kats penalty gave them an automatic first down anyway.

The Brigade met more resistance in the red zone and started hurting themselves with penalties. On fourth-and-one from the Kats three yard line, a false start pushed the offense back. On the next play Philyaw threaded the ball between two defenders for Frederick in the end zone, but a holding penalty brought back the apparent touchdown. On the next fourth down play, from the Kats 19 yard line, the line held to give Philyaw time to find Myers on a deep crossing route. Philyaw fired it into a small space between Myers and the wall for a game-saving touchdown.

Down 42-40 with 11 minutes left in the game, the Brigade couldn't make it up. Nashville added an insurance touchdown on a lengthy drive for the final nine-point difference.

Brigade Statistical Leaders

Philyaw: 23-31-0, 265 yards, 5 TD

Myers: 10 receptions, 123 yards, 4 TD

Douzart: 7.5 total tackles (5 solo), 3 tackles-for-loss, 2 sacks

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 22, 2007


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