Extreme Dominate at Home in Victory over La Crosse, 54-18

Published on May 8, 2010 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Bloomington Extreme News Release


BLOOMINGTON, (Ill.)-Hurried, rushed, and sacked were reoccurring themes for La Crosse quarterback, Gary Rivera, as the Bloomington Extreme put away La Crosse for their fourth victory of the season. Under the command of new head coach Ted Schmitz, the Bloomington Extreme (4-5) played with intensity to snap a two-game losing streak with a beating on the last place La Crosse Spartans (1-8).

Rocky Hinds lead the charge for the Extreme by completing 16-of-21 passing for 123 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Bernard Payton trampled Spartan defenders, netting 73 yards on 10 carries and three touchdowns. Johnny Gray also had a big day as he caught six passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

At quarterback for La Crosse was Gary Rivera, who completed 18-of-31 passing for 134 yards and one interception. Rivera did the most damage on the ground, collecting 56 yards on 12 rushes, but many of these were due to the pressure brought on by the Bloomington defensive line. Aaron Straiten was the leading wide receiver for the Spartans, catching nine balls for 61 yards.

Bernard Payton opened the game with a long 44 yard kickoff return. Then on a fourth and goal play, Hinds finds Charles Sullivan in the back of the end zone for the first score of the game. The point-after attempt by Pete Christofilakos was no good, 6-0.

On La Crosse's opening play of the game, the Extreme defense makes a statement with a sack of quarterback Rivera for 12 yards by Shemiah LeGrande. The Spartans cannot recover from the loss and turn the ball over on downs. Two plays later, Payton squeezes through defenders to score on a nine yard run. The Christofilakos point-after attempt is good, 13-0.

The Bloomington defense was swarming to the ball, not allowing the La Crosse offense to advance. A missed field goal by Joseph Mootz gave the Extreme a chance to increase the lead. A 16 yard catch by John Cooper helped to set up a three yard touchdown run for Payton, point-after attempt good, 20-0

Playing with a purpose, the defense managed to keep La Crosse at bay with a sack by Marvin Campbell and a great deflected pass by Terrell Mayberry. La Crosse sets up for another field goal, but Mootz is short of the uprights and the Extreme regain possession.

Opening the second quarter, the Extreme have great field possession on their 23 yard line. Hinds threw the ball for Sullivan near the goal line, but Paul Simpson intercepts the pass, ending the Bloomington drive.

La Crosse had difficulty finding an offensive rhythm the entire night. Rivera was hurried by the defense and often needed to scramble around the back field so not to get sacked. 10 yards out from the goal line, Rivera is hit hard and fumbles the ball forward, but Phillip Ditto recovered it for La Crosse on the two yard line. With three chances for La Crosse to score, the Bloomington defense holds on their own three yard line and brings up a turnover on downs.

Both teams had trouble scoring in the second quarter, as Pete Christofilakos had a 60 yard field goal attempt blocked, giving La Crosse possession on the Bloomington three yard line. The Spartans break the second quarter drought as Antonio Overstreet scores on a three yard run.

A kickoff return of 46 yards by Andre Raymond sets up Bloomington nicely at the La Crosse 11 yard line. Hinds had a wide receiver open in the end zone, but the ball is deflected off him and lands in the hands of Gray, giving the Extreme a 27-6 lead going into the locker room.

Beginning the second half, Rivera laid out some smooth passes to get the Spartans down to the Extreme three yard line. Another goal line stand by the Extreme led to a turnover on downs.

Payton fought hard for every yard on the next drive. However while he was doing his best to stay on his feet for a first down, the ball is knocked out of his hands and recovered by La Crosse. Penalties and incomplete passes slow the La Crosse drive. Then the Spartans fumble the ball, and in a heaping mess of players diving for the ball, LeGrande comes away with the ball for the Extreme. On the ensuing play, Hinds bombs a 24 yard pass to Gray for an Extreme touchdown, point-after attempt good, 34-6.

Rivera has trouble finding breathing room in the back field as the Extreme Defensive line thrived on the La Crosse side of the ball. Larry Luster managed a sack on Rivera which led to another turnover on downs for La Crosse.

Gray continues his amazing night catching a 13 yard pass through a defender, while falling down on his butt. On the goal line, Hinds used a quarterback sneak to get the ball into the end zone, putting the game even further out of reach for the Spartans, 41-6.

A pile-up occurred on the following kickoff when La Crosse fumbled the ball and it rolled into the end zone. After clearing up the disorder, the referees award Mayberry with the fumble recovery and touchdown, 48-6.

La Crosse again marched up to the goal line on their next drive, but this time the Spartans are not fazed by the Extreme defense. Rivera snuck into the end zone for the score, but the two-point conversion attempt failed, 48-12.

In an attempt to make the loss seem less devastating, La Crosse tried an onside kick, but Bloomington recovered the ball on their five yard line. An offside penalty pushes the Extreme back, but a 10 yard dash by Payton puts another touchdown on the board, Extreme lead 54-12.

La Crosse worked hard to end up in scoring position, but a fumble caused by David Darby is picked up by Jeff Sobol, which put the Extreme on the La Crosse 16 yard line. Eric McCollum made his first appearance at quarterback in the evening, and began with a 12 yard scamper, setting up the Extreme to even further humiliate La Crosse. After a few failed quarterback draws, McCollum's first pass is picked off in the end zone. Following the interception, yellow flags flutter around the field as a brawl almost broke out and the two teams are called for roughing. With a desperation throw, Rivera heaves the ball deep to only have it intercepted by James Temple.

The Spartans score one more touchdown with a fumble recovery in the end zone by Travis Miller with only seconds remaining, but too little too late, Extreme win, 54-18

Next Friday the Bloomington Extreme will have a chance to even their record as the Chicago Slaughter (3-4) visit U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Kickoff will take place at 7:00 p.m.

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