Early Offense and Timely Defense Push Lexington Past Tennessee Valley
June 25, 2005 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Kentucky Horsemen News Release
LEXINGTON, KY - Lexington's Dusty Bonner started the game going 13-13 before throwing his first incomplete pass. He finished the first half with 217 yards and 16-17 passing. Bonner's performance paired with the Horsemen defense gave Lexington (9-4) all they needed to hold off Tennessee Valley (4-8) 59-35
The Raptors were stopped on three occasions by the Horsemen defense when they were inside the two-yard line. The Lexington defensive preserved the Horsemen lead, despite scoring only ten points in the second half.
Bonner finished the night with 272 yards and 23-31 passing. The Raptors quarterback, Chris Gunn, matched Bonner going 22-41 for 271 yards. Tennessee Valley's Nicholas Wells was the top receiver on the evening, scoring three times on seven passes for 97 yards. Lexington's Eric Magrini caught six passes for 94 yards and a score.
The Horsemen got out of the gates in a hurry. With just two plays and 1:06 off the clock, Lexington scored on a 37-yard drive. Derek Homer ran for the one-yard touchdown after Bonner connected with Magrini for a 36-yard pass.
The Raptors drove the length of the field to come up empty handed after the Horsemen stopped the Raptors on a third-and-goal situation. Tennessee Valley's Steven Lee missed the field goal attempt. Homer added another Horsemen score when he ran two-yards to pay dirt. Tennessee Valley got on the board with 1:41 remaining in the quarter when Gunn threw a 17-yard pass to Ryan Norman. Lexington scored once more on a Bonner pass to J.T. Haskins, giving the Horsemen the 21-7 lead.
The second quarter started much like the first, with an early Horsemen score. Bonner hooked up with Chad Spencer for an 8-yard Lexington touchdown. The Raptors followed with a 27-yard touchdown reception by Wells. Bonner then connected with Magrini on a 30-yard score and Harry Lewis for the 27-yard score. Tennessee Valley's Gunn countered his second touchdown pass to Wells in the quarter. With just :16 remaining in the half, Spencer caught the Bonner touchdown pass to give Lexington the comfortable 49-19 advantage.
Tennessee Valley started the third quarter with an offensive flurry. The Raptors scored on their first two drives of the half while holding the Horsemen scoreless. Luke McArdle caught the first of two Gunn touchdown passes, going 9-yards for the score. Chesaurae Rhodes caught a 30-yard pass to bring the score to 35-49 after three quarters.
Both teams stepped up the defensive efforts in the fourth. Lexington scored the only ten points of the quarter on a 7-yard Homer run and a 45-yard Justin Hutton field goal. The raptors held the Horsemen to no passing yards in the quarter and only 13-yards on the ground.
Lexington returns to action Saturday, July 9 at 7:30 against the Evansville BlueCats. The game is "Fan Appreciation Night" and the first 500 Horsemen fans will receive a free Lexington Horsemen T-shirt. The game will be carried live on Super Talk 96.1 FM with Gary Ball and Bill Ransdell.
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