Chicago Slaughter Lose Heartbreaker In IFL Debut
February 28, 2010 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Chicago Slaughter News Release
HOFFMAN ESTATES - On the team's Championship Celebration Night, the Chicago Slaughter (0-1) lost to the Rochester Raiders (1-0) in their Indoor Football League debut, 49-47, on an Adam Lanctot 37-yard field goal with no time left in the game. QB Mike Donato led the Slaughter, going 16-30 for 186 yards and three total touchdowns. WR De'Cody Fagg hauled in seven passes for 139 yards and two scores, while RB Jarrett Payton rushed for 34 yards and two total touchdowns.
The team traded field goals through the first quarter until the Slaughter reached into their bag of tricks on offense. Payton threw the game's first touchdown on a 34-yard halfback option pass to Fagg to put the team up 10-6 in the second quarter. After two consecutive touchdowns by Rochester, Chicago got back on the board with a 3-yard touchdown strike from Donato to WR Brandon Watts to make the score 20-17. Rochester tacked on another field goal to push the score to 23-17 at halftime.
After Rochester took a commanding 37-20 lead in the second half, the Slaughter fought back to take a brief lead 41-40 on touchdown runs by Payton and Donato. The team then traded touchdowns until Lanctot put Rochester up for good with his last second field goal.
"It takes some time to find your identity as a team," said Payton. "We just weren't together the first couple of series. I'm sure you saw a difference by the start of the second half. I'm very optimistic."
"The first half is what happens when you are only able to practice two weeks before game time," said Slaughter Head Coach, Steve McMichael. " Our timing was just off. I'm sure it was easy to notice the difference in our play between the first and second half. This team has heart and they never quit."
A crowd of 6,944 cheered on as the Slaughter raised their 2009 Continental Indoor Football League Championship banner before the game, and new Slaughter owner, Bears legendary QB Jim McMahon, took part with a ceremonial handoff to Slaughter RB Jarrett Payton.
The next home game for the Slaughter will be Sunday, March 21st, at the Sears Centre Arena against the Bloomington Extreme. Kickoff will be at 2:05. The team's next league game is Saturday, March 13th on the road against the Richmond Revolution. For more information on the March 21st home game or on the Chicago Slaughter, please call the team office at (847) 310-3190 or visit the team website at www.ChicagoSlaughter.com
Indoor Football League Stories from February 28, 2010
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- Predators 2010 Campaign Begins Today - Seattle Timberwolves
- Chicago Slaughter Lose Heartbreaker In IFL Debut - Chicago Slaughter
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