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Louisiana Swashbucklers game notes

August 9, 2007 - Intense Football League (Intense)
Louisiana Swashbucklers News Release


THE QUICK FACTS:

Game: Hammerheads AT Swashbucklers

Date: Saturday August 11th, 2007.

Site:

Officials:

TV: NONE

Radio: NONE

Series Record:

Last Meeting: 6-23-07 @ Lake Charles. Lake Charles won 58-52.

Series Streaks: Louisiana .

Coaches: Lake Charles, Darnell Lee 14-1 in 2007. (2nd Season; 21-9 career record, inc. playoffs);Corpus Christi, Jason McKinley.

OVERVIEW:

The 2007 IFL Championship game is tonight! Intense Bowl III as it otherwise known features the hometown Swashbucklers against a very familiar foe, the Corpus Christi Hammerheads.

The two teams have met twice already this season with the Bucs winning both games and holding a 5-2 all-time edge in the series. But do not let that record deceive you, as every game in the series has been close and this season has been no different.

The Swashbucklers championship goal is in sight and they'll have the support of about 5,000 fans in the comfy confines of the Lake Charles Civic Center aka the "Smuggler's Den" to cheer them on. The game will undoubtedly be a close hard-fought affair as all past contests between them have been. "Intense Bowl III" will be a memorable event for the city of Lake Charles.

2007 Swashbucklers

DATE OPPONENT W/L SCORE

4-14 Odessa W 59-10

4-21 @ Corpus Christi W 40-38

4-28 Alaska W 57-9

5-05 @ CenTex W 70-32

5-13 @ Frisco W 74-38

5-19 San Angelo W 79-28

5-26 Frisco W 70-45

5-31 @ Alaska W 29-12

6-09 @ San Angelo W 63-45

6-16 @ Katy W 50-43

6-23 Corpus Christi W 58-52

6-30 Katy W 7:05pm

7-16 CenTex W 62-29

7-30 @ Odessa L 18-44

8-04 Odessa (playoffs) W 43-40

8-11 Corpus Christi 7:05pm

2007 Corpus Christi Hammerheads

DATE OPPONENT W/L SCORE

4-14 @ Katy W 70-54

4-21 Louisiana L 38-40

4-28 Odessa W 58-52

5-05 Frisco W 67-38

5-12 Alaska W 60-48

5-19 @ Odessa W 70-67

5-26 San Angelo W 74-13

6-02 @ CenTex W 56-36

6-07 @ Alaska W 43-20

6-23 @ Louisiana L 52-58

6-30 @ San Angelo W 58-46

7-07 CenTex W 66-59

7-14 Katy W 72-45

7-21 @ Frisco W 54-36

8-04 Frisco W 55-41

8-11 @ Louisiana 7:05pm

THE SERIES: The Swashbucklers lead the series 6-2 with the Bucs winning the last game 58-52 on June 23 in Lake Charles.

THE COACHES:

Louisiana-Darnell Lee 21-9 overall; 14-1 in 2007

Former Lake Charles Landshark and Swashbuckler team captain Darnell Lee was named the new head coach of the franchise before last season. Lee played safety in college at McNeese State University. Lee played both safety, linebacker, and in one memorable game, the season opener 2 seasons ago at Houma, Lee stepped in at QB when starter Freddie Harrison got hurt. Lee has been active in the community teaching and has been looked up to by many of his teammates. His role was in addition to playing always the proverbial "coach on the field".

Corpus Christi-Jason McKinley-(courtesy Hammerheads website)

Jason McKinley was a commanding leader with his frequent displays of pinpoint precision and was a figure of resiliency as a four year starter at the University of Houston. He became the 29th quarterback in NCAA history to start at least 40 games in a career. He also holds the school's record with 786 completions of 1388 passes, and ranks third in the schools history with 46 touchdown passes. McKinley also racked up 8694 yards passing and 8277 yards in total offense, which places him second all-time in school history just behind Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware.

