Horsemen advance in playoffs with 54-25 win
Published on July 12, 2004 under National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Kentucky Horsemen News Release
The Lexington Horsemen (11-4) recorded the first playoff win in team history on Saturday, defeating the visiting Atlantic City CardSharks 54-25 to advance to the NIFL Atlantic Conference semifinals. The Horsemen defense snagged five interceptions in the game and held the CardSharks to just eight second-half points as Lexington put up 41 points in the second and third quarters to pull away.
QB Dusty Bonner completed 15 of 33 passes for 148 yards and five touchdowns on the day, with one interception. WR Chad Spencer led all receivers with 10 catches for 102 yards and three touchdowns, and RB Martez Johnson led all rushers with 30 yards on four carries. Johnson also pulled in a 33-yard touchdown reception and iced the game with a dazzling 41-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, DB William Mulder continued his torrid play, picking off two CardShark passes and returning one 31 yards for a touchdown. Mulder now has nine interceptions and five interception returns for touchdowns in the last three games. Nate Green, Shan Housekeeper and Champ Kelly also added interceptions in the game. Housekeeper led the Horsemen with 7.0 total tackles, while DL Jeremy Caudill notched three tackles for loss and a sack on the night.
HORSEMEN PLAYOFF PICTURE
With the win, the Horsemen advance to play Houma in the Atlantic Conference semifinals on Friday. This week's NIFL playoff schedule:
Atlantic Conference Semifinals: (July 16-17):
Houma (11-3) at Lexington (11-4) Fort Wayne (9-6) at Ohio Valley (11-3)
Pacific Conference Semifinals (July 17):
Omaha (10-5) at Billings (11-3) Utah (7-8) at Sioux Falls (11-3)
THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT: HOUMA BAYOU BUCKS
The 11-3 Houma Bayou Bucks, 2004 Atlantic South division champions, finished their impressive campaign fifth in the league in scoring offense (52.9 ppg) and fourth in the league in scoring defense (37.4 ppg allowed). Their opportunistic defense also helped them lead the league in turnover margin this season (+1.79 turnovers per game).
The Bucks offense is paced by QB Doug Coleman, WR Kevin Heard, and RB Jarvis Dunn, all of whom were among the league's statistical leaders this season. Coleman was second in the league in passing yards per game (194.0), and sixth in both passer rating (104.1) and total offense (197.9 ypg). Heard was third in receiving yards (1,020), fourth in scoring (192 points) and eighth in receptions (70) on the year. Dunn finished seventh in rushing (561 yards) on the season.
Defensively, the Bucks are led by DL Andre Reed, who finished ninth in the league in tackles for loss (14.0), and LB David Dorsey, who led the team in tackles with 62.0.
OTHER NEWS AND NOTES
Although Houma, with a higher seed in the playoffs, had the right to host this week's game, the Bayou Bucks elected to let Lexington host the game in Rupp Arena for scheduling reasons.
The Horsemen game against Houma will be broadcast live at 7:30 PM EST on WLAP 630-AM. Ryan Lemond and Jeff Gilstrap will have the call.
National Indoor Football League Stories from July 12, 2004
- Conference Semi-Finals Set - NIFL
- Horsemen advance in playoffs with 54-25 win - Kentucky Horsemen
- Greyhounds Open Drive to IB4 at the Bank - Ohio Valley Greyhounds
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