Lakeland comes from behind to defeat Rome 31-23
Published on May 21, 2005 under National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Lakeland ThunderBolts News Release
ROME, Ga. On a night when the defense prevailed, Lakeland used its balanced offense, behind quarterback Jeremy Martin, to overcome a 14-0 first-half deficit as the ThunderBolts downed the Rome Renegades, 31-23, Friday night in a National Indoor Football League game.
Before the smallest crowd of the season in the Forum, Lakeland (4-6) chipped away at the Renegades (4-5) lead until it took a slim, 22-20 lead, in the 3rd quarter. It wasn't until early in the 4th period that the Thunderbolts finally took the lead for good, 28-23.
Martin, whose continued leadership has driven the T-Bolts, had his 5th 200-plus yard game, but more importantly directed drives that put Lakeland in the driver ¬â¢s seat.
Trailing 20-10 at halftime, Martin connected with Will Glover for 26 yards at 13:53 of the third four minutes later unloaded a 43-yard strike to Raymond Hardy. Both Steve Kratz's extra point kicks failed but the ThunderBolts led for the first time, 22-20, with 9:35 left in the quarter.
Rome came right back on the next possession and kicker Brian Tracy nailed a 13-yarder, allowing the Renegades to regain the lead, 23-22, with six minutes left in the 3rd stanza.
Defense again keyed Lakeland as Damien Demps, who collected his 6th interception of the season, came to the rescue. It was his second of the game with 1:15 left in the third quarter and he caught the ball on the Lakeland 4 yard line and returned it to the 20.
Martin came in for a drive that overlapped the 3rd and 4th quarters and handed off to Nunnie Booker, who had a team-high 51 yards rushing on 18 carries, and the former Ottawa University ran the final 3 yards at 14:13. That gave the Bolts a 28-23 margin.
On the next Rome series, quarterback Bo Bartik drove the Renegades a mere 16 yards in eight plays, only to see Tracy miss his third field goal attempt from 21 yards with 8:44 left. The drive consumed 5:14 on the clock.
Lakeland took over on its own 5-yard line and Kratz ends a four-play, 40-yard drive by nailing a 16-yard field goal with 3:58 remaining in the game.
Tracy, before a crowd announced at 783, missed for the fourth time from 46 with 1:56 left, Kratz missed from 44 with 18 seconds on the clock and Courtney Miller ¬â¢s 2nd interception of the season ended the game for Lakeland.
Martin ended the game connecting on 14 of 25 and backup Michael Peeples came in for the last series and was two of three passing.
Glover, who had a season-high nine catches for 123 yards and three TDs last week against San Angelo, had seven receptions for 102 yards. William Andrews chipped in for five grabs for 59 yards and Hardy had two for 47.
Bartik was 17 of 33 for 175 yards and one touchdown, but the three interceptions proved deadly.
The ThunderBolts have a week off (bye) before they travel to Montgomery to meet the Maulers on June 4. They return home on June 11 against Montgomery before finishing the season on the road at Kissimmee and New Jersey.
National Indoor Football League Stories from May 21, 2005
- McFadden carries Morays to 48-43 win over Kreatures - Miami Morays
- Lakeland comes from behind to defeat Rome 31-23 - Lakeland ThunderBolts
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