Muskegon Thunder Take On Marion Mayhem Saturday
Published on March 7, 2008 under Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Muskegon Thunder News Release
MUSKEGON - The Muskegon Thunder of the Continental Indoor Football League will open its 2008 campaign the same way it ended the 2007 season, facing off with the Marion Mayhem. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Muskegon's L.C. Walker Arena, 955 Fourth Street. The teams shared division banners and bad blood with each other in a pair of matchups last year. Now the Thunder is in the Great Lakes Conference while Marion resides in the Atlantic Conference, but that technicality isn't likely to diminish the intensity.
In the first meeting on March 31, Muskegon raced out to a 20-3 first quarter lead, only to see their less than gracious hosts reel off 45 unanswered points to capture a 48-20 victory. Thunder quarterback Steve Wasil was harassed all night by heavy Mayhem pressure and finally succumbed to it when a big hit along the boards knocked him out of the game and into a nearby hospital for observation. Meanwhile the two teams continued battling until things reached a fever pitch midway through the second half.
Thunder wideout Richard Gills was huddled with teammates and coaches during a break in the action when a beer bottle was thrown from the crowd at the visitors. The usually mild-mannered Gills went into a frenzy, eventually exiting the playing surface and entering the tunnel area beneath the arena seating at Veteran's Memorial Coliseum. Chaos erupted as players from both teams raced toward the exit along with arena security and local law enforcement officers. When order was finally restored, Gills was ejected, and later suspended by the CIFL for a total of four games for his part in the melee.
On June 29th the teams squared off again in Ohio as Marion hosted a Great Lakes Division Quarterfinal playoff game. By this time, Marion had won three straight to even their regular season record at 6-6. Muskegon was heading in the opposite direction having lost three in a row, including a heart-breaking 55-54 setback to Lehigh Valley the week before, leaving them at 4-8. Records meant little, however, as the game got underway at the VMC.
The fire that burned in March quickly sparked back to life as a rowdy crowd did their best to make life difficult for the guests. Both teams stood toe-to-toe and launched plenty of haymakers that resulted in big plays for both sides. Wasil was once again targeted by the Mayhem down lineman, including Thomas "T-Mac" McKenzie, and late in the second quarter they got their man. Wasil was again slammed into the boards just after releasing a pass, and he would not return the rest of the evening. When Marion scored on the final play of the opening 30 minutes, they took a 40-30 advantage into the locker room.
The second half was filled with more fireworks as Wasil's backup, Ryan Ferguson, jumped into the fray with guns blazing, notching three touchdown passes and running for another to keep the game close. Meanwhile, Gills was on a mission to make up for letting his teammates down in March, as he sliced and diced the Mayhem defense for 125 yards on 9 catches including four TD's.
In the end, it was the efficient arm of Stanley Jackson, Marion's gun slinging QB, that fired the final shot in a 68-57 win for the hosts. The former OSU Buckeye only completed 20 passes combined in the two meetings with Muskegon, but 11 of those ended up in the back of the end zone. Turnovers played the most critical role, though, as the Thunder coughed the ball up three times while Marion suffered none in the post season showdown.
Now the scene shifts to West Michigan as Muskegon will get its first chance to host their rivals from south of the border. Some names have changed (Wasil has moved up to the af2 and Marion has its third head coach in as many seasons), but this rivalry is already bigger than the names. It's Muskegon versus Marion. Michigan versus Ohio. Better put 911 on speed dial just in case.
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from March 7, 2008
- Muskegon Thunder Take On Marion Mayhem Saturday - Muskegon Thunder
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