Carolina Holds On For 36-31 Victory
May 22, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release
CHARLOTTE â ADT Defensive Player of the Game Fred Vinson broke up an Anthony Buich pass attempt in the end zone with just four seconds remaining to give the Carolina Cobras a narrow 36-31 victory over the Grand Rapids Rampage. The victory was the second-straight for the Cobras who are now within one victory over equaling their franchise record for victories in a season.
With Carolina holding a slim, 27-25 advantage heading into the final frame, the two teams traded touchdowns to leave the game at 33-31 with just under a minute remaining in the contest. Carolina then capped off a five-play, 42-yard drive with a 23-yard field goal from Rob Bironas to extend their lead to 36-31 with only 48 seconds on the clock. Three consecutive pass completions from Rampage QB Anthony Buich left the home team on the Cobras 13-yard line with time running out, but the Carolina defense forced three incomplete passes on the games final four plays, including Vinson's diving stop, to seal the win.
Carolina (6-9) secured the win under the direction of Foggie, who completed 21-of-33 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns. OS Bernard Holmes led the receiving corps with six catches for 117 yards, while WR/LB D.J. Humphries caught five passes for 53 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Grand Rapids (1-14) received a strong performance from Buich, who passed for 296 yards and three touchdowns, while adding a three-yard scoring plunge. OS Carlos Johnson led all receivers with 14 receptions and 173 receiving yards and a touchdown.
The defenses controlled the action early as a 10-yard touchdown reception by Humphries accounted for the only points of the first quarter. Carolina's offense quickly stalled out after receiving the opening kickoff and the club turned over the ball on downs on Grand Rapids' 20-yard line. The Cobras defense responded by stopping the Rampage on four consecutive plays, and the Carolina offense capitalized with Humphries' scoring catch. The home squad held on to the 7-0 advantage as Stephen Scaldeferri missed a55-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw the Cobras allow the Rampage to creep within 20-16 heading into the lockerroom. Carolina began the frame with Humphries second scoring reception of the night to extend their lead to 13-0, however, Grand Rapids responded immediately as OS Carlos Johnson recorded a 16-yard touchdown reception for the visitors' first points of the evening. The Cobras built its lead to 20-7 with just under four minutes left in the first half as FB/LB Chris Pope rumbled into the end zone for his fifth touchdown run of the season. Grand Rapids worked its way back into the game beginning with K Stephen Scaldeferri's 22-yard field goal with 48 seconds on the clock. Carolina then drove the length of the fi eld before Foggie was intercepted by DS Mark Ricks, setting up a 21-yard touchdown catch by WR/LB Jeremy Dutcher for the final points of the half.
The contest remained close throughout the third quarter as Carolina escaped the frame with a slim 27-25 advantage. Grand Rapids started the scoring with Scadeferri's second field goal of the evening, a 20-yard kick that cut the Cobras lead to 20-19. On the ensuing drive, Foggie found OS Todd Doxzon streaking across the middle for a 23-yard touchdown pass. The scoring reception was the 20th of the season for Doxzon, setting a Cobras single-season record. The Rampage finished the quarter with a 3-yard touchdown plunge by Buich.
Carolina will next head to square off with the Georgia Force in the club's 2004 season finale on Saturday, May 29 at 7:00 p.m. (EST) at the Gwinnett Center.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 22, 2004
- Carolina Holds On For 36-31 Victory - Carolina Cobras
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