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New England Surge Stomp Stampede 86--0; Winning Streak Continues, 2nd Place Contenders for CIFL Atla

May 31, 2007 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
New England Surge News Release


Press Release & Media Advisory For immediate release, Posting & Calendar

May 29, 2007

New England Surge Stomp Stampede 86--0 Winning Streak Continues, 2nd Place Contenders for CIFL Atlantic Division

By Kyle Psaty, writer for New England Patriots (Freelance article from home game)

Worcester, Mass. - Anyone who ever worried about a good team playing down to its opponent's level should have been at Worcester's DCU Center on Saturday, May 26 to watch the Surge absolutely demolish the visiting Steubenville Stampede. Utilizing a precision offense and playing the kind of shut down defense that kept the Stampede backed up against their own end zone the whole game, Worcester had Steubenville scrambling for solutions all night in front of the 2,700 fans in attendance. The Stampede never showed up.

Actually, they showed up late. Having left Steubenville, Ohio at three in the morning, the Stampede's bus apparently ran into some holiday weekend traffic on the road. They hit the field for warm ups six minutes after the game was supposed to have kicked off, only dressing 13 players for the contest.

Unbelievably, their entire roster had been revamped. Nobody from the roster submitted to the Surge earlier that week was dressed for the game, and all the players Steubenville showed up with had not been on the roster previously. It appeared to be a real-life version of the film, "The Replacements."

"We've been here. We've been Stubenville and we've been practicing," said Steubinville quarterback/safety/kicker/kick returner/coach Ali Grose after the game. "Some things have happened down there in Stubenville. I'm not at liberty to talk about it, you know. This is our team. This is what we've been doing. Some of our coaches couldn't make it in today. I'm filling in. I'm the player-coach today. We came up here to play."

In the first series of the game, the Surge kicked off having won the coin toss and deferring. Grose, back to return, bobbled the ball at the 2-yard line, and was brought down on the five. He was sacked on the next play, then a Stampede lineman jumped offsides, costing them more yardage. On the final play of the series, Grose tossed it up, intending to hit his brother, Alonzo, on a deep fly route. Surge defensive back Rontrell Woodruff picked the pass off and dashed 23 yards into the end zone for the first touchdown in the upending. Alonzo, one of four Grose brothers on the Steubenville roster, limped to the sidelines and did not return. The rest of the game played out similarly, with the Stampede struggling to execute.

Ali Grose admitted to calling all the offensive plays from within the huddle, which explains the team's inability to react after the Surge sniffed out their tendencies. He was sacked four times in the end zone, giving up eight of the 26 points scored by the Surge's defense. Surge linebacker Kerry Taylor accounted for three of the team's four safeties.

"I never thought that was possible," said Taylor. "I think that they're a good team and they fielded a team to come out and play us. I really don't know their situation is over there, but they put a team together and they came out on the field to play and that says a lot about them."

The Surge defense grabbed four interceptions and recovered three fumbles before the game was over, keeping Steubenville from crossing the midfield line until five minutes into the fourth quarter.

"It seemed like we were just in every play, giving them a lot of trouble," said Surge defensive end Eric Boatwright, who notched two batted balls and a fumble recovery in the game. "The defense played a good game today. The offense, also. Just a complete game I guess."

Boatwright even tried his hand at running back after the Surge ran away with the game. He led the way in Worcester's final drive, catching a wheel route pass before taking two carries, the second of which brought him into the end zone. One final extra point attempt sailed through the uprights to make the final score 86-0.

"I play just about anywhere I can. Anywhere the team needs me, I'll play. I have no problem," he said.

"A couple guys have been banged up here and there. We're trying to utilize some guys at some other positions," said receiver Tyler Grogan, who caught his first home touchdown pass early in the second half. "That's the good thing about this team, there's a lot of guys that can play different positions."

The former Northeastern kicker and local fan favorite hadn't caught a touchdown on the DCU Center turf all season, despite reeling in seven touchdown receptions at the team's four away games.

"I'm glad I finally got one at home, but I'm more concerned about the team and the win-loss columns," he said. The Surge advanced to 6-3, and are currently ranked second in the Atlantic Conference behind the Rochester Raiders, who were victorious over the Lehigh Valley Outlawz, 77-49, on the same evening the Surge stomped the Stampede. With the top two teams from each conference taking part in the playoffs, the Surge are currently in position to make the playoffs.

"I see us having some big games and a little bit of revenge against Rochester," said full back Kerry Taylor, signing autographs for kids after the game. "Hopefully we keep carrying what we've been doing into the playoffs. Hopefully we'll win the conference, have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. And hopefully, we'll bring the championship to Worcester."

