COMMAND Fall to Milwaukee

June 11, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Kansas City Command News Release


The Kansas City Command lost to the Milwaukee Mustangs 54-34 Saturday night in Arena Football League action. Offensive struggles were again the issue, particularly in the second half when the Command turned the ball over on downs three out of their first four drives. The loss dropped the Command to a record of 4-9.

"Our offense failed us," Command coach Danton Barto said after the game. "I thought the defense played well enough to win. We've been saying for four games that our offense right now absolutely stinks. We're gonna make some wholesale changes and get better."

The game started off well for the Command. Milwaukee took the opening kickoff to the Kansas City four-yard line before the defense came up strong and forced a turnover on downs. However, the Command were unable to take advantage of the excellent field position, losing 13 yards before Brian Umstead missed a 32-yard field goal try.

After each team's empty first possession the squads traded two scores apiece. Mustangs quarterback RJ Archer hit receiver Dwayne Eley, Jr. for both touchdowns. The Command used touchdown runs from receiver Steven Savoy to tie the game early in the second quarter. The Command defense then came up with a big play as Tyus Jackson sacked Archer on third down for a loss of ten yards. Milwaukee tried a field goal but the snap was high and a desperation throw was knocked away by Command defensive back Sergio Gilliam.

A long pass to receiver Tod Devoe set Savoy up for his third rushing touchdown, this time as the quarterback in the wildcat formation, a wrinkle added this week to try and address the offense's red zone woes. The touchdown gave Kansas City its first lead 21-14.

Milwaukee tied the game at 21-21 on a screen pass to fullback Mykel Benson but left the Command :39 seconds to try and score last. Again, though, the Command offense missed an opportunity to take the lead when Raterink threw an interception on the first play of the drive. The Kansas City defense managed to keep Milwaukee out of the end zone in the waning moments of the second quarter to preserve a halftime tie.

The Command had the ball to start the second half but failed to record a first down, giving Milwaukee the ball at the 4-yard line.

"Usually when you kick from there, nothing good happens anyway," Barto said of the decision to go for fourth down from deep in their own territory.

The Mustangs scored in two plays as Eley, Jr., caught his third touchdown pass of the night for a 28-21 lead. The ensuing possession the Command again failed to convert a first down, this time turning the ball over on their own 2-yard line. The defense rose to the occasion yet again, forcing Milwaukee to settle for a field goal and 31-21 lead.

The Command were still in the game when Raterink hit receiver/linebacker Bradly Chavez for a touchdown, cutting the Mustangs lead to three at 31-28. However, Kansas City would get no closer. After Milwaukee scored scored to go back on top by 10 the Command turned the ball over on downs for the third time in the half, failing to convert a fourth and one. The Mustangs went for the jugular as Archer hit Eley, Jr., for a 30-yard touchdown in one play for a 45-28 Mustangs lead with 6:44 to play.

Savoy then caught a touchdown, his first receiving but fourth overall, to make it 45-34 Mustangs but when KC failed to recover the onside kick the outcome of the game was all but determined. Milwaukee tacked on nine points in the final minute, including a 51-yard interception return for a touchdown by Antonio Malone as time expired.

"We can't complete passes, we can't protect," Barto said of his offense. "We're not doing much right."

The Command are next in action at home on Father's Day, Sunday, June 19th, with a 1:00 pm kickoff inside Sprint Center. Visit sprintcenter.com to find out how to get dad into the game for free and find details on special contests and promotions for the game. Judging by Barto's comments immediately following the loss to Milwaukee, it will not be a surprise if there are some new faces making plays for the Command.

"You've gotta go back to work," he said. "But it's become obvious to us, I'm sure it's obvious to the fans, we've gotta get better on the offensive side of the ball. We've gotta get some new players in here, some new blood. It could be some shocking guys that go but we've got to give our offense a spark."



Arena Football League Stories from June 11, 2011


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