Bucks Avenge Early Season Loss
May 3, 2004 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Houma Bayou Bucks News Release
Houma, Laâ In what was hyped as one of the biggest games in the young 2004 NIFL season, the 5-1 Tupelo FireAnts traveled to South Louisiana to take on 4-1 Houma Bayou Bucks for sole procession of first place in the NIFL's Atlantic South Division. This game brought extra importance for Houma because the FireAnts handed the Bucks their only blemish on their record after surmounting a fourth quarter comeback to beat them 58-50 earlier this season. The Bayou Bucks returned the favor Saturday night by scoring a franchise record 84 points.
Leading the offensive charge for Houma was veteran indoor Quarterback Doug Coleman. Coleman completed 18-27 passes for 198 yards, 6 touchdowns, and no interceptions. To add to his passing statistics, Coleman also rushed the football 5 times for 34 yards and 1 touchdown. Houma Wide Receiver Kevin Heard proved to be Coleman's favorite target, catching 6 passes for 73 yards and 3 scores. Leading the ground attack for Houma was Running Back, Jarvis Dunn who rushed the football 12 times for 82 yards and 3 scores. Dunn also caught 7 passes for 58 yards and a touchdown.
For the Tupelo FireAnts former Delta State standout Rico McDonald and Ole Miss standout Joe Gunn rushed for a combined 148 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Despite allowing 55 points, the Houma defense had several bright spots. Linebacker Timothy Betts recorded 8 unassisted tackles and 2 assisted tackles. Former Southern University Jaguar, Kentrell Blatcher chipped in with 9 tackles, with 2 tackles for a loss. Third year Buck's Defensive back, Sullivan Beard contributed to Houma's defensive effort by making 5 tackles, 1 for a loss, 1 sack, and 1 interception. Houma head coach Jack Phillips had this to say about his defense, "I think the defensive squad had taken a lot of undeserved heat thus far this season. We have a rapid scoring offense that makes it necessary for the guys on defense to stay on the field longer. I think if you consider those factors along with Tupelo being an excellent offensive team, I think we did alright. As the season progress, these guys will be just fine."
Other Game Notes:
Attendance for the game on Saturday was 2556, a season high for the Bucks. As the season has advances the Bayou Bucks has seem a steady attendance increase at each of their games.
Saturday's game also saw the implementation of the rare "rouge" rule. With 10:55 left in the 4th quarter Houma kicker Chris Stroplo's kickoff went thru the legs of a Tupelo defender and into the end zone. The NIFL officials awarded Houma 1 point because of Tupelo's failure to advance the ball out of the end zone. The NIFL rule book reads as follows:
A rouge is scored when a member of the receiving team is unable to advance a free kick out of his own end zone, or a member of the receiving team is down with the ball in his possession in his own end zone. A rouge may only be scored on a free kick.
Next Game:
This week the Bucks will travel to Beaumont to take on the 4-2 Beaumont Drillers. All the action can be heard live with Hilary Domangue on Eagle 106.3 KXOR FM.
The Bucks return home on May 22 to take on the Evansville BlueCats. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Civic Center Box Office or any Ticket Master location.
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National Indoor Football League Stories from May 3, 2004
- Bucks Avenge Early Season Loss - Houma Bayou Bucks
- Horsemen DL Peoples invited to NFL tryout - Kentucky Horsemen
- Bluecats looking for fan bus participants - Evansville BlueCats
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