Fist half dooms Lightning

Published on July 23, 2006 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - A first-half spotted by 42 Bakersfield Blitz (8-7) points sent the Stockton Lightning (5-10) to their third consecutive loss, in a 72-51 Lightning defeat at Rabobank Arena on Saturday night.

The loss, which gives Bakersfield an outright clinch of the final National Conference wild card berth, finishes the Lightning 2006 road campaign with a 3-5 record, while Bakersfield takes the rubber match of the three-game season set.

Lightning kicker Marc Hickok booted a career-long 45-yard field goal to put the Lightning up 3-0 with 10:06 left in the first, followed by a 21-0 Bakersfield run that marked the 42-point Blitz half. Following Lightning WR Phil Goodman's eight-yard touchdown strike from QB Josh Blankenship with 57 seconds left in the half, Bakersfield scored twice in a four-second span, when Nick Onaindia's two-yard touchdown run was followed by a muffed return by Lightning WR Kenyatte Morgan which Bakersfield's Eric Mahanke picked up at the goal line for another score with 10 seconds left, setting the Blitz at a 42-16 lead.

Goodman hauled in two touchdown catches for the Lightning in the third quarter from Blankenship, the first marked by a 13-yarder and followed by a 23-yard strike with 4:50 left to help cut the Lightning deficit to 55-30, which answered Bakersfield scores from an Onaindia one-yard run and a Rennard Reynolds three-yard reception.

The final two of Goodman's five-touchdown reception effort highlighted the Lightning 21-point comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, along with WR/DB Jamal Wallace's first career af2 touchdown reception. Bakersfield put the game out of reach with a 15-yard strike from QB Alex Neist to Reynolds with 14:54 to go, along with kicker Jaret Johnson's 22-yard field goal and FB J.J. Johnson's one-yard rushing score.

Blankenship paced the Lightning offense by throwing 19-for-37 along with 332 yards passing, six touchdowns and no interceptions, along with Goodman's seven catches for 111 yards and five touchdown receptions (tying a career-high). Neist led Bakersfield's offense with a 14-for-22 night, 188 passing yards and three touchdown passes.

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