Horsemen roar into playoffs
July 8, 2004 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Kentucky Horsemen News Release
The Lexington Horsemen (10-4) finished their regular season in style, demolishing the Staten Island Xtreme 83-6 to wrap up the number 3 seed in the NIFL Atlantic Conference playoffs and set up a first-round matchup against Atlantic City in Rupp Arena.
The outcome of the game was never in doubt, as the Horsemen posted their second straight blowout to close out the regular season. QB Dusty Bonner finished the day 20 of 29 for 265 yards and seven touchdowns. RB Derek Homer led all rushers with 48 yards on eight carries and scored two rushing touchdowns on the night. WR Harry Lewis led all receivers in the game with 114 yards, setting a new team record for receiving yards in a game. Chad Spencer added six catches for 79 yards and three touchdowns as well.
Defensively, the Horsemen were led by another strong day from DB William Mulder, who had two interceptions in the game, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Mulder also recorded 5.5 total tackles in the game. LB Shawn Jones also had 5.5 tackles for the Horsemen, and DLs Nate Van Sickel, Sylvester Peoples, and Jermaine Bradfield each picked up a sack in the game.
On special teams, K Justin Hutton hit on 11 of 12 PATs in the game, bringing his season total to 96.
HORSEMEN PLAYOFF PICTURE
With the win, the Horsemen clinched the third seed in the postseason, and will face Atlantic City in the first round of the Atlantic Conference playoffs. Should the Horsemen win, they will next face the Houma Bayou Bucks, the number two seed in the Atlantic. The Atlantic Conference playoff schedule:
Round 1 (July 10-11):
Atlantic City (9-5) at Lexington (10-4)
Show Me (9-5) at Fort Wayne (8-6)
Round 2:
Highest seed remaining vs. Houma (11-3)
Lowest seed remaining vs. Ohio Valley (11-3)
For full playoff information, go to http://www.nationalindoorfootballleague.net/playoff_standings.htm.
HORSEMEN STATISTICAL LEADERS
With the regular season now completed, the Horsemen have put up some amazing statistics as a team and individually:
HORSEMEN TEAM: The Horsemen led the NIFL in scoring this year, with 820 total points (58.5 ppg). This is the second-highest point total in league history, trailing only Utah's total of 820 points in the 2003 season. Lexington also finished in the top five in the league in total offense (4th, 255.9 ypg); passing offense (3rd, 188.9 ypg); pass rating (1st, 108.4 rating); kickoff returns (2nd, 20.6 ypr); turnover margin (3rd, +1.36 per game); and sacks against (5th, 10 total sacks yielded).
QB DUSTY BONNER: Bonner had another spectacular year guiding the Horsemen offense, as he led the league in pass rating (108.5). His 2004 rating was the third-highest in league history, trailing only Utah's Danny Ragsdale (110.4 in 2003) and his own performance last year (109.2) as the highest full-season passer ratings in the NIFL. Bonner's 72 touchdowns also topped the league in 2004, and were the third-most ever, trailing only Bismarck's Chris Schwab (86 in 2003) and Ragsdale (73 in 2003) in the record books. Bonner also finished second in the league in total offense (2,723 yards) and third in the league in passing yards (2,659) in 2004.
WR CHAD SPENCER: Spencer became a regular fixture in the end zone for the Horsemen this year, finishing ninth in the league in scoring (164 points) and ninth in receptions (69). His 27 touchdown catches ranked him second among all receivers in 2004.
RB MARTEZ JOHNSON: Johnson, the 2003 Atlantic East Division Offensive MVP, had another strong campaign, finishing fourth in the NIFL in kickoff return average (22.8 ypr) and eighth in the league in rushing (547 yards).
WR DOUGIE ALLEN: Allen, the 2003 Atlantic East Division Special Teams MVP, racked up yards everywhere this season, finishing third in the league in all-purpose yards (1,262) and seventh in kickoff return average (21.4 ypr).
DB WILLIAM MULDER: New addition Mulder had an incredible finish to the season, and tallied 10 interceptions on the year, second best in 2004 and second-best in league history. He also set league records for interception return yardage (196 yards) and interception touchdowns (4) in a season. Mulder also forced three fumbles, tying him for third-best in the league, and led the Horsemen in tackles with 74.5 on the year.
DL SYLVESTER PEOPLES: Peoples was a presence in opposing backfields all season, finishing fifth in the league in sacks (10.0) and seventh in tackles for loss (15.5). He also tied with William Mulder for third in the NIFL in forced fumbles, with three.
DB NATE GREEN: Green continued his ball-hawking ways this season, finishing tied for third in interceptions, with eight.
K JUSTIN HUTTON: Hutton shattered the league record for extra points in a season, hitting on 96 of 108 PATs on the year and breaking Pete Garces of Ohio Valley's 2003 league record of 88 (set in 2003). Hutton also finished fifth among kickers in scoring on the season, racking up 117 points for the year.
THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT: ATLANTIC CITY CARDSHARKS
The CardSharks had a strong initial season in the NIFL, finishing 9-5 and earning a playoff berth. The Horsemen handed them one of their five losses in a 67-66 thriller in Atlantic City on May 22, in a game in which the lead changed hands four times in the final 1:21 of the fourth quarter. Derek Homer scored the game winner for the Horsemen on a one-yard plunge with 12 seconds remaining.
Atlantic City is led by QB Tony Racicoppi, who finished eighth in the league in total offense (177.1 ypg) and pass rating (102.3) this season. His favorite targets are WRs Greg Muckerson (68 receptions, 10th in the NIFL) and James DeMaise (1,529 all-purpose yards, 6th in the NIFL). DeMaise is also a special teams threat for Atlantic City, averaging 22.1 yards per kickoff return (5th in the league).
Defensively, the CardSharks are led by DL Eddie Bynes, a former star for Ohio Valley, who finished fifth in the league in sacks (9.0) and tackles for loss (17.0) this season. Bynes gets support from DL Jamal Naji, who was second in the league in fumbles forced, with four, and added 7.0 sacks on the year.
OTHER NEWS AND NOTES
Mulder, Peoples named Atlantic North Division All-Stars
Horsemen DB William Mulder and DL Sylvester Peoples were named to the Atlantic North Division All-Star team, the NIFL announced on Wednesday.
The Horsemen game against Atlantic City will be broadcast live at 7:30 PM EST on WLAP 630-AM. Ryan Lemond and Jeff Gilstrap will have the call.
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National Indoor Football League Stories from July 8, 2004
- NIFL Announces Players of the Week - NIFL
- Horsemen roar into playoffs - Kentucky Horsemen
- Four CardSharks Named to Atlantic East All-Star Team - Atlantic City CardSharks
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