Nashville Defeats Kansas City Behind Alexander's AFL-record Six Rushing TDs
April 21, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
The Nashville Kats (4-4, 1-2) defeated the Kansas City Brigade (4-2, 2-2) 49-40 Saturday night at the Nashville Arena Center behind FB Dan Alexander's six rushing touchdowns, setting the AFL record for most in a single-game-- earning him almost unanimous Offensive Player of the Game honors. Alexander also set an AFL-record for most rushing attempts in a game with19. For Kansas City, QB Raymond Philyaw threw for five touchdowns on 21-of-26 passing. Kats DB Ahmad Hawkins was named Defensive Player of the Game after recording five total tackles while Kats WR/LB Maurice Brown was named Ironman of the Game. The win made the Kats 1-1 all-time against the Brigade and was the first American Central Division win of 2007 for Nashville.
The Kats returned home to the Nashville Arena ready after a road game win in Week 7. Fresh and happy to be home, the Kats took the opening drive down the field on a seven+ minute drive, catapulting in a FB Dan Alexander Rush off the right side. Not taking long to respond, the Brigade responded with a big drive of their own when Brigade QB Raymond Philyaw found a wide-open WR Boo Williams in the endzone for a 10-yard pass and catch ending the first quarter tied 7-7.
Quarter two started fast as Dan Alexander rushed for his second touchdown of the game, this time on 11-yard scamper off the left side of the line. On the ensuing kickoff, the Kats' continued forcing of turnovers continued as former Brigade player now Nashville Kats DB Chris Pointer recovered the Jason Witczak kickoff on the one-yard line. Three plays later, Alexander rushed for his third touchdown of the game. On the Kats' next drive, Alexander rushed for his fourth touchdown of the contest, tying current Chicago Rush FB Bob McMillen for second all-time in AFL history for most rushing touchdowns in a season with 22. On the last play of the half, Nashville got tricky in an attempt to score when Smoker found WR Maurice Brown over the middle. Brown then pitched the ball to a crossing Cornelius Bonner on a hook-and-latter play that Bonner unfortunately fumbled as time expired, leaving the score at halftime 28-27 Kats.
Getting the ball first to start the third-quarter, the Brigade promptly got into the endzone as Philyaw found WR Jerel Myers for a three-yard touchdown to tie the score at 28. Kats FB Dan Alexander's continued his rush into the AFL record books continued as he rushed for his fifth touchdown of the season on an 18-yard draw up the middle. It was the second time in 2007 that Alexander rushed for five touchdowns in a game (3/18 vs. Utah). Not backing down, Kansas City battled back to put together a six-play drive that resulted in a seven-yard touchdown pass from Philyaw again to Myers. Kansas City's PAT was missed making the score 35-34 Kats. Sensing the urgency, Nashville responded when Smoker found Higgins in the back of the endzone for a seven-yard touchdown to make the score 42-34 at the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was rowdy as Kats fans got behind the Kats and forced the Brigade into holding penalties and offsides calls pushing the Brigade the further from the endzone. Kansas City eventually got in the endzone as Philyaw threw his fifth touchdown of the contest finding WR Myers. Brigade K Clay Rush missed his second PAT of the contest making the score 42-40 Kats. Nashville would score once more on one-yard Dan Alexander, his sixth of the night to make the score 49-40, a lead the Kats would never relinquish.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 21, 2007
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