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Elliott paces Lightning in season-opening win

March 29, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


KENNEWICK, Wash. - The first game of the arenafootball2 season started off with a tremendous showing by seven-year veteran Chad Elliott, throwing for six touchdown passes, 168 yards and a 19-for-30 effort as the Stockton Lightning (1-0) cruised to a 46-32 victory over the Tri-Cities Fever in week 1 of arenafootball2 play from Toyota Center.

The win gives the Lightning their first season-opening victory in franchise history.

The Lightning started the first quarter with the quick-firing arm of Elliott, throwing for 2 touchdowns to wide receiver WR Thyron Lewis. Elliott completed 6-of-7 passes in the first. The offense would not stop as Lightning FB Peter Tuialuuluu rumbled in for an 11-yard touchdown run.

The offense of Tri Cities (0-1), led by QB John Pierce was slow to start with only seven points in the first quarter. The Fever fashioned a comeback in the second quarter to score on a 30-yard touchdown pass to LaMonte Jones with 11:05 remaining. The defensive onslaught by the Lightning kicked in during the second quarter and the half ended with the Lightning up 33-20.

Third quarter was all Lightning as the arm of Chad Elliott continued to score at-will with another 13-yard TD pass to WR Hannibal Thomas. The start of the third also saw Fever QB Jason Campbell substitute in for John Pierce. Campbell struck quick with a 24yd pass to former Lightning receiver Phil Goodman, cutting the Lightning lead to 39-26. Elliott continued to strike with a seven-yard pass to Thomas for a Lightning touchdown.

Campbell answered back with a 5-yard touchdown strike to Goodman. Elliott put the nail in the coffin with a 7-yard bullet to Hannibal Thomas to lift the Lightning to a 46-32 lead.

The Lightning return to play for a week 2 road matchup against the Spokane Shock, starting at 5:00 p.m. from Spokane Arena. The game be viewed, free-of-charge, exclusively online through www.stocktonlightning.com (courtesy of NifTy Online TV).

Season tickets for the 2008 Lightning regular season are on sale now. For more information on season tickets, merchandise, or other information, please call the Lightning at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonlightning.com.

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