Guard turns table early on Friday 'Fright Night'
May 13, 2005 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Fayetteville Guard News Release
KISSIMMEE, Fla. What turned out to be a less than Fright Night at the Spur was really a nightmare for the Kissimmee Kreatures as the National Indoor Football League team struggled through a despondent first half as Fayetteville quarterback Brian Baker tossed five touchdown passes in a 47-34 win for the Guard Friday night.
Who needed a full moon when its Friday the 13th, you expect weird things to happen. When you are beat up, come out flat and have an up and down defense, then something is bizarre, said bewildered Kissimmee head coach Marquette Smith.
Smith got six points on two Jeff Bacigalupi field goals, trailed 19-6, at halftime and lost by the same margin, 13 points, after matching the Guard score for score in the second half.
The closest the Kreatures could come in the second half was 39-34 with 3:49 remaining on a Rob Harding one-yard run and a Bacigalupi kicked extra point.
Just when you thought the Kreatures would more than rise from the grave, Baker put another nail in the coffin with a 29-yard bomb to Brandon McDowell, his third, and longest, touchdown grab of the evening.
That gave the Guard, whose road uniforms were not as militaristic as previously thought having only a gray and black camouflage on top of the shoulder pad portion, a 47-34 margin with 2:34 left.
Harding took charge, after being spelled by backup Rick Pyle for most of the third quarter and the beginning of the 4th, and drove Kissimmee 26 yards on six plays.
Stymied on the 3-yard line, and having eaten up more time than it takes Werewolf to eat its prey, Harding on third and goal at the three was picked off by Kelvin Jones who downed the ball in the end zone with 1:00 left in the game.
We just came out flat, Smith said. I wont be making any more changes, he said of the eight he made over the last two weeks and then added another two-tonight receiver Eric Plant and Pyle.
Plant, out of Virginia State, had one catch for 6 yards but Pyle, who was at eastern Michigan, was impressive in his limited time. In four series, the 6-foot-5 Pyle was four of nine for 43 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Pyle gave spark to the fluttering first-half offense and connected with backup quarterback turned receiver Brock Jones for seven yards with a little more than five minutes left in the third.
His swing pass to TJ Simmons gained a couple of yards and Simmons made the rest happen for 23 yards less than three minutes later. That brought the lead back to 13 for the Guard at 33-20.
We are really trying to get better but there is no consistency, said Smith.
What was consistent at times Friday night was the defense. Defensive backs Harold Jacobs and Bishlar Penson each had tackles for losses. It was Penson, however, who came up big with two interceptions and two pass breakups.
Derrick Coakley collected his fourth sack of the season and 54th of his indoor career. It was difficult to get to Baker, out of Austin Peay; because of the protection his line gave him all night.
For the Kreatures, they travel to Miami on Saturday, May 21, to take on the Morays in a 7 p.m. game. Coming back home wont be until the last game of the season (June 18) against the Lakeland ThunderBolts.
In the meantime, the Kreatures will be on the road to Daytona Beach (Monday, May 23), at Fayetteville Guard (Sat. June 4) and at the Rome Renegades (Sat. June 11).
For additional information about The Kissimmee Kreatures, the NIFL, or season ticket and corporate sponsorship information, please visit our website at www.kissimmeekreatures.com or call 863-687-8110. Additional information about the team can be found at the league website, www.nationalindoorfootballleague.net, or 888-422-9682.
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National Indoor Football League Stories from May 13, 2005
- Guard turns table early on Friday 'Fright Night' - Fayetteville Guard
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- Miami Morays vs. New Jersey Xtreme preview - Miami Morays
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- Renegades Add Avrillen to roster - Rome Renegades
- Kreatures face unknown in Guard - Kissimmee Kreatures
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