Dodge City Drops Home-Opener to Oklahoma, 56-49
March 10, 2014 - Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL)
Dodge City Law News Release
The Dodge City Law fell to the Oklahoma Defenders 56-49 on Saturday night at the United Wireless Arena in Dodge City.
Law quarterback Charles McCullum started the game off on the wrong foot by throwing two interceptions early on. However, he began to get back into his groove late in the first quarter when he connected with wide receiver Brandon Venson for a 4-yard touchdown pass.
McCullum registered his second 4-yard passing touchdown of the night midway through the second quarter when he found wide receiver Mo Young in the end zone. McCullum and Young teamed up again for the Law's successful two-point conversion attempt, which made the score 14-0.
Oklahoma quarterback Zach Rasmussen put the Defenders on the board with 6:20 left in the first half when threw the first of four-touchdown passes to wide receiver Hubert Aniyam.
Kicker Tommy Fervert's extra-point attempt was blocked by Dodge City and picked-up by Walner Leandre who ran it all the way back for two points.
Law quarterback Charles McCullum helped Dodge City extend its lead to 23-6 by hooking up with wide receiver Mo Young for a 3-yard touchdown.
With a mere second left on the clock in the half, Oklahoma wide receiver Patrick Jones caught a 4-yard touchdown reception from Rasmussen.
Dodge City held a 23-12 advantage at halftime, but in the third and fourth quarters Oklahoma had an easier time of penetrating the Law's defense and putting points on the scoreboard.
Less than two minutes into the third quarter, Aniyam, the Oklahoma wide receiver, caught his second touchdown of the night from Rasmussen.
Aniyam's touchdown brought Oklahoma within 4 points of Dodge City, which was the closest margin of the game, up to that point.
Charles McCullum, the Law's quarterback, returned Dodge City's lead to 11 points when he threw an 8-yard touchdown to Brandon Venson.
With 4:04 left in the third quarter, Rasmussen scored on a 6-yard quarterback keeper.
Then, Law wide receiver Kendrick Ings scored the first of his two receiving touchdowns of the night when he caught a 30-yard pass from McCullum.
Several minutes after a rushing touchdown by Oklahoma's Kingjack Washington near the beginning of the fourth quarter, Ings caught a 48-yard touchdown from McCullum.
Law kicker Dalton Burkhard's extra-point attempt which followed Ings' touchdown was blocked by Oklahoma and returned to the opposite endzone by Delaney Dobard.
Oklahoma pulled to within two points of the Law when Aniyam caught a 15-yard scoring reception from Rasmussen.
Dodge City running back D.D. Holyfield busted loose for a 28-yard touchdown run with 7:51 left in the game.
Following Holyfield's touchdown run, the Law completely fell apart.
Dodge City's demise began with a failed extra-point attempt by Dalton Burkhard.
Then, on the ensuing kickoff, the Law were unable to bring down Oklahoma's Isaiah Anderson, who scored on a 50-yard return.
Finally, when the Law defense allowed Oklahoma's Rasmussen and Aniyam to score their fourth touchdown of the night, Dodge City lost the lead for the first time and was forced to try to play error-free football.
With 1:35 left on the clock, Dodge City would have theoretically had plenty of time to score one more touchdown to retake the lead and win the game.
However, the Law seemed to be taken off-guard when Oklahoma kicker Tommy Frevert opted for a squib kick rather than give Dodge City's speedy returners a chance to bring the ball up field.
Frevert's kick ricocheted off the leg of Dodge City's Marquis George and was recovered by a white-shirted Oklahoma Defender.
Down 54-49 with 0:25 left in the game, Dodge City still had enough time to take back the lead and wrestle the victory away from Oklahoma. But, while attempting to evade Oklahoma pass rushers, Dodge City's Charles McCullum was taken down in his own end zone by Ki'ounta Cathey for a safety, which effectively ended the game.
The Law's next game will be in two weeks when they face the Wichita Wild on March 22 at 7:05 in Wichita.
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Champions Professional Indoor Football League Stories from March 10, 2014
- Dodge City Drops Home-Opener to Oklahoma, 56-49 - Dodge City Law
- Oklahoma Defenders Capture Dodge City Law in 56-49 Win - Oklahoma Defenders
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