Nighthawks Lose to Louisiana
May 4, 2013 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Knoxville NightHawks News Release
Knoxville, TN- The Knoxville Nighthawks played a hard fought game against the Louisiana Swashbucklers Saturday at the Knoxville Civic Center Coliseum. The game came down to the last play of the night, but Louisiana came away with the win, 45-37.
Louisiana got the ball first and drove it down the field. However the Nighthawks defense stiffened up and held the Swashbucklers to a field goal. On the Nighthawks first possesion quarterback Ryan Porter lead a 40 play drive down the field for the Nighthawks first score. Louisiana would score again on a 14 yard pass from Chris Mitchell to Jordan Rideaux. The score at the end of the first quarter was 10-6 Louisiana.
In the second quarter, Louisiana scored twice on 33 and a 3 yard pass from Mitchell to Cortland Bell. The Nighthawks offense could only muster two Armando Cuko field goals. The half time score was in favor of Lousiana 23-12.
The Nighthawks came out of the gate strong to start the 3rd quarter as Ryan Porter found Charles Gilbert on a 18 yard touchdown pass. That brought the Nighthawks within four points. Louisiana responded on a two play forty yard drive. Mitchell found Rideaux again on an 18 yard pass touchdown pass extending the Swashbucklers lead to 30-19. The Nighthawks responded on a 16 yard field goal and uno to bring the Nighthawks to within seven. Louisiana wasted no time as Mitchell found Brando Mcleroy on a 23 yard pass for the score. The score after three quarters was 37-23 Louisiana.
Lousiana scored on a one play forty four yard pass from Mitchell to Rideaux and it looked like Louisiana was going to lock the game up early in the fourth quarter. But Knoxville kept fighting. Porter found Deandere Brown on a 35 yard touchdown pass. Cuko made the extra point. The Nighthawks defense held Louisiana on the next series. Knoxville then went back to work on offense. Porter found Rico Joseph on a 33 yard touchdow pass. Cuko made the extra point. With 57 seconds left in the game, Louisiana was up 45-37. Knoxville's defense held strong as they forced Louisiana to a field goal attempt, but it missed the mark giving Knoxville one last chance. The Nighthawks moved the ball down the field but unfortuanately could not find the endzone on the last play of the game from inside the five yard line.
This was a tough loss for our team. But I'm proud of the way they fought to end. They did not quit. said Head Coach Cosmo DeMatteo.
Ryan Porter was 33 of 53 pass with three touchdowns and 317 yards passing. Charles Gilbert had 17 reception for 158 and one touchdown.
The Nighthawks return to the Knoxville Civic Coliseum on Saturday, May 11th against Lehigh Valley for their second meeting of the season. The evening will be Breast Cancer Awareness Night.
For information on tickets, please call Knoxville Tickets at 865-656-4444. Follow the Knoxville Nighthawks on Twitter and Facebook for the most recent updates.
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Professional Indoor Football League Stories from May 4, 2013
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- Nighthawks Lose to Louisiana - Knoxville NightHawks
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