Haymakers Hold Off Edge, Seal Victory With Late Onside Kick Recovery
May 3, 2013 - Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL)
Lincoln Haymakers News Release
Lincoln, NE - The Haymakers hosted the Bloomington Edge in a game that featured two teams battling for a playoff berth. The game started fast and ended exciting. At the end of the night, the Haymakers came out on top 48-39 led by outstanding performances by Blake Bolles, Cortney Grixby, and Willie Horn. The Haymakers wasted no time getting the excitement started against Bloomington. Cortney Grixby returned the opening kick all the way to the 4 yard line, setting up an easy touchdown run for Marlon Lucky to give the Haymakers an early 7-0 lead. The Lincoln defense also came ready to play, with Linebacker Willie Horn intercepting a Bloomington pass on their first defensive possession. Only a few plays after the interception, Quarterback Black Bolles ran for a 12 yard touchdown on a designed QB draw giving the Haymakers a 14-0 lead only six minutes into the game. With the early momentum, the Lincoln offense drove right down the field, setting up a fourth down touchdown run by Bolles, his second of the game, this time from 6 yards out. At the end of the first, the Haymakers were up 20-0.
The second quarter started just the same as the first quarter had ended: with a Blake Bolles touchdown, this time through the air to wide receiver Marquis Rolle, giving the Haymakers an early 26-0 lead. Bloomington wasn't ready to throw in the towel however, scoring quickly on a kick return and then adding a short touchdown run later in the quarter. The half ended with a Benny Hanaphy field goal as time expired to give us a 29-13 Haymaker lead at halftime.
The third quarter was a story of field goals and fumbles. Each team kicked one field goal and recovered one fumble until another Blake Bolles touchdown run added six points with 2 minutes left in the quarter.
The teams entered the fourth quarter with a score of 36-19, but Bloomington was determined to make it a close game at the end. The Edge started with a touchdown pass early in the quarter to bring themselves within ten. With five minutes left in the game, the Edge lined up for a 56 yard field goal. The kick sailed wide left into the waiting hands of Cortney Grixby. Grixby returned the kick the entire length of the field for a Haymakers touchdown. The score gave Lincoln a 42-26 lead and just about blew the roof off of the Pershing Center. The Edge, still determined, scored on a quick touchdown pass, had an important defensive stop, and then scored another quick touchdown to bring the score to 42-39 with only 1:01 left to play. Bloomington then lined up for the most exciting play in football: the onside kick. The kick bounced ten yards where it was batted by a Lincoln player and rolled into the endzone where it was recovered by Kaylon Price for a Haymaker touchdown. An interception on Bloomington's last hope sealed the Haymaker victory! Lincoln moves to 3-4 on the year and are in the hunt for the final playoff spot.
The Haymakers travel to Omaha next Saturday to take on the in-state rival Beef. The next home game for the Haymakers will be Saturday June 1st at 7:05pm in the Pershing Center for the final showdown with the Omaha Beef.
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Champions Professional Indoor Football League Stories from May 3, 2013
- Haymakers Hold Off Edge, Seal Victory With Late Onside Kick Recovery - Lincoln Haymakers
- Late Effort Not Enough as Edge Fall in Lincoln - Bloomington Edge
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