Lubbock Wins the Battle, Loses the War
July 28, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Lubbock Renegades News Release
Oklahoma City - The Lubbock Renegades were able to overcome a seven-touchdown performance by Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz' Jarrail Jackson, as the Renegades second-half play of quarterback Robert Kent propelled the Renegades to a 76-69 win Saturday night in front of 8,661 fans at the Ford Center. The win places the Lubbock Renegades with a 7-9 record to close out the regular season, and in a four-way tie with Alabama, Oklahoma City and Tennessee Valley for the final two playoff spots in the National Conference, but Lubbock's "strength of schedule" is the lowest of the four teams and they are eliminated from playoff contention. The two teams clinching a playoff spot are Alabama (#7 seed) and Oklahoma City (#8 seed).
Kent completed 14 of 15 passes in the second half for 207 yards and five touchdowns to keep the Renegades from ever trailing in the second half. Lubbock opened the game with 21 consecutive points to take an early 21-7 lead and dodged an early Yard Dawgz momentum change with a Victor Mann six-yard touchdown reception with 16.9 seconds remaining in the first half to take a 35-27 halftime lead. The touchdown was key, as Lubbock opened the second half with the ball and they scored on their opening possession with a touchdown by Jason Tezeno, who scooped up a John King reception that was fumbled at the two yard line and carried it to the endzone to build the lead to 41-33.
A Larry Hayden fumble recovery in the endzone to give the Yard Dawgz a score turned out to be the Yard Dawgz only defensive stop in the second half and the score came with 9:20 remaining in the third quarter to tie the game at 41-41. The teams exchanged scores the rest of the way, leading to four more situations which the score was tied, until Lubbock's final offensive drive proved to be the decisive score in the game. Fittingly, Robert Kent scampered into the endzone for a one-yard touchdown score with 58.7 seconds remaining and the defense forced Oklahoma City into turning over the ball on downs to preserve the win.
The score by Kent was his 100th touchdown he has contributed to this season and it was the 11th he contributed in the game. Kent passed for nine touchdowns and ran for two in the game and ends the season with 86 passing scores and 14 rushing touchdowns. The Lubbock QB completed 26 of 36 passes in the game for a season-high 379 yards and 9 touchdown passes. The numbers place Kent with 3,997 passing yards for the season.
Oklahoma City was able to pace themselves with Lubbock due to the play of Jackson, who became the af2's all-time leader in kickoff touchdown returns with his 15th obtained in the contest with a 56-yard return in the second half. The touchdown was one of seven for Jackson, who also had two rushing and four receiving scores. He was Oklahoma City's leader in receiving with 128 yards on nine catches.
Alvance Robinson had a franchise high in receiving yards in the game for the Renegades, topping his numbers from last week with 11 catches for 200 yards and a trio of touchdowns. Lubbock also received a score from an unlikely source, as sixth-year lineman Marco McGee earned the Cutter's Catch of the Game with his first professional touchdown on a six-yard reception in the second half.
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