Edge Drop High-Scoring Home Opener
March 29, 2014 - Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL)
Bloomington Edge News Release
BLOOMINGTON - The Bloomington Edge scored in the final seconds but could not convert a two-point conversion for the lead and fell 70-69 to the Omaha Beef in Saturday night's home opener at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
The teams traded blows in the first quarter as the Edge led 21-14 at the break on a one-yard touchdown run from Charles Dowdell, a 24-yard scoring pass to Marcus Lewis and a nine-yard Andre Raymond carry, with Anthony Parks catching two touchdown passes for the Beef.
Omaha tied the game early in the second quarter on a two-yard run by Preston Brown, but the Edge countered with a six-yard scoring pass to Glenn Johnson with 9:08 left before halftime to give Bloomington a 28-21 lead. The Beef answered with three more touchdown passes from Chris Coffin, two more to Parks and one to Jared Elmore to take a 40-28 lead into the dressing room.
The Edge defense rebounded to keep the Beef off the scoreboard in the third quarter while tallying on a two-yard Raymond run and a 21-yard strike to Lewis to cut the deficit to regain a narrow 41-40 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Offenses ruled the final period as the teams traded scores, including two touchdowns each in the final 1:06. After Omaha took a 70-63 lead with 50 seconds remaining on a 24-yard Coffin pass to Elmore, the Edge completed a five-play, 40-yard drive on a seven-yard pass to Raymond with 12 seconds left, but the conversion pass to the back of the end zone was knocked down. The Beef covered the ensuing onside kick and kneeled out the final eight seconds.
Dowdell finished with 218 yards passing, completing 19 of 30 attempts with one interception and six touchdowns. Lewis led Edge receivers with nine catches for 125 yards and three touchdowns. Raymond and Dowdell each registered 41 yards to lead the Edge ground game.
Coffin completed 26 of 38 passes with two interceptions and nine touchdowns for 303 yards for the Beef, with six of Parks' eight catches resulting in touchdowns while recording 135 receiving yards. Brown ran nine times for 67 yards and one touchdown for the guests.
Cody Acree led the Edge defense with 7.5 tackles while Alsid Panteau recorded 6.5 stops for the Beef. The Edge fall to 0-3 with the loss while the Beef even their record at 2-2.
The Edge return to the U.S. Cellular Coliseum turf next Saturday night for a 7:05 kickoff against the Dodge City Law. The Edge will honor long-time kicker Peter Christofilakos before the game. Group discounts are available by calling 309-434-2980 while individual tickets can be purchased through the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office or by calling 309-434-2679.
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Champions Professional Indoor Football League Stories from March 29, 2014
- Edge Drop High-Scoring Home Opener - Bloomington Edge
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