CIFL Week Nine in Review
Published on May 16, 2007 under Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) News Release
Kalamazoo 40, Miami Valley 37
TROY, Ohio-For the second straight week, the Xplosion survived a scare from their opponent. This time it was Miami Valley that threatened Kalamazoo's perfect record.
The Xplosion bounced back from an 11-point deficit at halftime to capture a 40-37 road victory over the Silverbacks at Hobart Arena.
Kalamazoo jumped ahead early in the game, scoring on its first two possessions of the game. The first score came when Bill Skelton hit Little John Flowers for a 13-yard score.
Then, after recovering a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Kalamazoo cashed in on a 33-yard hookup between Skelton and Brian Dolph.
Miami Valley then went on its own run. The Silverbacks got their first score of the night when Jim Oliver ran it in from eight yards out.
On the ensuing Kalamazoo possession, B.J. Paulus scooped up an Xplosion fumble at the Miami Valley one-yard line and rumbled 49 yards for a touchdown. After the PAT, Miami Valley had a 14-13 advantage.
The Silverbacks then cashed in on a missed field goal by the Xplosion when Oliver hit George Murray for a 45-yard touchdown. After a blocking an Xplosion field goal, Miami Valley added three more when Travis Johnson nailed a 20-yarder.
Kalamazoo answered to make it a 24-19 game, but Miami Valley extended the lead back to 11 on an Oliver to Murray 12-yard score. That's how the first half would end.
In the second half, it was all Xplosion. Skelton hit Kyle Lackscheide for a three-yard touchdown, the only score of the third quarter between the two teams, leaving it a 30-26 game going to the fourth.
It went to 37-26 in the fourth when Oliver hit Murray for a five-yard score. That would be the last time Miami Valley put points on the board.
Flowers converted a six-yard touchdown run to make it 37-32, before Skelton hit Dolph for a 27-yard score with 44 seconds left in the game.
With one second left in the game, Johnson lined up to kick a potential 36-yard game-tying field goal. Leo Wells sprung free from the Xplosion line and blocked the kick to give his team the victory.
Kalamazoo goes on the road to Chicago on Sunday, May 20, while Miami Valley will host Steubenville on Friday, May 18.
Chicago 55, Marion 30
MARION, Ohio-The Slaughter used the second and third quarters to pull away from the Mayhem for a 55-30 victory at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Chicago moved to 4-2 with the victory, placing a stronghold on the number three spot in the Great Lakes Division.
Marion grabbed an 8-0 lead through the first quarter on the heels of a safety and a Stanley Jackson to Ian Schmidt 20-yard touchdown.
But it was all Chicago from there. The Slaughter reeled off 41 straight points over the next two-plus quarters to put a stranglehold on the game.
Ronnie Gordon hit Keith Herron for a 12-yard touchdown to get Chicago on the board, which was followed by another hookup between the two on a 33-yarder. At the break, Chicago led 14-8.
Three scores by the Slaughter followed in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. With 12:20 left in the quarter, J.R. Taylor made it 21-8 with a one-yard touchdown run.
After a missed field goal by Marion, Gordon connected with Dontrell Jackson for an 11-yard touchdown. Then, following an interception by Brett Barnes, Taylor raced 42 yards to paydirt for a 34-8 Chicago lead.
Marion ran off 22 points in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late.
Chicago hosts Kalamazoo on Sunday, May 20, while Marion goes on the road for a date with the Lehigh Valley Outlawz on Saturday, May 19.
Port Huron 76, Muskegon 37
PORT HURON, Mich.-The Pirates came out with a fire in their bellies after Muskegon head coach Shane Fairfield made some controversial comments to a Port Huron Times Herald writer about the team.
The Pirates made quite an impression in handling the Thunder, picking up a 76-37 victory over the Thunder at McMorran Place Arena.
Before anyone knew it, the Pirates had a lead when Corey Gonzales picked off a Steve Wasil pass and returned it 26 yards for the game's first score.
After stopping Muskegon on four-straight plays, the Pirates made it 12-0 on a Shane Franzer to Robert Height 22-yard touchdown pass.
The two teams then traded scores down the stretch of the first quarter to make it 20-7 as the quarter came to an end.
