Muskegon Thunder Captures Pair of League Awards
April 21, 2008 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Muskegon Thunder News Release
MUSKEGON - The Continental Indoor Football League recently released its weekly award winners for Weeks 5 and 6 that included two Muskegon Thunder players. Muskegon (4-1) has already captured three such honors in 2008 compared to last season when they managed just one.
Thunder quarterback Dan Richard, a 27-year-old Rockford, Mich. native, garnered the CIFL's Offensive Player of the Week in Week 5 for his outstanding performance in a thrilling 44-37 overtime victory over previously unbeaten Kalamazoo.
In that contest, Richard rallied his squad back from a second half 34-17 deficit to give Muskegon its biggest win in franchise history to date for the second year franchise. Richard connected on 18-of-43 passes for 250 yards and four touchdown passes against the Xplosion including what proved to be the game-winning scoring toss to running back Preston Garris in the extra session. Richard also ran for a touchdown in the first half.
Richard started the season as Muskegon's backup signal caller, as he watched teammate Ryan Ferguson win the same POW award in the Thunder's season opener. A week later, when Ferguson started off slowly against Rock River, Richard was summoned from the bench and has taken every meaningful snap since, helping guide the club to four straight wins.
Winning awards and games is nothing new to Richard who starred on the semi-pro circuit with the Grand Rapids Thunder of the Minor League Football Association for four seasons from 2004-07. During that span, the 6-foot-3, 215 pounder threw for over 7,600 yards and 116 touchdowns while being tabbed the MLFA Offensive MVP in back-to-back seasons (2005-06) as well as the All-Star game MVP (2004).
While prepping with the Rockford Rams, Richard spearheaded a run all the way to the state championship game during his senior year in 1998. He then played briefly at Ferris State University followed by a three-year hiatus from the sport until reemerging with Grand Rapids. Richard also played outdoors abroad with the Bolzano Giants of the National Football League of Italy in 2005 and made his indoor debut with the Wyoming Cavalry of the National Indoor Football League in 2006.
The father of two, who calls Payton Manning his favorite football player, will try to help extend the Thunder's win streak to five when they host the Chicago Slaughter this Friday night at L.C. Walker Arena with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
In Week 6, Thunder defensive back Jon Horn got the nod as the CIFL's Defensive Player of the Week. He was the second all-time Muskegon recipient of the honor as defensive back/linebacker Paul Dye also earned the award in 2007.
Horn (5-11, 190) made several key plays that allowed host Muskegon to edge Fort Wayne 39-33. The Battle Creek, Mich. native recovered a fumble in the first half to keep Muskegon in front, 13-0. After the guests pulled to within 28-25 and threatened to take the lead in final quarter, Horn made a leaping interception off of the Freedom's Eric Hooks in his own end zone to momentarily preserve the lead.
Fort Wayne came back and took a 33-28 advantage after a safety and subsequent kickoff return for a score, but Horn again managed to swing the momentum the Thunder's way. He ran back a kickoff 19 yards to the Freedom 15 yard line, setting up the offense to go in for the eventual winning score four plays later.
On Fort Wayne's final possession, Horn made an open-field tackle on the elusive Hooks and then broke up a pass as the Thunder celebrated their fourth straight victory of the season. For the game, Horn was involved in 9 total tackles including 4 solo stops, and helped shore up a defensive backfield that was without the services of captain Maurice Simpson (illness) and cornerback James Poole (injury).
Horn, who played for the rival Kalamazoo Xplosion in 2007, was invited to join Muskegon for a tryout before Muskegon's third game at Milwaukee. Defensive coordinator Ryan Hodges and head coach Shane Fairfield were so impressed with the former Northwood University product that they signed him after just one practice and named him to the team's active 21-man roster three days before the game versus the Bonecrushers.
The 25-year-old has not given the coaching staff a reason to second-guess themselves, posting 19 total tackle involvements and three picks in as many games. His inspired play against his old team proved vital as he recorded three pass break ups on the Xplosion's overtime drive to secure Muskegon's 44-37 win in Week 5.
Horn and his defensive mates are allowing just 35 points per game in 2008 and averaging an incredible 7 stops per contest but must now slow the high-powered Chicago Slaughter offense (51.5 ppg) to keep the win streak alive this weekend.
• Discuss this story on the Continental Indoor Football League message board...
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from April 21, 2008
- Muskegon Thunder Captures Pair of League Awards - Muskegon Thunder
- New England Surge Win Home Game 35--14 Defeating Lehigh Valley Outlawz - New England Surge
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
