Muskegon Thunder drop decision to Chicago Slaughter
April 29, 2008 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Muskegon Thunder News Release
MUSKEGON - The Muskegon Thunder were looking to add fuel to their red-hot season start against the visiting Chicago Slaughter on Friday night at L.C. Walker Arena.
The hosts, however, never even got the pilot light lit in a 27-10 loss that snapped the team's four game winning streak in Continental Indoor Football League action.
Chicago (4-3) needed less than two minutes to get on the scoreboard as receiver Dontrell Jackson grabbed a Ronnie Gordon pass near midfield, juked his defender, and sprinted untouched to the end zone. The 29-yard score was Jackson's 10th TD of the season. Kicker Ben Aguillar's successful point-after try made it 7-0 with 13:30 remaining in the opening quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, Aguillar drilled a line drive that bounced off of Muskegon's Mitch Cumings and into the hands of a Slaughter player. The guests took full advantage as running back JR Taylor broke free on a 31-yard scoring dash that pushed the lead to 13-0 after Aguillar's kick was blocked by defensive end Ernest Bentz just 3:35 into the contest. It would be all the points Chicago would need to ensure their third win in as many tries against their Great Lakes Conference rivals.
The slow start by the hosts was not unusual. They have now been outscored 52-26 in the first quarter of games during the 2008 campaign. Their ability to rally from behind during the win streak has helped overshadow the deficiency, but the trend proved too difficult to buck against a steadily improving Chicago squad.
The Slaughter increased their lead to 20-0 on another Gordon to Jackson hookup from 9 yards out at the 7:50 mark of the second quarter. The play capped a 5-play, 45 yard drive that further took the air out of the Thunder and their usually raucous crowd of 2,910.
Muskegon's lone highlight of the first half was provided by kicker Mike Brennan who guided a 43-yard field goal through the 9-foot wide uprights 4:06 before the intermission. The Lexington, Kentucky native has made four three-pointers this season, none closer than 34 yards. Making the feat more impressive is the low ceiling and overhead scoreboard that makes kicking at Walker Arena a challenge to say the least.
The Thunder's comeback bid gained momentum as quarterback Dan Richard hit a streaking Tony Terrell over the middle on a 19-yard pitch and catch that cut the deficit to 20-10 after 2:55 had elapsed off the third quarter clock. It was Terrell's 4th TD this year, eclipsing his output of three a year ago.
What may have been the most pivotal play of the game came on Muskegon's next offensive series as they drove to the Slaughter 10 yard line. On third down, center Lance Dusendang snapped the ball to an unsuspecting Richard who chased the rolling ball all the way back into Thunder territory before making the recovery. The lost opportunity meant Terrell's was the only scoring in the frame as the two teams stale-mated each other over the final 12 minutes.
With the fourth quarter being Muskegon's best scoring period, and Chicago's worst, it appeared the Thunder might have the Slaughter right where they wanted them as the final 15 minutes began.
That theory was quickly dismissed by Taylor who again got loose and rambled 29 yards on the first play of the fourth quarter. It was the 15th TD on the season (14 rushing) for the former Eastern Illinois standout.
Muskegon's sluggish offense never threatened down the stretch. The Thunder entered the game ranked seventh in the circuit in scoring at 44 points per game, but the Chicago defense, led by defensive back Torri Stuckey's 5 tackles, including a sack and pass break up, were up to the challenge, despite coming in allowing 42 points per game (9th best).
Jonathan Martin added an interception for the visitors and Phil Alexander notched a sack.
Offensively, the Slaughter got 109 yards rushing from Taylor on just 8 carries as Chicago muscled its way to a 137-20 advantage on the ground. Gordon completed 15-of-28 passes for 144 yards with one interception and added 21 yards on 5 rushes. Jackson paced a balanced receiving corps with 53 yards on four catches while Keith Herron and Robert Height also hauled in four receptions each, good for 31 and 30 yards, respectively.
Richard connected on only 12-of-32 attempts for 154 yards with a pick and contributed all 20 rushing yards for the Thunder. Running back Preston Garris was held out of the end zone for the first time this season, but managed 81 yards on 6 grabs. Nathan Wruble, making his first appearance since suffering a leg injury in the season opener, made 3 catches for 21 yards while Terrell notched a pair of catches totaling 42 yards.
Defensively, Muskegon got nine stops and a pass break up from Jon Horn and 8 tackles from Tim Gough. Maurice Simpson posted his second interception of the season and Eric Malloy had 3 tackles and recorded the Thunder's lone sack, his fourth. The 4th best scoring defensive unit did its share, holding the Slaughter 24 points below their season average. Muskegon has held five of its six opponents below their current scoring pace on the season.
For the game, Chicago held a 275-150 advantage in net yards of offense and edged Muskegon 13-10 in first downs. The Slaughter was whistled for 5 penalties equaling 24 yards in the intense, physical battle while the Thunder were flagged for 52 yards on 7 infractions.
With the loss, Muskegon falls to 4-2, and now must prepare for a rematch at Eastern Division leading Kalamazoo (6-1) on Saturday, May 3rd. On April 4th, the Thunder knocked off their closest geographical rival, handing the Xplosion a 44-37 setback in a game that required overtime.
Chicago, winners of two in a row, will host Rock River (3-3) this Saturday at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. The Western Division combatants played on March 29th in Rockford with the Raptors prevailing, 55-45. The two teams are a mere 56 miles apart.
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from April 29, 2008
- Muskegon Thunder drop decision to Chicago Slaughter - Muskegon Thunder
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