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COMMAND Snatch Victory From the Clutches of the Talons

May 21, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Kansas City Command News Release


It came down to a single play - four tenths of a second left on the clock and COMMAND quarterback JJ Raterink found ironman linebacker/receiver Bradly Chavez' hands in the end zone, securing victory for Kansas City.

A close game, the battle between the budding division rivals stayed within an 11 point margin as Tulsa's fans cheered, screamed, and beat their cowbells. The COMMAND played catch-up for a good portion of the game, only taking the lead twice; in second, and in the fourth quarters.

The first quarter opens with Kansas City's Carlton Brown back to receive. He's caught in the end zone and the ball is placed at the 3. The COMMAND, notorious for taking a few minutes to warm up, are held in place. Brian Umstead kicks a field goal attempt that one of the Talons gets a finger on and it and pluck it out of the air, bringing the ball back to midfield. Despite some excellent defensive plays by Bobby Payne and Ken Fontenette, Talons QB Matt Bassuener finds Troy McBroom for a TD. COMMAND QB JJ Raterink responds by finding receiver Robert "Bubby" Gill, three times in succession, the final one scoring a TD.

In the second quarter, KC stops Tulsa's drive and forces a field goal attempt which fails. The COMMAND drive down the field, eventually scoring off a five yard run by fullback Victor Mann. Unfortuately, the extra point is missed, putting KC slightly behind the curve once the Talons scored again, which they did off a pass by Matt Basseuner to Troy McBroom. The first half ended with the Talons up by a point. Key plays by Kansas City include a sack by linebacker Tyus Jackson, who is racking up the sacks this season for the COMMAND, making regular appearances on the league leaderboards.

More of the same continued into the second half. Both teams seemed to be slogging it out against their opponents respective defensive games, and neither would put up more than a single touchdown in the quarter. New COMMAND wide receiver Tod Devoe, picks up 45 yards on a pass along with Kansas City's only touchdown in the quarter.

The last 15 minutes of the game starts with the COMMAND down by 4, 20-24 and things start looking bleak as Tulsa takes an 11 point lead off a 33 yard pass to Trent Shelton. But three successive passes by JJ Raterink to Bradly Chavez puts KC in the end zone, bringing the score back within 4 points. Defensive back Sergio Gilliam picks off a Bassuener pass which allows the COMMAND to score again when Bret Smith disappoints a Tulsa resident by leaping nearly into the stands to snatch a pass for a touchdown. Kansas City again picks off Tulsa's QB, but fails to convert it into points as they turnover the ball on downs after a short drive. The Talons make what they undoubtedly hope to be their final push, running the clock down to a minute after a pass to Troy McBroom took them to the 1 yard line. Jamar Ransom vaulted himself into the end zone, giving Tulsa the lead, and setting up the COMMAND's final drive of the game.

With less than a minute on the clock, and a cacophany of Tulsa fans doing their best to stifle the COMMAND's ability to communicate, KC drove down the field after quick passes to Devoe and Gill. Three incomplete passes left the COMMAND stuck at 4th and 10, at the 22 yard line. The crowd renewed its frenzy, but that didn't stop Bret Smith from completing a 13 yard pass for the first down, as the clock continued to run. The tension ratcheted up another notch as a fumble nearly ended the game with the COMMAND trailing by 4, but it was quickly recovered leaving 0.4 seconds on the clock. But that's al the time JJ Raterink needed to sync up with Bradly Chavez in the end zone, sealing victory for the COMMAND.

Coach Danton Barto was ecstatic. "We haven't seemed to have any luck all year, but maybe that's changed. These guys fought hard for 60 minutes and never gave up. I hope all the fans recognize the character these players have shown tonight." He went on to mention a couple of players specifically. On Tod Devoe, he said "Tod came in like the veteran presence we needed; he's a team guy who doesn't care about stats, just about the win." On Bradly Chavez, " when things are going bad you rely on guys you know are playmakers. Chavez is that kind of guy; he makes plays when you really need them".

Chavez himself was asked about making the winning catch, and said "I was thinking 'just get open', someone needed to just make the play". And no doubt the COMMAND fans at home watching the game on Nifty TV or following it via Facebook and Twitter, were as ecstatic as Coach Barto that Chavez did make that play. COMMAND win, 40-38.



Arena Football League Stories from May 21, 2011


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