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Lorenzen Throws for League-High Nine Touchdowns

March 29, 2011 - Ultimate Indoor Football League (UIFL)
Canton Cougars News Release


HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY - With the game slipping away from his teams grasp, head coach Rodney Swanigan huddled his team together at the start of the fourth quarter to ignite a fire worthy of a first place team. (Game Stats)

Whatever the magic words he used, Swanigan should remember them and possibly jot them down for future reference. Over the span of the next five plays, the Northern Kentucky River Monsters scored two touchdowns and recorded an interception that turned a seven-point deficit into a seven-point lead as the River Monsters escaped with the 62-53 victory over Canton Monday at the Bank of Kentucky Center.

"We had to get physical with them," said Swanigan. "We had a couple breakdowns, but we made the adjustments and the team did a lot of switching like you would do in basketball. Next thing you know we had a couple big picks at the end of the game."

The victory sets up Friday's showdown with the Huntington Hammer. The two teams are tied for first place at 4-1 and are successful in dramatically different ways. The River Monsters will bring in the league's top offense, while Huntington sports the UIFL's stoutest defense.

"It's about working hard," Swanigan said of his team's first place standings. "You enjoy it while you can, but tomorrow we have to get to work and get ready for Huntington."

Quarterback Jared Lorenzen set a new single-game UIFL mark with nine passing touchdowns. He finished 18-of-39 for 294 yards and two interceptions. Harry Lewis made the most of his six catches, hauling in five of them for touchdowns and 110 yards. The five touchdowns ties a single-game mark of five receiving touchdowns, achieved by Eastern Kentucky's Aric Evans in the season's opening week.

Monday's game was essentially a shootout from the opening whistle as the teams traded touchdowns for the whole first half. But when Lewis hauled in his third score of the first half, the River Monsters were able to take a seven-point advantage, 27-20, into halftime.

"We knew Canton was coming in her as a much better team," said Swanigan. "They're really going to be something to deal with later in the year. My coaching staff did an excellent job; the players stepped up. I applaud the effort the River Monsters displayed tonight."

After the teams each tallied a touchdown to start the third quarter, the Cougars were able take their first lead of the game. Quarterback Ray Marrow found Tim Smith from 13-yards out, and then Smith's interception on NKY's ensuing possession allowed Canton to score on another 13-yard strike. This time it was Marrow finding Ryan Brinson for the score.

The lead was short-lived as Northern Kentucky regained its footing thanks to the aforementioned Swanigan speech.

Receiver Willie Idlette had a team-high seven receptions for 78 yards, while Ricardo Lenhart had four catches with three touchdowns and 92 yards.

Defensively, Jermaine Woods led the way with eight tackles and two pass break-ups, while Jon D'Angelo recorded six tackles and an interception. Defensive back Butch Abshire officially had two interceptions and three pass break-ups. His interception on a potential game-tying two-point conversion isn't tallied in the statistics.

A game after harassing the Johnstown quarterback for 10 sacks, the NKY defense sacked the Canton quarterbacks six times. Luke Scarborough recorded three and Thomas McKenzie had two.

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