CIFL Week Four in Review
Published on April 10, 2007 under Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) News Release
Steubenville 42, Summit County 6
STEUBENVILLE, Ohio-It was important to Steubenville owner Ramone Davenport that his team get off to a hot start. They've done just that.
The Stampede broke open what was a closely-contested for the first quarter to pick up a 42-6 victory and move to 2-0 on the year. The Stampede are currently alone atop the Atlantic Division standings.
Steubenville opened the scoring when Ryan Maiuri hit T.R. Dues in the back of the endzone to cap the game's opening drive.
But, Summit County answered with a scoring drive of its own. Rumble quarterback Adam Haught hooked up with Lance Kandel to take it down to the Stampede three-yard line. Haught added a score on a sneak with just under four minutes left, making it a 7-6 game in favor of the Stampede.
On the ensuing possession, Summit County looked to swing the momentum by coming up with a fourth-down stop of the Stampede offense. They used that momentum to charge down the field and looked to be heading in for the go-ahead score.
Steubenville native Carlos Spinner then gave the Stampede the boost they needed. He busted through the center of the Rumble offensive line and forced and recovered a fumble.
From there, it was all Stampede.
Maiuri hit Scott Dolfi for a touchdown shortly thereafter to make it 14-6. Then, on Summit County's next offensive possession, Twy Edwards picked off a Haught pass and raced 50 yards for a score.
Summit County gave the Stampede another shot by fumbling the ensuing kickoff, and Steubenville took full advantage. Maiuri hit Dues inside the Rumble five, which was followed by a Maiuri touchdown run for a 27-6 halftime advantage.
The Rumble fumbled on their first possession of the second half, and Steubenville again capitalized. Maiuri connected with Dues down to the Rumble two, and then hooked up with Kellan Bush for a score on the next play.
Dues hauled in another score in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.
Steubenville next hosts Chesapeake on April 13, while Summit County will go on the road on the same night to Muskegon.
Kalamazoo 47, Springfield 19
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.-Kalamazoo's stellar play in 2007 continued on Saturday night. The Xplosion used great defense to roll by Springfield 47-19 in the Stallions home opener at Prairie Capital Convention Center.
The Xplosion's offense got things going on the game's first drive, piecing together a long drive that ended with Bill Skelton diving over from five yards out.
Kalamazoo's defense established its dominance on the ensuing possession. T.J. Tyus picked off Springfield's first pass attempt, giving his team the ball back at the Stallion 11.
Skelton hooked up with Brian Dolph for a 16-yard scoring strike after a holding penalty negated Kalamazoo's first play. Brad Selent added the PAT for a 13-0 Xplosion lead.
Springfield started putting things together on the next drive. Mike Lawrence hauled in a short pass from Johnnie Cooper and went 20 yards untouched for the inaugural score in Stallions history.
Springfield got a stop on Kalamazoo's next possession, and added another score when Cooper snuck in from six yards away. That made it 13-12 after both conversions failed.
But, just before the half ended, Kalamazoo posted another score. Skelton again hooked up with Brian Dolph for a 19-yard score, making it 20-12 at the break.
After the team's traded scores to make it 27-19, Dan Musielewicz hauled in a seven-yard scoring strike from Skelton for a 34-19 Xplosion lead.
On the next Springfield possession, Tyus picked off his second pass of the night and returned it 22 yards for a 40-19 lead.
Kalamazoo backup quarterback Randy Hutchison capped the scoring with an 11-yard quarterback sneak around right end.
Skelton finished the game nine-of-16 for 112 yards and three touchdowns, all to Brian Dolph. All of Dolph's receptions in the game were scores and totaled 80 yards, including a 45-yarder.
Kalamazoo opens its home schedule on April 14 against Chicago, while Springfield will host Port Huron on the same night.
Lehigh Valley 45, New York/New Jersey 25
BETHLEHEM, Pa.-It may have taken awhile for Lehigh Valley's plan to come to fruition, but in the end, it did.
The Outlawz pulled away from New York/New Jersey in the second half, claiming a 45-25 victory over the Revolution.
To the surprise of many, Lehigh Valley held just a 24-18 lead through the first half as Revolution quarterback Kevin Hanratty kept his team alive with some great play.
But, the second half was a completely different story. After recovering the opening kickoff at the Revolution 12, Phil DeCecco scored on a one-yard touchdown run on the third play from scrimmage.
On the ensuing Revolution possession, Lehigh Valley's Al Simmons scooped up a fumble and raced 24 yards to paydirt for a 39-18 Outlawz lead.
Hanratty led the Revolution down the field and capped the ensuing drive with a one-yard touchdown run. But, that would be as close as New York/New Jersey would get the rest of the way.
Billy "Superman" Parker capped the scoring by hauling in a Joe DeLuise pass on fourth-and-18. DeLuise finished the game five-of-16 for 57 yards.
The Outlawz will host Rochester on April 14 and New York/New Jersey will go on the road to New England on the same night.
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from April 10, 2007
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