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Lightning hold off Blitz

May 21, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


BAKERSFIELD, CA * Behind a defense that yielded 16 first-half points, the Stockton Lightning (3-4) held on to defeat the National Conference's West Division first-place Bakersfield Blitz (5-2) 49-42 before 4,759 at Rabobank Arena on Saturday night.

WR Phil Goodman led the Lightning receiving corps with two catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns, with Goodman's final tally coming 7:07 left in the fourth quarter for the game-winning score, converting a 45-yard strike from QB Josh Blankenship down the right sideline.

Bakersfield converted off a turnover for the first score of the game, capped by a Ben McCombs six-yard run with 6:44 left in the first. Following a blown point-after attempt, WR/DB Kenyatte Morgan sprinted the ensuing kickoff back 58 yards for the Lightning's first touchdown of the game, taking a 7-6 lead. Blankenship followed with 2:58 to go with a 14-yard touchdown pass to OS Atnas Maeko, stretching Stockton's lead to 14-6 after one quarter.

Following exchanged touchdowns from Bakersfield's Rennard Reynolds and Stockton's Damian Walker to begin the second quarter, Lightning DB Clyde Surrell intercepted a screen pass from Blitz QB Mike Wall, running the pick back 35 yards for a 28-13 Lightning lead. The Blitz closed the half with a 49-yard field goal from K Kirk Yliniemi as time expired, with Stockton sitting on a 28-16 cushion.

Bakersfield outscored the Lightning 20-14 in the third quarter in a comeback attempt, supported by two touchdown receptions from Reynolds and a Jerry Turner touchdown fumble recovery at the goal line. Goodman's first touchdown, a 13-yard reception, and a Blankenship quarterback keeper aided the Lightning offense to a 42-36 advantage after three stanzas.

With 12:57 left in the game, WR/DB DeRonn Finley cashed in a 22-yard touchdown reception for the Blitz to tie the game at 42-42, despite a botched point-after attempt from Yliniemi. Goodman responded with the game-winning score just over four minutes later, as Stockton's defense shut down Bakersfield despite the Blitz controlling the ball for 10:46 of the final quarter.

The win avenges the Lightning's 55-26 home opening loss to Bakersfield on April 29, while Stockton snaps Bakersfield's four-game winning streak. Wall led Bakersfield's offense with 246 yards passing (22-for-43) and four touchdowns.

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