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Coyotes overwhelm Lightning

July 8, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - The Central Valley Coyotes scored on their first 10 possessions of the game and led in a wire-to-wire fashion, sending the Stockton Lightning to an 82-63 loss at Selland Arena on Saturday in week 15 of arenafootball2 play.

Both teams combined for 145 points, breaking the Lightning single-game record of 131 (vs. Central Valley -5/19/07). Quarterback Evan Gray, who completed 25-of-46 passes and tied a career-high with eight touchdown passes, set a career-high with a Lightning record 393 passing yards, topping Josh Blankenship's mark of 386 yards (2006 - at Oklahoma City).

Additionally the Lightning tallied 402 yards of total offense, shattering the previous single-game mark of 394 yards (2006 - at Oklahoma City). The loss puts the Lightning one game behind Manchester, Green Bay, and Louisville - all three teams are tied at 7-6 for the final three wild card berths in the American Conference.

Central Valley jumped out to a 20-7 lead in the first quarter on QB Clay Groefsema's three touchdown passes to Jason Barnes, Tonae Martin and Mike Lawrence, sandwiched around Gray's first touchdown pass to WR Sale' Key with 12:22 left.

WR Kenyatte Morgan hauled in a 17-yard lob from Gray at the right sideline, converting the pass into a nifty leap over a Central Valley defender at the goal line for the second Stockton score of the game with 3:49 left in the first for a six-point deficit, good enough for Cutters Catch of the Game honors. On the ensuing possession, Groefsema collected his 14th rushing touchdown of the year on a 12-yard keeper around the right tackle, hiking the Coyotes lead to 27-14.

Both teams exchanged touchdowns for the entire second quarter, combining for 55 points in the frame as the Lightning trailed 54-42 at halftime. WR Clarence Cunningham's 13th touchdown reception of the year was highlighted by the longest score of the game, a 45-yard missile from Gray just nine seconds into the quarter to cut the Coyotes lead to 27-21. Central Valley WR Tonae Martin posted the next two of three Coyotes scores on a one-yard run and 14-yard reception.

Key tallied the last two Lightning touchdowns of the quarter on receptions from 24 yards and three yards, the latter coming with 37 seconds left in the quarter to cut Central Valley's lead to five points. Yet, Groefsema capitalized on Central Valley's next quick scoring answer, a one-yard keeper with three seconds left in the half.

Cunningham drew in a 31-yard bomb from Gray to begin the third quarter with a Lightning touchdown, cutting the Coyotes advantage to 54-49 with 14:18 left, answered by Groefsema's two touchdown lobs to Barnes and Lawrence which took advantage of a Lightning turnover on downs to grab a spacious 68-49 lead with 3:30 left in the third.

The Lightning then embarked on a furious rally with two-yard line stop on the Coyotes and an onside kick recovery, as Gray connected with two straight touchdown passes to Morgan from 19 and 21 yards, helping cut the Central Valley lead to 68-63 early in the fourth quarter.

Central Valley then capitalized on two interceptions by Gray with new-insertion QB Brian Luke's consecutive 37 and 18-yard strikes to Barnes in a span of 5:59 to put the game away.

Groefsema connected on 16-of-20 passes for 252 passing yards and seven touchdown passes, while Barnes, his most efficient target, collected eight catches for 125 yards and four touchdown receptions for Central Valley. Key led all Lightning receivers with nine catches, 121 receiving yards and tying Morgan with a team-high three touchdown receptions.



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