Hammers Tipped by Freedom in a Wild One
June 15, 2014 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Alabama Hammers News Release
The Alabama Hammers and Trenton Freedom played what many considered to be one of the most exciting games in the history of indoor football in Huntsville Saturday night at the Von Braun Center. Like a heavyweight boxing match, blow after blow were delivered with the last team standing claiming victory in the epic battle of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL).
The Freedom (8-2) scored the last 10-points of the game, including the game winning 30-yard field goal with 5-seconds remaining to give Trenton a dramatic come-from-behind 49-47 victory over the Hammers (3-7). Alabama somehow secured a chance to win the game on the final play of the game, but missed on a 47-yard field goal attempt.
"This was classic arena football," said Dean Cokinos head coach of the Hammers. "This game usually is played to the last possession and we had a chance to win, but just didn't make the kick. Overall, we played good enough to win. This upcoming week, we'll have to regroup and get ready for our next battle on the field."
Trenton scored on the game's second play on a 25-yard run up the middle by Melik Brown and the battle was underway. Alabama returned the punch three minutes later on a Russel Hill to Charlie McClain 3-yard pass. The Freedom scored twice more (1-yard run by Brown and a Shawn Leo field goal) and led 16-6 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Alabama struck again on a 3-yard Hill to Mico McSwain pass, a 32-yard pick-six by T.J. Williams, an awesome 28-yard one-handed grab down the left sideline by McSwain and a 3-yard laser pass from Hill to McClain. Trenton also scored on a bullish type run by Brown to make the score 33-24 in favor of Alabama at the half.
In the third, Freedom quarterback Warren Brown used his legs instead of his arm to take charge scoring on a 9-yard QB keeper and a Uno by Leo to get within one point of the Hammers. Alabama went on a 10-play, 45-yard drive with a 10-yard scoring pass from Hill to Larry Shipp for a 39-32 Hammers lead going into the fourth quarter.
In the final stanza, the Freedom tied the score on a 33-yard pass from Smith to Antoine Rivera. The Hammers scored on a 25-yard crossing pattern when Hill hit Shipp for the TD followed by an Armando Cuko Uno to put the hometown team in front 47-39 with 8-minutes remaining. Trenton returned the punch on a Smith to Roger Jackson scoring pass covering 21-yards to move to within one point of the Hammers. Choosing to go for a touchdown and not a four-point lead with a field goal with 1-minute remaining, the Hammers missed on a fourth down pass. Trenton used the final ticks of the clock moving downfield with Leo hitting the 30-yard winning field goal with 5-seconds remaining for a two-point lead. The Hammers did have one last shot at victory, but missed on a kick that sailed wide left.
Trenton remains in first place in the Nation Conference. Despite the loss, the Hammers remain alive for a post-season playoff spot in the American Conference as both Columbus and Georgia also lost its games to put all three teams within striking distance of securing a position in the playoffs.
Next week, the Hammers host the Columbus Lions in what will determine the outcome of the playoff scenario for the defending PIFL Champion Hammers.
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Professional Indoor Football League Stories from June 15, 2014
- Steelhawks Survive Barnburner against Fire - Lehigh Valley Steelhawks
- Stampede Struggle at Home Versus Richmond - Harrisburg Stampede
- Hammers Tipped by Freedom in a Wild One - Alabama Hammers
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