Horsemen edge Tennessee Valley, clinch playoff berth
July 11, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Kentucky Horsemen News Release
The Kentucky Horsemen defeated the Southern division leader Tennessee Valley Vipers 42-40 Saturday night at Rupp Arena. The win clinched a playoff berth for the Horsemen, and avenged a loss to Tennessee Valley that Kentucky had suffered earlier this season.
Kentucky (9-5) is now one game behind Tennessee Valley (10-4) for the division lead, and will battle for the right to host a playoff game with the remaining two games in the season.
Kentucky has now won four in a row, and six of their last seven games.
Kentucky's duo of quarterbacks each played another good game in route to the Horsemen victory. Jared Lorenzen threw for 105 yards and two touchdowns; he also had 31 yards rushing and his 20th rushing touchdown of the season. Justin Rascati notched 133 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Harry Lewis notched his 100th and 101st career touchdown receptions in the victory. Lonnell Dewalt also had a milestone moment when he brought in his 31st touchdown reception of the season; this sets a Kentucky Horsemen record for most touchdown catches in a single season.
Tennessee Valley opened the scoring on the first drive of the game with a three yard touchdown run by Travis Blanchard. Kentucky answered with a four yard touchdown pass from Jared Lorenzen to Lonnell Dewalt. The touchdown catch was Dewalt's 31st of the season, which sets a new Kentucky Horsemen record for most touchdown receptions in a single season. Kevin Eakin concluded the first quarter scoring, and gave the Vipers the lead back with a four yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Grier, making the score 14-7.
To begin the second quarter, Tennessee Valley extended their lead to 21-7 on a four yard touchdown pass from Eakin to Grier. Kentucky answered, as Justin Rascati connected with Lonnell Dewalt for his second touchdown catch of the night on a six yard touchdown pass. The Horsemen cut the lead to 21-14, and capitalized after a recovered fumble as Jared Lorenzen powered into the end zone for his 20th rushing touchdown of the season, tying the score at 21. After Kentucky recovered their onside kick attempt, Justin Rascati delivered a 28 yard touchdown strike to Harry Lewis putting the Horsemen up 28-21 heading into halftime.
Harry Lewis also had a milestone moment of his own during the second quarter. His touchdown catch that put the Horsemen up 28-21 was the 100th of his career.
The third quarter was highlighted by Justin Rascati's 28 yard touchdown pass to Quentin McCord which extended the Horsemen lead to 35-21. The score gave the Horsemen their biggest lead of the night heading into the fourth quarter.
Tennessee Valley cut the Horsemen lead to seven early in the fourth quarter. After another Viper touchdown, a missed extra point kept the Horsemen on top 35-34. Jared Lorenzen's 31 yard run kept the clock moving, and extended a Kentucky drive with time winding down. Lorenzen then found Harry Lewis for his 101st touchdown reception, putting the Horsemen up 42-34. Tennessee Valley had one last threat as they came within two with a touchdown, but failed to convert the two point conversion. Kentucky ran the remaining clock out, and prevailed 42-40.
The Horsemen return to action next Saturday as they host the Peoria Pirates. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. EST and will be carried live on Supertalk 96.1 with Gary Ball and Randy Wilson.
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