Late Macon Field Goal Ends Vipers' Title Dreams
August 15, 2003 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Macon kicker Wesley Wilson's 20-yard field goal with three seconds remaining ended the Tennessee Valley Vipers' championship hopes here Thursday night.
The Knights (13-6) never trailed en route to a 51-48 victory over the Vipers (15-3) in front of 3,680 fans at the Von Braun Center. Macon will play the winner of tonight's Arkansas-Tulsa battle in the af2 championship game.
Macon took advantage of two early interceptions by Viper quarterback Matt Sauk to jump out to a 14-0 lead. Despite a furious comeback by Tennessee Valley, the Knights' defense stuffed Reggie Worthy on a 4-and-goal run at the 1 with the game tied at the four-minute mark. Macon quarterback Jermaine Alfred completed four passes and rushed twice for 8 yards to lead the Knights down the field. His effort was aided by two Viper penalties.
The Vipers had one faint chance, but Sauk's last-second desperation pass into the end zone fell to the ground.
The Knights converted on the two early Viper turnovers with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Alfred to Anthony Snead and a 1-yard run by Mario Evans. The Vipers didn't score until four seconds into the second quarter on a 3-yard run by Dedric Maffett. Macon, however, answered within two minutes on another Alfred-to-Snead pass - this one for 33 yards to give the Knights a 20-6 lead with 13:11 left in the half.
Worthy then scored his first of three rushing touchdowns to close the gap. His 1-yard run cut Macon's lead to 20-13. Both teams scored in the final 42 seconds of the half. Alfred hit Miacah Cooper on a 12-yard pass, and Viper Jerrian James - on a receiver pass - tossed a 5-yard score to a wide-open Andy Fuller. Macon led 26-19 at the half.
The Vipers played much more inspired football in the second half, but could never gain the advantage. Tennessee Valley tied the game a minute into the third quarter on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Sauk Ronney Daniels. From there, the two teams traded scores, with Macon possessing the ball last.
The scoring was:
- Alfred to Tremaine Neal for 37 yards for Macon, and a two-point run by Alfred
- Worthy with a 5-yard run, and a Sauk-to-Fuller two-point conversion
- Alfred to Neal again, this time from 2 yards out
- Xavier Patterson of the Vipers with a 56-yard kickoff return
- Alfred on a 1-yard run
- Worthy with a 2-yard
- Wilson's 20-yard field goal
Neal was named the Player and Ironman of the Game. He caught eight passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns on offense and recorded six tackles on defense. Macon defensive specialist Denario Smalls was named ADT Defensive Player of the Game. He had five tackles, one interception and two pass deflections.
United Indoor Football Association Stories from August 15, 2003
- FireAnts Team Up With Local Youth Tackle Football Program - Tupelo FireAnts
- Wes Stephens Named af2 Lineman of the Year - Tennessee Valley Raptors
- FireAnts First Open Tryout Tomorrow - Tupelo FireAnts
- Late Macon Field Goal Ends Vipers' Title Dreams - Tennessee Valley Raptors
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