Muskegon scored on a Wasil to Brent Lesniak 33-yard touchdown to begin the second quarter to make it 20-13. But, from there, the Pirates clicked off a 20-6 run to close the first half at a 40-19 count.
In the second half, Port Huron scored on the third play of the third quarter and then added a safety by Eddie Bynes. Muskegon would get no closer than 23 points the rest of the way.
Port Huron hits the road on Saturday, May 19, for a date with the Summit County Rumble, while the Thunder will travel to Springfield on the same night.
Steubenville 66, Springfield 8
STEUBENVILLE, Ohio-The Steubenville Stampede got back on the winning track after losing two-straight games.
The Stampede raced out to a big lead over the Stallions to garner a 66-8 victory at St. John Arena.
Steubenville received the opening kickoff and scored on the game's first play from scrimmage to grab an 8-0 lead. After forcing a turnover on downs, Steubenville struck quickly yet again.
On the first play of the drive, the Stampede again found paydirt to take a 16-0 lead.
In the second half, the Stallions lone score came when quarterback Ali Grose connected with Alonzo Grose on a 22-yard touchdown pass.
Steubenville is on the road to Miami Valley on Friday, May 18, while Springfield hosts Muskegon on Saturday, May 19.
Chesapeake 41, New York/New Jersey 15
UPPER MARLBORO, Md.-The Tide rode the wave from the big overtime win last week against Lehigh Valley to yet another victory, this time over the Revolution.
Chesapeake, helped by another big performance from Chris Thompson, claimed a 41-15 over New York/New Jersey.
The Tide scored twice in the opening quarter, both times on Thompson to Tavis Law touchdown passes. The first was from 28-yards away with 8:30 to go and the second was from 45 yards away with 4:45 remaining.
The Revolution didn't go away easily, shutting out the Tide offense while scoring 12 points in the second quarter. The touchdown was a 38-yard pass by Kevin Hanratty, which was followed by two field goals from Mark Sedlock (19 and 27 yards, respectively).
The game would go to the break with Chesapeake leading 15-12.
After a Sedlock 19-yard field goal knotted things up at 15-15, the Tide dominated.
Chesapeake scored on its next two possessions, garnering a 28-15 lead through three quarters. The first score was a Thompson to Jason Galloway 22-yarder and the second was a Thompson to Law 45-yarder.
Thompson added touchdown passes of 41 and 10 yards in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.
Chesapeake hits the road for a date with New England on Saturday, May 19, while New York/New Jersey visits Rochester on the same night.
New England 53, Lehigh Valley 25
WORCESTER, Mass.-Is it safe to call Roy Lucas Jr. a genius?
It's starting to seem that way. The owner, and now interim coach, is 3-0 since taking over for Rick Buffington as head coach of the Surge.
The latest victory made a strong statement in the CIFL as the Surge rolled to a 53-25 triumph over the Lehigh Valley Outlawz at the DCU Center.
Marc Eddy, the reigning CIFL Offensive Player of the Week, had another huge game for the Surge. He threw for 253 yards and seven touchdowns, which was a personal best for the Bentley College alum.
New England got things rolling early, recording a safety on the game's opening kickoff after Marc Barrionette was stripped and recovered in his own endzone. Eddy threw his first touchdown shortly thereafter to make it an 8-0 game.
The Surge proceeded to tear off 27-straight points from there to take a 35-0 game late in the second quarter. Lehigh Valley finally got on the scoreboard with 18 seconds left in the half on a Joe DeLuise four-yard touchdown run.
Lehigh Valley never truly threatened the Surge lead in the second half.
Eddy's seven touchdown passes were spread to three different receivers. Dallas Mall caught five passes for 103 yards and three scores and Jeremy Collins caught three passes for 101 yards and three scores. Colin Stoetzel hauled in the other touchdown pass.
New England hosts Chesapeake on Saturday, May 19, while Lehigh Valley is back to Stabler Arena to host the Marion Mayhem on the same night.
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from May 16, 2007
- CIFL Names Week Nine Players of the Week - CIFL
- Respress earns CIFL Player of the Week honors - Dayton Silverbacks
- CIFL Week Nine in Review - CIFL
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