Besides his incredible college career, McKinley also had an exceptional All-Star and Professional career. Jason showed flashes of his brilliant accuracy when he played in the Blue-Grey All-Star game where he set the record for completions going 27 of 36, and he also played in the Hula Bowl and led all quarterbacks in completions and touchdowns. After the collegiate all-star game success, McKinley then played professional indoor football for two years (AF2, IFL). In 2004, he showed his true potential as an offensive strategist while Offensive Coordinator, Director of Player Personnel, and quarterback for the San Angelo Stampede. He would prove to be the primary force that drove one of the most potent offenses in the Intense Football League.

LAST MEETING (courtesy of Nueces County Record Star online edition):

Hammerheads walk plank against Swashbucklers

By Juan Carlos Reyes

After winning seven straight games, the Corpus Christi Hammerheads traveled to Lake Charles, La. to face the team responsible for the Hammerhead's only loss this season, the Louisiana Swashbucklers.

The Swashbucklers came in with a 10-0 record, and remained undefeated as the Hammerheads winning streak ended in a close 60-52 loss last Saturday night.

Despite quarterback Wesley Cooper going 24-for-43 with 230 yards passing and six touchdowns for Corpus Christi, it was not enough to break Louisiana down.

With Louisiana holding a slight 10-6 lead after the first quarter, Cooper found receiver Chris Chambers for a 19-yard touchdown pass to give the Hammerheads the lead, 13-10. But a field goal from kicker Whitney Hillin evened things up for the Swashbucklers, 13-13, with plenty of time left in the first half.

During Corpus Christi's next possession, Cooper would throw an interception to Travis Moses that was run back for 15 yards for a touchdown to regain the lead for Louisiana, 20-13.

After the Hammerheads' next possession led to a missed field goal from kicker Rene Vasquez Jr., the Swashbucklers found themselves with an opportunity to increase their lead.

After driving up to the Corpus Christi 1-yard line, Louisiana back Rudy Johnson punched it in for a touchdown to put them up 27-13.

With only 0:26 left in the first half, the Hammerheads managed to cut the lead in half after Cooper threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Schuyler Anderson to make it 27-20.

Anderson was the game's top receiver with 113 yards and two touchdowns.

Knowing that the Hammerheads had possession in the beginning of the second half, the Swashbucklers managed to score nine points in 20 seconds to give them a 16-point advantage at halftime, 36-20.

The third quarter fared heavily on the defensive side as the Hammerheads allowed only a field goal for the Swashbucklers.

However, Louisiana withheld Corpus Christi to a single touchdown as the Swashbucklers were still ahead, 39-27.

With the score 60-45 with 0:40 left in the game, the Hammerheads had to hustle.

After a lackluster 10-yard kickoff from Hillin, the Hammerheads found themselves in good field possession as they scored a touchdown in three seconds.

Corpus Christi was unable to recover the ball from the Swashbucklers' final possession as Louisiana held on for the win.

SWASHBUCKLERS REPORT:

The Swashbucklers (13-1 regular season; 1-0 playoffs) go into tonight's IFL championship game with a veteran squad that has been augmented by some key additions. Most of last year's key vets return such as QB Freddie Harrison, LB Ryan Garrison, WR-KR Shadrick McAfee, WR Phillip O'Neal, DB Damien Huren, and DE Kendall Shello.

The team has benefited from its proximity to the historically talent-laden McNeese State University football team and fans will be familiar with many of the McNeese alums that are on the Swashbucklers. These include in addition to Garrison, such players as DE Anthony Camp, FB/LB Buck Harris, and DL John Paul Jones who all played for the Cowboys in recent years. In addition, the team has added other new faces from other locales including TE/DE Jabari Hendricks, and DB Mike English.

FREDDIE'S THE MAN!:-The Swashbucklers starter at QB, veteran and local favorite Freddie Harrison, returned to the starting lineup last season, while splitting time with Ty Sellers who is now playing in Europe. Harrison, a star QB in high school at Westlake, had thrown for 27 TDs with 12 interceptions in 2004 and 29 TDs in 2005. The former Northwestern State (in Natchitoches, La) alum played WR in college and caught 33 passes for 503 yards and 4 TDs in his senior season. An elusive runner, he runs the 40 in about 4.5 seconds. Thus far in 2007, Freddie has been nothing short of spectacular. He is 4th in the league in total offense (209.0 yards per game) and is #4 in passing yardage with 201 per game. His 60 TDs passing are 2nd best and his 8 interceptions thrown is lowest in the league (among QBs with at least 5 games played).

