Horsemen pound Wichita Falls, ready for rematch with defending champs
May 11, 2004 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Kentucky Horsemen News Release
The Lexington Horsemen (4-2 overall, 3-0 division) notched an impressive 71-34 win over the visiting Wichita Falls Thunder Friday night in Rupp Arena, using a late first-half burst to pull away from a shorthanded Thunder squad. Wichita Falls led early in the game and was still within striking distance with less than a minute to go in the first half when they scored to cut Lexington's lead to 27-19. Horsemen WR Dougie Allen then made the play that turned the tide squarely in Lexington's favor, taking the ensuing kickoff 51 yards for a touchdown. LB Shan Housekeeper followed that up with an interception on Wichita Falls' next play from scrimmage, and QB Dusty Bonner found Allen in the end zone two plays later to stretch the lead out to 41-19 just before halftime. Lexington scored again on the opening drive of the second half via a 16-yard pass from Bonner to WR Harry Lewis, and the rout was on.
Allen led all players with a whopping 185 return yards on the day with one touchdown, and added 3 catches for 27 yards and a score receiving. Bonner finished the game 18 of 27 with 178 yards passing, and threw six touchdowns to six different receivers. He threw one interception on the day. Derek Homer led the ground attack with 32 yards rushing on 5 carries, and scored on a four-yard run late in the fourth quarter. Chad Spencer put in another fine effort receiving, catching five passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. Martez Johnson added four catches for 31 yards, and scored on a 9-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, DB William Mulder again paced the Horsemen with 8.0 total tackles on the night, while LB Chris Gayton chipped in with 7.0. DB Nate Green picked up another interception, bringing his total on the year to five. DL Nate Van Sickel was a presence in the Wichita Falls backfield for much of the night, tallying 2.0 sacks and two quarterback hurries. DL Gordon Crowe was disruptive as well, notching 2.0 tackles for loss and forcing a fumble.
HORSEMEN STATISTICAL LEADERS
Several Horsemen are among the league's statistical leaders this season. Dusty Bonner is currently third in the league in pass rating with a 108.7 figure, trailing only Utah's Danny Ragsdale and Fort Wayne's Antione Taylor. Bonner is also second overall in passing touchdowns (28) and sixth in passing yards per game (183.3). WR Chad Spencer is currently fourth in the league in receptions per game (7.20), and is tied for fourth in the league in receiving touchdowns, with 12. WR Dougie Allen continues to pile up the all-purpose yards, and is currently seventh in the NIFL with 799 total all-purpose yards on the year. Allen is also seventh in kick return average at 22.1 yards per return.
K Justin Hutton is currently tied for eighth in scoring among kickers with 47 points on the season, and is fourth overall in PAT kicking, having made 35 of 39 attempts for an 89.7 percentage on the season.
Defensively, DB Nate Green is currently fourth in the NIFL in interceptions, having returned five picks for 60 yards and a touchdown. DB Derek Homer is tied for eighth in passes defended, with 10 on the season.
THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT: OHIO VALLEY GREYHOUNDS
The Horsemen visit Wheeling, WV this week to renew their rivalry with the defending champion Ohio Valley Greyhounds, who are coming off of their first loss in over two years. Last week, Ohio Valley fell 43-35 to Fort Wayne, a team that Lexington has defeated twice this season.
Despite the loss, the Greyhounds are a force to be reckoned with, especially on the defensive side of the ball, where they rank first in the NIFL in scoring defense (23.6 ppg) and second in total defense (145.1 ypg) and pass defense (91.0 ypg). The Ohio Valley defense is loaded with weapons, including Angel Estrada (2nd in the league in passes defended, 3rd in interceptions), Curtese Poole (3rd in tackles for loss, 9th in sacks, 11th in total tackles), Allan Jackson (8th in tackles for loss, 15th in total tackles), and Shawn Hackett (10th in total tackles).
Offensively, the Greyhounds' two primary weapons are RB Rayshawn Askew (fifth in the league in rushing yards), who racked up 89 rushing yards on the Horsemen in their first meeting this year, and K John Wehrle, who is fifth in the NIFL in scoring among kickers.
OTHER NEWS AND NOTES
Allen named Atlantic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week; Peoples rejoins Horsemen, awaits word from NFL; Grayson Smith to suit up for this week's game
Dougie Allen was named Atlantic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his 185-yard effort against Wichita Falls. Allen, who was Atlantic East Division Special Teams Player of the Year in 2003, also scored on a 51-yard return.
Horsemen DL Sylvester Peoples has returned from Atlanta, GA after participating in a three-day minicamp with the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. Peoples will play on Saturday night in Wheeling as his agent awaits further word from the NFL. New addition Jermaine Bradfield will remain with the Horsemen. Former Horsemen DL Grayson Smith will also be suiting up for this week's game against Ohio Valley.
The Horsemen game will be broadcast live at 7:30 PM EST on WLAP 630-AM. Jim Tirey and Ryan Lemond will have the call.
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National Indoor Football League Stories from May 11, 2004
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- NIFL Announces Players of the Week - NIFL
- Greyhounds Go Orange - Ohio Valley Greyhounds
- Horsemen pound Wichita Falls, ready for rematch with defending champs - Kentucky Horsemen
- Bucks cap the Drillers - Houma Bayou Bucks
- Bluecats Outlast Believers in Record-Setting Game - Evansville BlueCats
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