Dusters Upset Battlewings, 51-48
June 30, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Amarillo Venom News Release
Aided by the near-deafening noise of the 3,805 rowdy fans in attendance, the Amarillo Dusters upset the Bossier-Shreveport Battlewings 51-48 on Friday night at the Cal Farley Coliseum.
Despite trailing 35-21 at halftime, the Amarillo Dusters fought back in the second half and energized the crowd in the process. The Dusters took their opening drive of the second half and turned it into seven points, as quarterback Steve Panella ran for a 16-yard score with 12:55 left in the 3rd quarter to pull within a touchdown. The Battlewings answered with a 20-yard scoring strike from Quincy Carter to P.J. Winston. Momentum began to swing on the ensuing PAT attempt, as Brian Hazelwood's kick was blocked by Dusters linebacker Jon Sessler and then returned by Sessler for a 2-point score, making it 41-30.
The Dusters marched the ball down the field, but Bossier's Reggie Hargrove recovered a Craig Fulton Jr. fumble at the Battlewings' 10-yard line, negating a Dusters scoring opportunity. Quincy Carter led the Battlewings offense down to the Dusters 24-yard line, but was sacked by David Ihedigbo on 3rd and 10, forcing a Brian Hazelwood field goal attempt. That attempt was blocked by Dusters defensive lineman Shawn Morgan, and the Dusters offense took over on the Battlewings 16-yard line. From there, Steve Panella found Steve Bergeski open in the back of the endzone for a touchdown, which made the score 41-37 as time expired in the 3rd quarter.
The 4th quarter belonged to the Dusters defense. Quincy Carter marched his offense the length of the field on their next possession, but failed to come up with any points. The Dusters held on 3 consecutive plays from inside the 5-yard line. On 4th and goal from the 1-yard line, Quincy Carter attempted to dive over the pile of bodies and extend the ball across the plane of the goal-line, but was denied by a swarm of Dusters defenders. Carter spiked the ball in frustration and removed his helmet, which cost his team dearly as the Dusters offense took over at their own 21-yard line, rather than their own 1. After a Bossier penalty and a 19-yard Panella to Dustin Johnson completion, Panella dove into the endzone for the go-ahead touchdown with 6:43 left in the game.
Trailing for the first time in the game 44-41, the Battlewings offense took the field looking to curtail the momentum swing and to silence the raucous home crowd. Carter connected with Tramissian Davis for 28 yards, moving the ball down to the Dusters 11-yard line. Again, the Dusters defense stiffened, forcing 3 consecutive incomplete passes. On 4th down, Brian Hazelwood's field goal attempt failed, and the Dusters took over with the lead and 2:49 left on the clock. Steve Panella was able to drive the length of the field, and forced Bossier to use all three of their timeouts in the process before diving into the endzone from two yards out to make the score 51-41 with :56 left. Carter did rush for a 1-yard touchdown with: 14 left, but the ensuing on-sides kick attempt was recovered by Amarillo's Tim Wilkins, and the Dusters were able to run out the clock and secure the upset victory.
Amarillo Wide Receiver Steve Bergeski grabbed Offensive Player of the Game Honors, as he had 9 catches for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns. David Ihedigbo earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game Honors, and Amarillo's Craig Fulton earned U.S. Army IronMan of the Game Honors. Bossier's Tramissian Davis was awarded the Cutters Catch of the Game, as crashed into the endzone wall while pulling in a 45-yard Quincy Carter bomb with 7:27 left in the 1st half.
Steve Panella went 17 of 37 for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception through the air, and added 56 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns on the ground. Quincy Carter threw for 297 yards with 6 touchdowns and 1 interception, and had 1 touchdown and 1 fumble as well.
The Dusters improved to 3-9 on the season, while Bossier dropped to 9-3. The Dusters travel to Washington state next week to take on the Tri-Cities Fever, while the Battlewings will return home to play host to the Arkansas Twisters.
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