ANOTHER FAMILIAR FACE RETURNS:

IFL All-Star MVP Sellers Set To Return

Ty "Show Time" Sellers has accepted an offer to return the Swashbucklers to back up Freddie Harrison to finish the season. Sellers was the IFL All-Star MVP last year when he torched the competition with his legs leading the Bucs to a 65-36 win. Sellers then decided to see the world and signed a contract to play in Sweden for the Gladiators. He has lead his team to a 5-3 record, scoring 40 touchdowns (19passing, 21 rushing) and only 3 interceptions in eight games. The Gladiators are in their playoffs at this point and the season should end before the Cen-Tex Barracudas come to Lake Charles on Monday July 16th.

"Ty is a great guy, and a tremendous athlete. We have a great team here and he will add depth at the only position we do not have depth in. He has the arm of a quarterback and the vision, and speed of a tailback and that makes him very dangerous when hes on the field at either position" Coach Lee explained.

NEW LOOK O-LINE, 2007 VERSION: After going nearly 3 years with the same set of Offensive linemen, last season saw a major change and this season even more changes. Major Griffin returns to anchor the line at OT and at least 4 players, Kendall Shello, Anthony Camp, and Jerrell Zeno, and primarily newcomer Jabari Hendricks, may see time at the other OL spot which is technically considered a TE since that player is an eligible receiver (once he raises his hand to indicate that to the officials). Hendricks will be the player to watch and he won't be hard to miss as he stands 6-4 and 315 pounds making an inviting target for Harrison in the red-zone. The team also has signed former McNeese State center Dwight Hudler who will anchor the line at center potentially giving the team it's best set of linemen in its existence.

WHATS AHEAD: the season ends for all but about 7 Swashbucklers tonight, win or lose. Those 7 aforementioned players will play in the IFL all-star game on Tuesday August 14, 2007 in Corpus Christi.

IFL RULES =MORE POINTS: The IFL patterns itself on the Arena Football League that television fans may be accustomed to. The style of play caters to a LOT more passing, little running, and usually more points than the old league the Bucklers were in. While the IFL rules have some differences to the AFL game, fans should enjoy it more than the old style. The entire IFL rules are available online at www.intensefootballleague.net/info/Rules/

FAMILIAR FACE ?: One player who has returned to the team that fans in Lake Charles and elsewhere may be familiar with is WR/LB/KR Shadrick McAfee. McAfee who has spent time with the Bossier City Battle Wings in AF2 (the Arena Football developmental league), is related to former New Orleans Saints' player Fred McAfee. This season, "Mac" has been a versatile player as expected, seeing time at "jack" linebacker where he takes his unusual very crunched down stance prior to the snap, at WR, and on kick returns where his low running style make him extremely elusive. He has 4 interceptions including one for a TD. Two other Louisiana players, Damien Huren and Mike English, are ranked 1st and 9th overall.

UPDATE TO ABOVE: Sadly McAfee injured his ankle in the last regular season home game but should return tonight.

TWO WAY STAR: Last season one of the more impressive players for the Swashbucklers was Shawn Piper. Although not necessarily known for making big plays and catching a lot of passes, he was a presence both on defense and offense. That versatility has been highly valued in a league where the game day roster is only 19 players. In the team's last game versus CenTex, Piper had an incredible 4 interceptions boosting him up to #5 in the league with 8 total INTs .

DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE!!:

The Swashbucklers success this season is in no small part due to the pressure put on up front. The team has an impressive 4 players in the top 10 in sacks this season. DE Kendall Shello leads with12.5, DE Anthony Camp has 6.5, Ryan Garrison at LB has 6.5 and NT John Paul Jones has 7.5 more. The team as a whole has 40 sacks which is now 2nd in the league. The improving Frisco Thunder now leads the league with 46 sacks.

