Morays romp over Xtreme 44-18 to win first game in team history
Published on March 20, 2005 under National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Miami Morays News Release
RUTHERFORD, NJ â Leroy McFadden scored three rushing touchdowns and accumulated 81 rushing yards, and Derrick Vickers threw two touchdown passes to Ethenic Sands as the Miami Morays rolled over the New Jersey Xtreme by a score of 44-18.
The Xtreme started the game with the ball, but the Morays defense set the tone early by limiting New Jersey to one first down. After a missed field-goal was returned by defensive back Antwon Robinson to the 19-yd line, the Morays offense quickly advanced down the field when receiver James Robinson drew a pass-interference penalty in the end-zone.
With the spot-foul putting the ball on the 2-yd line, halfback Leroy McFadden scored the first touchdown in team history with a 2-yd run off the right tackle at 7:57 in the first period.
New Jersey answered right back when Pete Athanis returned the ensuing kickoff to take a 7-6 lead, but the Morays next possession saw McFadden brake a tackle in the backfield, spin to his left and run the ball down the sidelines on a 32-yd run to put the Morays up 13-7. McFadden finished the game with XX yards rushing.
"That touchdown was just us playing football. As soon as I got free in the backfield and changed directions, everyone made great blocks down the field and all I had to do was get past one guy to take it to the house." McFadden said.
It wasn't long before offensive coordinator Tony Wells started to get quarterback Derrick Vickers into the game. In his professional debut, Vickers quickly led the Morays down the field on the next possession, hitting receiver Ethenic Sands on a short hitch for a timely first down. Vickers and Sands hooked up on the next play on an 18-yd touchdown pass to put the Morays up 27-10 with 1:52 left in the first half.
The Xtreme special-teams unit returned the ensuing kickoff to put them in good position, but the Morays pass-defense stymied two passing attempts by NJ quarterback Jeremy Bartuck to find receiver Kahmal Roy in the end-zone and force the turnover-on-downs.
With :53 left in the first half and the ball on the 3-yd line, Vickers led the Morays down the field by going 4-4 in passing, making completions of 18, 8, and 5 yards, as well as a timely 4-yd scramble for a first down. Vickers then completed a pass to receiver Patrick Rouzard, but his fumble in the end-zone gave the Xtreme possession with 17.8 seconds left in the first half.
But the Morays got right back on the board when defensive linemen Deryl Lane got the first of two Miami safeties by sacking Bartuck to put the score 29-10 going into the half.
The Morays remained on cruise control through the second half of the game. On the Morays first possession, Vickers found Sands alone in the end-zone for a 28-yd strike to bring the score to 35-10.
"That was a really great sight. You always want to see receivers wide open like that, and that was a true team effort because everyone hit their assignments," Derrick Vickers said, "Once that happened, it was possible to see Ethenic wide open for the touchdown."
After an Xtreme running touchdown and two-point conversion put the score at 35-18 and Miami answered back with the third rushing touchdown from McFadden that brought the score to 42-10 , Vickers was replaced by quarterback Travis Wilson in the fourth quarter. Vickers went 16-20 passing for 94 yards and two touchdowns.
The Morays defense limited the Xtreme to one offensive touchdown and forced six turnover-on-downs. Lashawn Pugh also got a safety in the fourth quarter. A fumble recovery by linebacker Jimmy Williams at 1:48 of the fourth-quarter sealed the deal for the Morays as the clock wound down on the game to give the Morays a 44-18 victory.
Team owner Oronde Gadsden relished his post-game cigar outside of the locker-room.
"This is exciting for me, especially with everything this team had to go through to get where we are after training-camp. But they were prepared by the coaching staff and it showed tonight."
The Morays travel to Lakeland (0-0) to take on the Thunderbolts on March 26th before returning for their home opener against the Lubbock Lonestars on April 2nd at the Miami Arena.
The Miami Morays will play in the National Indoor Football League, entering its fifth season with 21 teams located across the United States. The NIFL provides players with an opportunity to develop their skills and continue their careers in professional football.
The Miami Morays home opener is April 2nd at 7:00 PM at the Miami Arena against the Lubbock Lone Stars. Tickets are available at the Miami Arena Box Office or through Ticketmaster. For additional information about the Miami Morays, please call Mark Fischel at 305-374-8950 X309 or visit us at www.miamimoraysfootball.com.
National Indoor Football League Stories from March 20, 2005
- Hawgs fall at Lakeland in debut - Daytona Beach Hawgs
- Morays romp over Xtreme 44-18 to win first game in team history - Miami Morays
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