"Though we are on a winning streak and in second place in the CIFL Atlantic Division, we will continue our rigorous work out schedule and play our next 3 regular season games as diligently as we have the last 5: strategically and to win," said head coach and owner Roy Lucas Jr.

THE END

Surge Home Games & Practice The Surge is playing the LeHigh Valley OutLawz away and back home on June 16 playing number 1 Division standing Rochester Raiders, then away June 23 against NY/NJ Revolution. The Surge's regular practice schedule is Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at The DCU Center Worcester MA from 7-10PM. Press are welcomed.

About the New England Surge; The New England Surge is a locally owned professional indoor football team, a CIFL team, and is dedicated to providing exciting, family oriented sports entertainment experience to the Worcester/MetroWest region. The next home game playing number 1 Division standing Rochester Raiders, is June 16 at 7 PM at the DCU Center, Worcester, MA. Block Party 5-7PM at the DCU Plaza Through ongoing public and outreach campaigns, the New England Surge organization is committed to high professional and ethical standards and dedicated to actively partnering with communities, schools and youth organizations, local government, business and non-profit organizations to positively impact fans, the players, and the community, while providing fast-paced, action-packed professional football. For information on season tickets, group outings, and birthday parties, fans can contact the Surge at 508.791.6373. For single game tickets, visit the DCU Center Box Office, through Ticketmaster (617-228-6000) and online at ticketmaster.com. For more information or interviews, contact: Christina Andrianopoulos, Public Relations; The New England Surge, 917.734.9804, PR@NewEnglandSurge.com CIFL 2007 2007 Conference Standings/Schedules Atlantic Division Team W L Rochester 7 2 New England 6 3 Steubenville 5 4 Chesapeake 5 3 Lehigh Valley 3 5 New York/New Jersey 1 8

New England Surge Roster NO. FIRST LAST POS HT WT SCHOOL 1 Butler Cy WR/DB 5' 8" 185 URI 5 2 Collins Jeremy WR/DB 6' 0" 183 URI R 3 Warren Andre WR/DB 6' 1" 205 Moorehouse College 2 4 Brady Shawn QB 6' 1" 200 Northeastern University R 5 Grogan Tyler WR/QB 6' 4" 220 Northeastern University 1 6 Boatwright Eric TE/DE 6' 6" 260 Graceland College 1 7 Thomas David FB/LB 6' 2" 240 University of Toledo 1 8 Eddy Marc QB 6' 4" 225 Bentley College 2 9 Osei Bismark DB/KR 5' 9" 190 Northeastern University R 11 Woodruff Rontrell DS 6' 0" 200 E. Michigan State R 32 Appiah Ricky WR/DB 5' 9" 185 UMASS Amherst 2 33 Calderwood Eric K 6' 1" 210 Univ. of Arizona R 44 Shaw Harold FB/LB 6' 1" 245 S. Mississippi 8 55 Rich Gene OL/DL 6' 1" 300 Northeastern University 2 77 Groccia Marc OL/DL 6' 5" 295 Nichols College 2 80 Stoetzel Colin OL/DL 6' 6" 295 UMASS Amherst R 85 Mall Dallas WR/DB 6' 3" 220 Bentley College 2 88 Taylor Kerry FB/LB 6' 4" 270 UMASS Amherst 6 90 Watson Brian DL 6' 6" 325 Virginia Union R 91 Kilgore Emerson OL/DL 6' 6" 335 Syracuse University R 99 Zollarcoffer Bo TE/DE 6 '4" 296 Morgan State 6 IR Brooks Leroy WR/DB 5' 9" 185 UMASS Amherst R IR Shaw Brian OL/DL 6' 6" 300 Worcester State College R IR Hairston Aaron RB 6'1 235 So. Conn. State R Inactive Thomas Marc WR/DB 6' 4" 217 Northeastern University 2 Inactive Gonzalez Pito WR 5' 8" 170 W. So. Conn. State U R Inactive Gonzalez Tony WR 5' 11" 185 Boston College 1 EXEMPT Merideth Aaron OL/DL 6' 6" 330 St. Paul's College 2 COACHES Interim Head Coach: Roy Lucas, Jr. Equipment Manager: Kevin Paszkewicz Coordinator OL/DL Coach: Jerry Snay Athletic Trainer: St Vincent's Trainer-- Coordinator DB Coach: Pat Haverty Lauren Maldonado, MSPT, ATC Asst. Coach/Player Personnel: Dennis Faulkner Sports Med Physician: Bill Morgan, MD Asst. Coach/DE's/Kickers: Hampton Clarkson For more information or interviews, contact: Christina Andrianopoulos, Public Relations; The New England Surge, 917.734.9804, PR@NewEnglandSurge.com

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