NEW FACE ADDED: (courtesy of LABUCS.COM)

Swashbucklers add 2006 IFL- All Star Anderson to Bolster Defensive Line

The Swashbucklers have the best defense in the IFL. That did not prevent them from adding yet another powerhouse rusher in Sabree Anderson. Anderson is 6'4, 275 defensive lineman from Chaney College. He has played with the Laredo Lobos the past two years, last year making the IFL - All Star team and is noted for being one of the top defensive pass rushers in the league. "He's a beast, I remember setting up the offense according to what he did. Now he is on our side." Coach Lee said.

TURNOVER!!: A call that has been heard many times this season at Swashbucklers games is the defense making an interception or recovering a fumble. In fact, the team leads the league with an incredible number of 58 turnovers made. This includes a league-best 37 interceptions (Odessa is next best at 26) and 21 fumble recoveries (Katy is next with 20). Thanks to careful ball handling by the offense (only 8 fumbles lost and 12 interceptions thrown) and the team's tough defensive play, the Swashbucklers lead the league in turnover margin with an incredible plus 38. What makes this all the more impressive is the next closest team, an impressive expansion Katy Ruff Riders at #2, has ONLY a plus 13!! A plus 13 would be very good any day, but a plus 38 means you won't lose many football games.

FAMILIAR FACE II/KICKING WOES OVER? Part III-"DISCO KICKER" IS BACK!

The Swashbucklers kicking woes of the last few season continued of late but the team made a MAJOR move this past week to rectify that situation. To do that the team added little bit of "Disco" to their step. That's right, Whitney Hillin aka the "Disco kicker" who played in Lake Charles for the now-defunct Lake Charles LandSharks has rejoined the team after playing most recently for the Katy RuffRiders of the IFL. His bio from their website is as follows: Pro Experience: 1999 Texas Terminators (IPFL); 2000 Shreveport Bombers (IPFL); 2001-2002 lake Charles LandSharks (NIFL); 2003 Sioux City Bandits (NIFL); 2004-05 Odessa Roughnecks (IFL); 2006 Katy Copperheads (IFL). Has led the league in all kicking statistics in five of eight years he has played indoor pro football, including each of the last three seasons. Counting only his Swashbucklers playing time, he is as close to "automatic" as you can get in extra points going 78 for 87 or roughly 90%.

DID YOU KNOW? The Swashbucklers are now 2nd in the league in scoring offense at 57.1 per game and Corpus Christi leads at 61.1?. The Swashbucklers lead in scoring defense allowing just 34.2 points per game. #2 is Corpus Christi at 45.2 allowed.

REVIEW OF WIN OVER ODESSA:

Swashbucklers claim 43-40 playoff win over Odessa

By Johanathan Manning, American Press:

Whitney Hillin got redemption and did a little dance.

The veteran known as the Disco Kicker booted a 48-yard field goal with 50 seconds left to lift the Louisiana Swashbucklers to a 43-40 win over the Odessa Roughnecks in the first round of the Intense Football League playoffs Saturday night at the Lake Charles Civic Center.

Louisiana (14-1), an indoor football franchise since 2001, reached its first championship game with the win and will host the Corpus Christi Hammerheads in Intense Bowl III next weekend.

Corpus Christi beat the Frisco Thunder 55-41 Saturday night in the IFL's other playoff game.

Hillin kicked a 47-yarder in the second quarter, but missed a 20-yard field goal attempt and a PAT in the second half.

But from 48 yards away he had just enough leg to clear the crossbar.

"I felt more than confident," Hillin said. "In 2002, when I was here with the LandSharks (as the Swashbucklers were previously known) we lost 42-40 in the playoffs with just a few seconds left. That's all I've been thinking about.

"I told my holder, Freddie (Harrison), 'Those other ones don't matter, they're over now. Just hold the ball forward and it will go through.'"

Hillin, as his nickname suggests, followed the kick with a disco dance at the 20-yard line.

The win ended Odessa's (8-7) one-year reign as league champ.

"It was two very good football teams slugging it out," Odessa coach Chris Williams said. "We came out on the wrong end.

