Hawgs hold off Kreatures, 44-38
April 2, 2005 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Daytona Beach Hawgs News Release
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Oscar Davenport threw for 179 yards and four touchdowns -- three to Robert Bailey --as the Daytona Beach Hawgs fended off the Kissimmee Kreatures for a 44-38 National Indoor Football League victory Saturday night at Silver Spurs Arena.
Davenport started strong -- 100 yards and three touchdowns in the opening 15 minutes -- and was backed by a Hawgs defense that forced five Kreatures turnovers.
The Hawgs opened up a 38-19 lead midway throught the third quarter on a Brad Lee run, but Daytona Beach allowed Kissimmee to stay in contention with a slew of second half turnovers.
Kissimmee pulled to within a touchdown twice in the final 1:54 on touchdown passes from Rob Harding to TJ Simmons.
The Hawgs held on though, getting onside kick recoveries from Jon Xynidis and Bobby Bass and Davenport's 8-yarder to Bailey with 1:33 to hold the Kreatures at bay.
"It's an ugly victory,'' said Hawgs coach Ervin Bryson. "We're fortunate to get this win because we almost gave them the game."
The Hawgs' first-ever road improved their record to 2-1, while Kissimmee slipped to 1-2.
Bailey finished with six catches for 72 yards, which included a 45-yard strike from Davenport that put the Hawgs ahead 13-7.
Lucas Green made a strong first impression in his Hawgs debut, catching four passes for 49 yards and one touchdown, a 28-yarder. The NIFL All-Star also had a two-point conversion.
"I worked out with Oscar to get back into the rhythm. "I hadn't been on the field since last year's playoffs [with Sioux City] but it felt good."
Erie Williams added five catches for 58 yards, several on key third and fourth down situation
Running back Brad Lee was contained to 50 yards on 21 attempts. Davenport had a 1-yard keeper.
Micah Simmons had his second two-interception game of the season, and Nick Allison also had two picks as the Hawgs stopped a Kreature squad that was avaeraging 63.5 points a game.
Levar Simms registered nine tackles for the Hawgs, while Marcus Washington, a former Cleveland Brown, had 5.5 tackles and a sack.
The Hawgs return to the Ocean Center April 11 against the Montana Mavericks.
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