Giant Killers: Coleman Directs Fever To 41-39 Win
July 23, 2005 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Tri-Cities Fever News Release
ODESSA, Texas - Veteran quarterback Doug Coleman passed for four touchdowns, but it was Sullivan Beard's interception that sealed the game for Tri-Cities as the Fever held on for a 41-39 win over the previously undefeated Odessa Roughnecks in the semifinal Pacific Conference championship that will send the Fever into the National Indoor Football League championship.
The first-year Fever (12-5) have now beaten three outstanding teams, including another previously undefeated team Everett, on its way to the Saturday NIFL Indoor Bowl game at Kennewick, Washington.
In the Atlantic Conference semifinal at Cincinnati, the Rome Renegades (10-7) came back from a 31-16 3rd quarter deficit to defeat the Marshals, 51-41.
Jarvis Dunn's 53-yard kickoff return had put the Fever ahead, 41-32, with 3:58 left in the game, but Roughnecks' quarterback Jason Johnson came right back on the next series and connected with Joel Babb for 24 yards. That closed the gap to 41-39 after Whitney Hillin's extra point kick with 3:14 remaining in the game.
On the next Tri-Cities series, Doug Coleman's 3rd and 9 pass was picked off by Odessa linebacker John Anderson at midfield. With 1:08 left, Johnson directed a drive that took the Roughnecks to the Fever 13 yard line. On 3rd down, Johnson delivered a pass into the end zone but it was picked off by the 4th-year veteran out of Nichols State made a diving catch for the interception with only 25 seconds on the clock.
"Their receivers had been running crossing patterns all night and I just took a chance," said an elated Beard, who stretched out for the ball.
Coleman then ran out the clock for the Fever's third consecutive playoff win.
"This was a hard and physical battle," said an exhausted Fever head coach Dan Whitsett from the floor of the Ector County Arena. "I thought we could do more but it turned out to be a grind it out game. I knew our defense would hold up, but I thought the offense would do more."
Coleman was 16 of 26 in the first half for 154 yards and two touchdown passes. Those scores were to Paris Moore to open the game and the second to Kevin Bard closed an Odessa (16-1) lead to 19-14 with 11:25 left in the second quarter.
Johnson connected with Babb for 17 yards with 1:22 left in the 2nd period but Coleman connected on 4 of 7 passes for 21 yards in a 8-play drive that ended with Dunn going in from 1 yard out on 4th down with 10.9 seconds left in the 2nd quarter. That closed Odessa's lead to 26-21 at the half.
"Our offensive line has been great all year and given Doug great protection," said Whitsett, "but, I give credit to Odessa, their defensive line was outstanding. That's the best in the league and gave us a lot of trouble."
In the third quarter, Tri-Cities finally took a lead on a 33-yard bomb from Coleman to Kevin Heard that put the Fever ahead, 27-26 at 9:33.
Johnson took the controls for the âNecks and drove the team to the Fever 3-yard line where, on fourth down, fullback John Norman failed to convert and Tri-Cities took over on downs.
"It almost seems routine," said Whitsett. "We have won three games by a total of seven points and everybody has stayed calm and doesn't give up."
Tri-Cities then took over the ball to close out the third period on a drive that continued on into the 4th where Coleman found one of his favorite receivers during the regular season, Mike Rigell for nine yards. Drew Dunnings kick was good and the Fever were up 34-26 with 10:29 left in the game.
Odessa came back with a drive that found Norman going in from two yards with 4:21 left, after Johnson's failed run for the conversion kept Tri-Cities in the drivers' seat, 34-32.
On the ensuing kickoff, Dunn took the ball three yards deep in the end zone, broke six tackles on the way to his first playoff kickoff return for a score.
"This is a hot building and a difficult place to play in," said Whitsett. "The players will be excited to play at home finally."
National Indoor Football League Stories from July 23, 2005
- Giant Killers: Coleman Directs Fever To 41-39 Win - Tri-Cities Fever
- Chop Chop released from protective custody - Daytona Beach Hawgs
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