Maulers Reach .500 Mark with 56-49, OT Win
June 20, 2006 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Montgomery Bears News Release
(MONTGOMERY, AL) The Montgomery Maulers improved to 6-6 on Saturday night when they defeated the Greensboro Revolution, 56-49, in sudden death overtime. The win not only keeps the Maulers in the 2006 Play-off hunt, but also marks the Maulers first road win of 2006.
"It's nice to get the monkey off our back," said Maulers Head Coach Michael Mink. "The guys had struggled a little on the road this season and being that we are finishing out our season on the road, it's nice to get this win...hopefully, it will set the tone for our final two games [in Fayetteville, NC and Charleston, SC].
The Maulers are 1-5 on the road thus far this season; they posted an impressive 5-1 record at home this season, their lone loss coming on March 25, versus the Fayetteville Guard.
Quarterback J.R. Richardson ( Alabama State University) scored the overtime, game-winning touchdown on a one-yard run Saturday night. Richardson scored two touchdowns and threw three touchdown passes for 184 yards in the win.
The Revolution won the overtime toss and elected to play defense, putting pressure on the Mauler offense. Following a series of carries by running back Charlie Rollins ( Miles College), Richardson scored on the one-yard quarterback keeper. The extra point attempt by kicker Brian Bostick ( University of Alabama) was good, giving the Maulers the 56-49 go-ahead.
The Mauler defense was able to shut down the Revolution in overtime, allowing Greensboro just eight yards in their overtime possession. The offensive shut down was highlighted by Defensive Lineman, Travis Lee ( Auburn University), who sacked Revolution quarterback Rodney Milbourne for a loss of yardage on the second play of the drive.
The Maulers had a commanding 20-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, thanks to touchdowns by Richardson and receivers Shaun Holmes (Alabama State University) and Octavius Day (Gulf Coast). Day scored a season-high two touchdowns and collected a team-leading 130 kick-return yards in the win.
Day and Rollins continued the scoring frenzy in the second quarter, both collecting a touchdown score to give the Maulers the 35-14 advantage at the end of the first half.
Rollins led the Maulers offensively Saturday night, scoring three touchdowns, converting a two-point conversion and racking up 111 total offensive yards.
The Revolution was able to make some key adjustments in the second half, outscoring the Maulers 35-14. Revolution running back Willie Harris scored two touchdowns in the final five minutes of regulation to tie the game at 49-49 and send the Maulers to their second overtime game of the season.
The Maulers were defeated 47-46 in overtime on May 20, by the Cincinnati Marshals.
Receiver Deme Archangel led the Revolution offensive front Saturday night, scoring three touchdowns. Archangel had seven kick-off returns for 183 yards, including a 57-yarder that he returned late in the third quarter to pull the Revolution within 13 points.
"This was a big win for us," said Mink. "[The Revolution] came back in the second half, but we stuck together and did what we needed to do to get the win...Charlie [Rollins] had a tremendous game and each of the guys did what they needed to do to get the job done...We scored when we needed to and the defense was able to contain Greensboro's momentum in the overtime period," said Mink.
Based on the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) website, the Maulers are now in a two-way tie for the final sixth seed and final play-off spot of the Atlantic Conference with the Charleston SandSharks.
The Maulers will travel to Fayetteville, NC this Saturday to take on the Fayetteville Guard. The Guard (12-1) is coming off a 74-14 win over the SandSharks last Saturday. Kick-off for Saturday's Mauler/Guard match-up is set for 7:00 PM at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, NC.
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