Katy breaks NIFL scoring mark, other records
June 27, 2006 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Texas Copperheads News Release
Katy, Texas - June 25, 2006 - Some nights a team can click on all cylinders and that was the case in the Copperheads 132-3 record setting win versus the West Palm Beach Phantoms at the Merrell Center last night. The 132 points breaks the NIFL record of 120 by the Lincoln Capitols versus the River City Renegades on June 29, 2002.
Yes that's 132-3. Katy is your winner and now after completion of its first season in existence turns its focus to the 2006 NIFL playoffs.
Many other records were broken in this scoring fest counting the point's record. Katy scored nine touchdowns the previous record was 17 in the Lexington Horsemen versus the Waco Marshals on Jun 26, 2004. Katy also attempted 18 PAT's which broke the record of 17. Whitney Hillin tied the league record of PAT's made in a game at 16. Darrick Wallace set a new mark with two missed field goals for touchdowns. The defense which dominated the Phantoms set a new NIFL record of four interceptions returned for touchdowns in one game. The defense also recovered seven fumbles for a new record.
"What can I say? I'm very proud of our defense," said Copperheads defensive coordinator Troy Esprit, who coached until the final seconds like his team was clinging to a two-point lead. "All night long, we were in the right place at the right time. Our pass rush was excellent. I thought we really kept the pressure on their quarterback. Our secondary covered well, resulting in a bunch of interceptions. I thought we controlled the line of scrimmage and any time you keep a team out of the end zone, you've got to be happy. I'm just very proud of these guys."
"In our first year, we're going to the playoffs and we set a record scoring points in a single game," said Copperheads defensive end Tommy Balom, who played at Texas Southern University and scored the last touchdown of the game when he recovered a fumbled kickoff in the end zone. "I don't know if you can ask much more from us as a team. Now we get to play a playoff game in Katy and we feel like we're ready. We've been playing real well lately, scoring a lot of points and shutting people down with our defense, so we feel like we're ready for the playoffs."
They sure looked ready Saturday night as Balom and line mates Anthony George and Matthew Beeler were in the Phantom backfield all night. That resulted in West Palm Beach quarterback Tommy Smith, who didn't have time to throw on more than two or three of his 31 attempts, completing nine short passes and throwing seven interceptions, four of which were returned for Katy touchdowns.
Victor Malone would have two of those in the second half for the Copperheads while Darrick Wallace and Greg Yeldell picked off and returned Smith's fourth and fifth passes of the game for scores, putting the Copperheads in front 20-0 with 1:52 left in the first period. In all, Katy scored 19 touchdowns and kicker Whitney Hillin, who electrified the crowd with his dancing at midfield during breaks, converted 16 point-after tries.
National Indoor Football League Stories from June 27, 2006
- Katy breaks NIFL scoring mark, other records - Texas Copperheads
- Robbins, T'Bolts Top Osceola, 44-23 - Lakeland ThunderBolts
- Revolution team up with Local Moe's Southwest Grill for National Burrito Eating Contest - Greensboro Revolution
- Guard Snaps Maulers Streak, 68-14 - Montgomery Bears
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