Freeze use "Triple D" attack to double up on Soldiers
April 24, 2006 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Erie Freeze News Release
(Syracuse, NY; April 23) The Erie Freeze use the "Triple D" attack of "Dinkins, Darmel, and Defense" to overcome the upstart Syracuse Soldiers by a score of 44-22 in Syracuse for a Sunday AIFL matinee.
The Soldiers were tough on Sunday and started the contest much like the team's St. Patrick's Day visit to the "Igloo" at the Tullio. Syracuse's Jerrod Hunter opened the scoring with a 1-yard run, but the Freeze quickly answered with two touchdowns courtesy of the ground game.
Jon Frazier fought his way into the end zone with a nifty 10-yard run, and before the first quarter ended, David Dinkins found pay dirt on a 1-yard plunge of his own to make the score 14-7.
The Soldiers dominated second quarter action on offense and blanking the AIFL's top rated offense during the second stanza. Once again, the ground game took top billing and the Soldiers certainly punched the ticket.
Bob Darnley scored on a 2-yard gainer and Hunter added his second touchdown of the game to add two major scores for Syracuse. Soldiers kicker Dallas Pelz put the exclamation point on perhaps Syracuse's best quarter of football in 2006 with a kickoff rouge to make the score 22-14 in favor of the Soldiers at the halftime hiatus.
Pelz's point was the last the Soldiers would score on the evening.
Was it an impassioned halftime speech by Coach Dave Arnold that turned the momentum around for the Freeze, or was time just needed to shake off the cobwebs from a long bus ride across Central New York? Whatever the reason, the Freeze awoke from its slumber courtesy of "Mr. Incredible" and the "Fearsome Frozen" defense.
The Freeze moved out of their customary zone defense to shut down the run happy Soldiers and the "Fearsome Frozen" was all too happy to oblige.
The Erie offense translated the defensive move into a swing in momentum. Dinkins then moved into a short passing game that reached fruition early in the third quarter as Dinkins found "Mr. Incredible" Darmel Whitfield for a 4 yard touchdown reception.
Later in the quarter, the "Dynamic Duo" would team up one more time as "The Hulk" Dinkins hooked up with Whitfield on a 5 yard toss to give Erie a 28-22 third quarter lead. The touchdown reception gave Whitfield 11 for the 2006 campaign.
Erie continued its dominance of the trenches, flanks, and the air attack as they stifled the Soldiers in all aspects of the game. Dinkins scored his 22nd rushing touchdown of the year from one yard out to increase the Erie lead to 35-22. Dinkins also has thrown for 25 touchdowns via the air this season.
No Erie Freeze victory would be complete without a little offensive outburst by the "Fearsome Frozen" defense and Sunday evening was no different. As described by announcer Travis Phelps the Freeze put pressure on the Syracuse QB all throughout the second half.
The "heat" put on by the "Frozen" forced Darnley into some poor decision making that was turned into six points by the waiting arms of Sam "Bam" Reynolds. Reynolds picked off an errant Darnley pass and found the end zone after a 20 yard jaunt. During the quarter, J.R. Cipra boomed to kickoff rouges to make the final 44-22 in favor of the Freeze.
The Freeze now stand at 7-1 atop the AIFL's Northern Conference once game ahead of the Reading Express.
The Freeze continue its arduous road trip by traveling to Johnstown to take on the Riverhawks on Saturday, April 29 at 7 PM. The Freeze will also face the Stuebenville Stampede on May 6 before returning to the "Igloo" to take on the Reading Express on Mother's Day weekend.
Contact the Freeze office at (814) 454-0200 for information on the "Thrilling Three" season ticket mini-pack. Only $ 10 reserves your mini-season ticket for the final three home games of the season and secures your seat for the playoffs before sales hit the general public.
American Indoor Football Association Stories from April 24, 2006
- Silverbacks to Appear at Wright State University - Dayton Silverbacks
- Freeze use "Triple D" attack to double up on Soldiers - Erie Freeze
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