Horsemen advance to Indoor Bowl 4
Published on July 29, 2004 under National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Kentucky Horsemen News Release
The Lexington Horsemen (13-4) advanced to Indoor Bowl 4 on Friday with an upset 35-34 victory over the defending NIFL champion Ohio Valley Greyhounds (12-4). WR Harry Lewis caught a 1-yard pass from Dusty Bonner with 10 seconds to play in the game to knot the score at 34. K Justin Hutton, who had the best game of his Horsemen career, coolly knocked in the extra point to give the Horsemen the 35-34 lead. Ohio Valley K John Wehrle missed a 33-yard field goal attempt at the final horn, and the Horsemen are one game from the NIFL title. With the win, the Horsemen snapped the Greyhounds' 35-game home winning streak, and also defeated the Hounds for the first time in six games in their rivalry.
Bonner had a typical strong day for the Horsemen, completing 16 of 23 passes for 105 yards and the touchdown to Lewis. Bonner was also not intercepted by the Greyhounds' ball-hawking defense. Lewis led all receivers with 7 catches for 33 yards, and Chad Spencer added 5 catches for 46 yards on the night. The running back tandem of Martez Johnson and Derek Homer combined for 30 carries and 88 yards in the game. Dougie Allen added 91 all-purpose yards and scored on a 50-yard kickoff return in the second quarter.
Defensively, the Horsemen were led by LB Shan Housekeeper, who had 8.0 total tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss. Housekeeper was aided up front by DL Nate Van Sickel, who also had 8.0 tackles on the night. In the backfield, DB Champ Kelly contributed 8.0 tackles, and DB William Mulder notched 5.0 tackles and an interception.
K Justin Hutton turned in a virtuoso performance, hitting on four of five field goals, and making all three of his PAT attempts. DL Gordon Crowe also made a tremendous special teams play, returning a blocked PAT kick from Wehrle for a two-point play.
HORSEMEN PLAYOFF PICTURE
The playoff picture has come to this: the Horsemen will travel to Sioux Falls, SD to play the Sioux Falls Storm in Indoor Bowl 4. The winner takes home the NIFL championship.
Indoor Bowl 4 (August 7): Lexington (13-4) at Sioux Falls (13-3)
THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT: SIOUX FALLS STORM
The Horsemen will travel to South Dakota to take on the Pacific Conference champion Storm for the NIFL title. For the second game in a row, Lexington will be facing a stout defense, as Sioux Falls finished first in the league in rushing defense (44.4 ypg), second in scoring defense (33.4 ppg), and fifth in total defense (185.3 ypg). The Storm is no slouch on the offensive side on the ball, either, boasting the NIFL's fourth-best passing attack (183.9 ypg) and finishing fifth in total offense (254.4 ypg).
Offensively, the Storm are led by a pair of dangerous receivers: Corey Walker, who finished sixth in the league in receptions (with 74); and Matt Holmlund, who was ninth in the NIFL in receiving yards (with 771). The two also combined for 25 touchdown catches on the year.
Defensively, the Storm are led up front by Nate Fluit, who was second in the NIFL in tackles for loss this season (19.0) and third in sacks (11.0). Fluit is supported in the secondary by Bobby Perkins and Andre Fields, who each notched 16 passes defended on the year. The Sioux Falls defense will also look to Mark Blackburn (82.0 tackles, ninth in the league) and Joe Evenson (78.0 tackles) to make plays on the defensive side of the ball.
The Storm also feature one of the top kickers in the league, Adam Hicks, who finished second in scoring among kickers, with 157 points on the year.
OTHER NEWS AND NOTES
Horsemen to offer travel package to fans
The Horsemen are offering a travel package to any fans who want to accompany the team to Sioux Falls for Indoor Bowl 4. The package, which costs $199 per person, includes bus transportation to the game, hotel accommodations on game night, and a ticket to the Indoor Bowl. Interested fans should contact the Horsemen office at 859-422-7277.
The Horsemen game against Sioux Falls will be broadcast live at 8:30 PM EST on WLAP 630-AM. Ryan Lemond and Jeff Gilstrap will have the call.
National Indoor Football League Stories from July 29, 2004
- Terry Phillips named conference all-star - Evansville BlueCats
- Horsemen advance to Indoor Bowl 4 - Kentucky Horsemen
- Greyhounds garner seven conference all-star slots - Ohio Valley Greyhounds
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