Goal Line Stand Keeps Kalamazoo Undefeated
by Randy Snow
May 6, 2007 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Kalamazoo Xplosion
The Kalamazoo Xplosion of the Continental Indoor Football League remains undefeated after surviving a determined Muskegon Thunder team, 41-37 on Saturday night. The Xplosion improves to 6-0 on the season while the Thunder falls to 2-4.
Kalamazoo jumped out to a 21-7 lead in the first half as a result of three touchdown passes by quarterback Bill Skelton, all going to different receivers. Last week's CIFL Special Teams Player of the Week, kicker Brad Selent, added two field goals in the second quarter of 20 and 33 yards respectively. The Xplosion had a 27-21 halftime lead.
Kalamazoo never trailed in the first half, but Muskegon showed no signs of letting up and the lead went back and forth four times in the second half.
In the third quarter Kalamazoo was in the lead 34-28, but was faced with a fourth down deep in their own end of the field. They set up for a field goal attempt from their own end zone, but a bad snap led to a miss-timed kick that was blocked by Muskegon. The ball bounced around the end zone and was eventually picked up by Selent, who tossed it into the stands for a safety. Kalamazoo still led at that point, 34-30.
Muskegon then regained the lead when RB Brent Lesniak scored on a four-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, giving the Thunder a 37-34 lead.
Kalamazoo countered with a 2-yard touchdown run by RB Little John Flowers to regain the lead 41-37, but Muskegon was not ready to give up.
In the final minute of the game, the Thunder had a first and goal at the seven yard line. But the Kalamazoo defense denied Muskegon from getting into the end zone on four straight pass attempts, taking over on downs and eventually running out the clock for the win.
"If you're going to be a champion, you've got to win games like that," said Xplosion defensive coordinator Scott Ashe. "Those guys are all good athletes and they know it. If you want to get to the next level in this league you've got to win (the close) games and those guys stepped up down there (at the goal line) on the defensive side."
"The defense has been playing good all year long," said Kalamazoo head coach Bob Kubiak. "You talk about rising to the occasion. The guys are playmakers. The nice thing about this group is that, out of all 21 of them, you never see anyone hanging their heads, ever. That's just a sign of a good team. Guy's heads are always up, we're always in it. They don't ever feel like they're out of the game, even though we're down a couple points. It doesn't matter the situation and that (goal line stand) was a great situation for these guys to rise and make some plays."
Kalamazoo quarterback Bill Skelton completed 11 of 22 passes for 70 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. His counterpart, Muskegon quarterback Stephen Wasil, completed 13 of 25 passes for 192 yards and four touchdowns in the loss.
The Xplosion remain undefeated at 6-0 and are keeping pace with the Port Huron Pirates, who improved to 7-0 with a 78-19 road win over the Miami Valley Silverbacks on Friday night. Kalamazoo will travel to Port Huron to take on the Pirates on Friday, June 8.
SICK RECEIVER
Xplosion wide receiver Brian Dolph spent some time in the emergency room around 5 AM the day of the game with a severe case of sore throat. He was tested for strep throat, but the test came up negative, so he went home and rested until it was time for the game. You wouldn't have known there was anything wrong with him as he went out and caught four passes for 24 yards and a touchdown. After the game, Dolph could barely talk above a whisper, but there was nothing wrong with his hand as he gladly signed numerous autographs for many appreciative fans.
HOCKEY GAME
While the Xplosion and the Thunder were battling it out in Kalamazoo, the Muskegon and Kalamazoo teams in the United Hockey League were skating against each other on the ice in Muskegon. In that game, the Muskegon Fury defeated the K-Wings 4-2 and took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven UHL playoff series.
THUNDER FANS IN KALAMAZOO
Muskegon Thunder owner and General Manager Don Pringle, who was in attendance at the game, estimated that about 100 Thunder fans also made the trip down to Kalamazoo to support their first year team. "It was nice to see them make the trip," Pringle said. "It was great."
NEXT GAME
The Xplosion travel to Troy, Ohio to take on the Miami Valley Silverbacks on Friday night, May 11. The Thunder also take to the road and will head across the state for a rematch with the undefeated Port Huron Pirates (7-0) on Saturday, May 12. The Pirates previously defeated the Thunder 47-13 back on April 12.
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Randy Snow is a freelance football writer from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Since 2003, he has covered teams in the Arena Football League, arenafootball2, United Indoor Football and the Continental Indoor Football League. He can also be heard each week hosting the "First and 10" segment on "Under the Roof," exclusively on OurSports Central Radio.
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