"My hat is off to Louisiana and to Coach (Darnell) Lee. He's had his guys running all season. You can't win every year."

The game was nip and tuck the entire way, with neither team leading by more than a touchdown. Louisiana only led twice, 31-24 in the second quarter and then winning on Hillin's field goal.

"It was what we expected," Lee said. "They came out and played smashmouth football and we did too."

Louisiana quarterback Harrison completed 19 of 40 passes for 235 yards and five touchdowns.

Last year's league MVP Tommy Jones threw five touchdowns for the Roughnecks, but three of his last five passes were intercepted.

After Hillin missed from 20 yards out, Odessa appeared primed to put the game away, leading 34-30 and driving as the fourth quarter opened.

But Louisiana safety Warren St. Junious, who returned to the lineup this week from injury, made a leaping interception at the Louisiana 2-yard line to prevent a touchdown.

At the other end, Hillin kicked a 23-yard field goal to tie the score.

With less than 4 minutes left in the game, Odessa had the ball at the Louisiana 12-yard line. Under pressure Jones lobbed the ball into the air, intending it for Torrey Day, but leaving it for anyone to grab. Shawn Piper intercepted the ball in the end zone and set up Hillin's winner.

"He made a bad decision," Piper said. "He flicked the ball up and I just wanted to see it and grab it at the highest point."

Piper also intercepted Jones on his next throw, allowing Louisiana to run out the clock.

"On every one of those interceptions, their defensive guys made a heck of a play," Williams said. "Tommy is an experienced guy. Their guys just came up with some big plays."

"That's what (Jones) has been doing, he throws off his back leg," Lee said. "Because of that, we told our DBs to stay on top of their receivers.

"Their receivers made some great catches, but we were in the right place at the right time."

REVIEW OF CORPUS CHRISTI WIN OVER FRISCO: (Courtesy of Corpus Christi Caller-Times).

Hammerheads rally to silence Thunder

CC moves on to IFL title contest

By Stuart Duncan

ROBSTOWN The Corpus Christi Hammerheads came out of the locker room in the second half fighting mad Saturday night.

Hammerheads defensive back and former Texas A&M-Kingsville standout Clint Bingham certainly did, as he not only had a key interception to start the second half but he also was ejected minutes later for fighting with the Intense Football League's top rated passer Dustin Almond of Frisco during Corpus Christi's 55-41 come-from-behind semifinal playoff victory over the Thunder at Central Pavilion Arena. Corpus Christi's comeback win Saturday lifted it into the IFL's title game for the second straight season. The Hammerheads (who have a franchise-best 13-2 record this season) will play Louisiana (14-1) in Lake Charles, La. this coming Saturday night in the Intense Bowl III at a time to be determined. The Swashbucklers edged defending IFL champion Odessa, 43-40 Saturday in the other semifinal game.

"This is a great feeling but I'm not satisfied," Corpus Christi coach Jason McKinley said. "Our goal was to be the champion and so we have to go take that next step this year. But you can't be a champion if you don't make it to the championship game and so we did that tonight."

The first-year IFL team Thunder finished the season 8-7.

"This is what we've been working for all season," said Hammerheads linebacker Deandrae Fillmore, who is a former Texas A&M-Kingsville and West Oso High School standout. "We're going back to the championship game now where we feel have some unfinished business to take care of."

While Bingham's interception in Corpus Christi's end zone to start the third quarter certainly sparked the Hammerheads' comeback from a 24-21 deficit, it was his altercation with the former Southern Mississippi quarterback, Almond, that had just as big an impact in this one.

The Hammerheads had just reclaimed the lead 27-24 on former Moody High School standout Nathaniel Dunn's 12 yard scoring reception from quarterback Wesley Cooper, before Frisco drove inside Corpus Christi's 10 yard line on its next drive. After an incomplete pass, Bingham and Almond started verbally jawing at one another before a fist fight broke out between the two players in the end zone and both players were then ejected with 7:26 remaining in the third quarter.

Although Thunder kicker Dustin Bell kicked a 17 yard field goal to knot the game at 27, it was all Hammerheads from that point on.



Intense Football League Stories from August 9, 2007


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