Last Second Field Goal Gives San Angelo First Playoff Win
July 20, 2009 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Abilene Ruff Riders News Release
ABILENE, TX. : In what was arguably the best post-season game to date in the â09 Indoor Football League playoffs, the San Angelo Stampede Express won their first playoff game in the organization's history with Tommy Staples registering a 22-yard field goal as time expired to defeat the Abilene Ruff Riders, 37-34. Abilene was entering their first ever post-season game on Saturday, July 18 as San Angelo was making their first trip to the playoffs since 2004. The intriguing match-up in the ball game was the Abilene defense versus the San Angelo offense led by quarterback Sonny Cumbie.
Abilene got on the scoreboard first as Nick Pertuit nailed down a 33-yard field goal following a four-play drive to start the ball game. Following a big stop on defense, the Ruff Riders extended their lead to 10-0 after QB Randy Hymes hooked up with wide out Juan Reese for a pretty 44-yard touchdown pass. Down early, San Angelo needed to get points on the board and they did so with Sonny Cumbie finding Tarvarres Williams for a 33-yard touchdown pass to cut the Abilene lead to 10-7. The first quarter would end with Ruff Riders running back Carlos Alsup finding the end-zone on a four-yard touchdown run to extend the Ruff Riders lead to 17-7. It would be Alsup's only touchdown of the evening.
In the second quarter, Sonny Cumbie picked up a five-yard touchdown run to narrow the margin to 17-14. Abilene's dual-running back system took off during the mid-portion of the second quarter when Bernard Payton ran in a four-yard touchdown run to make it 24-14. Cumbie tacked on another touchdown run this time from one yard out to cut the Abilene lead to 24-21. However, Abilene regained momentum to close out the first half when Randy Hymes found Fred Howze for a 10-yard touchdown pass to make it 31-21. Additionally, Abilene held K Tommy Staples to a missed field goal to close out the first half at 31-21.
The second half was very much a defensive battle between both teams as Abilene was held to just three points in the half. San Angelo outscored the Ruff Riders in the third quarter 7-0 after RB Voncarie Owens scored his first of two touchdowns from one yard out to cut the Abilene lead to 31-28.
San Angelo would take their first lead of the ball game with 8:07 remaining when Owens found the end-zone on a 23-yard touchdown run. However, Staples extra point attempt was no good making it a field goal game at 34-31. Being down three, the Ruff Riders put together a long drive that nearly took seven minutes only to be capped off with a clutch 26-yard field goal from Nick Pertuit. The game was tied at 34 with 1:33 remaining.
With timeouts to spare, San Angelo would develop a seven-play drive to move the ball down into Abilene territory. The Stampede offense effectively used Voncarie Owens and Brannon Hatley to run the football and set-up Staples for one last field goal attempt before a possible overtime situation. With three seconds remaining and both teams out of time outs, Tommy Staples nailed a 22-yard field goal with no time remaining to win the game for San Angelo, 37-34. Sonny Cumbie finished the game throwing for 202 yards and three total touchdowns as Bobby Chase caught seven passes for 84 yards. Abilene QB Randy Hymes threw for 84 yards and one touchdown as Carlos Alsup and Bernard Payton combined for 68 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Abilene finishes the 2009 IFL season with a 8-7 overall record as San Angelo continues on in the post-season to take on the El Paso Generals (12-2) in the second round of the playoffs on Sunday, July 26 from the El Paso County Coliseum.
Further information regarding these topics can be obtained by contacting the Abilene Ruff Riders front office at (325) 677 - PASS (7277) or by visiting the official website of the Abilene Ruff Riders at www.abileneruffriders.com.
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Indoor Football League Stories from July 20, 2009
- El Paso Generals Announce Practice Schedule For Playoff Week - El Paso Generals
- Last Second Field Goal Gives San Angelo First Playoff Win - Abilene Ruff Riders
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