No Holiday For New Jersey as Rage Win Big At Family Arena

Published on May 31, 2005 under National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
RiverCity Rage News Release


In the movie Groundhog Day, Bill Murray's character relived the same sad state of affairs over and over, day after day. For the New Jersey X-treme of the NIFL, holidays in St Louis must bring about that same sort of feeling. Let's go back: Mother's Day some three weeks ago, the X-treme came to the Family Arena, and were sent home on the short end of a 62- 13 score. This past Sunday, in a special Memorial Day weekend game, the same team showed up, made the same mistakes, and for this team, this season, realized the same end-of-game result.

The RiverCity Rage buried the New Jersey X-treme deeper in the Atlantic East cellar, winning its sixth straight home game by the score of 60-23. New Jersey leaves St. Louis reeling at 0-9 on the year, while the Rage widen its lead in the division to two and a half games over Dayton, and take a commanding three game lead over the Cincinnati Marshals. The Rage look to finish the season on a high note over the next four weeks, and look forward to the playoffs. The X-treme head back to New Jersey to ponder, or perhaps, dread tomorrow, and tomorrow, and so on.

After fumbling and throwing an interception on the first series of downs in the game three weeks ago, the X-treme seemed doomed to the Groundhog Day scenario right from the start, as Quarterback Lou Scalas' first pass was intercepted by Rage defensive back Andy Peterson; at the RiverCity 18-yard line. But the ball was stripped away by an alert Paul Johnsen, the intended receiver, who then ran to the Rage 6-yard line. Two plays later, Johnsen found the endzone on a 4-yard hop, and with a Greg Tonzolas PAT conversion, NJ shot out to a surprising 7-0 lead.

One huge change in the Rage offensive arsenal this season has been the emergence of wide receiver Moses Regular, as both pass receiver and rusher. Tapped 'the biggest wide receiver in the league' by Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt, the 6'5 284lb former NFL signee has made his presence known both early and often in the first ten games of 2005. On Sunday night, Moses found the Promised Land at 8:16 of the first quarter, capping a 9 play, 36 yard drive, by plowing into the endzone from one yard out. New Rage kicker, Mike Matheny, a former Mizzou Tiger, found the uprights and tied the score, 7-7.

New Jersey Kicker, Greg Tonzola, hit a 17-yard field goal a few minutes later to keep the X-treme ahead, but with 17 seconds left in the quarter, it was Moses Regular again who found the endzone; this time, catching an 8-yard touchdown pass from Clay Groefsema. Matheny's kick was again good, and the Rage led at the end of the first quarter, 14-10.

A 6-yard touchdown run by the X-treme's Paul Johnsen, and a succesful extra point attempt, gave New Jersey its second lead of the game, 17-14. This gave the Rage the heads-up that maybe this was going to be a football game after all! Again, at least initially, which was a bit of a shock for Wyatt and the Rage? "I thought we may have been a bit complacent in our approach to them, at least in the beginning stages of the game," stated Wyatt. "I reminded them what happened at Fayetteville last week, and their intensity revved up! I had confidence they would turn it around, and turn it on in a hurry."

They did!

Over the next 8 minutes, wide receiver Hurtis Chinn caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Groefsema, followed by Moses Regular's third touchdown of the first half; this one a 3-yard bullet from Groefsema that capped a 7 play, 45 yard drive. This propelled the Rage to a 27- 17 halftime lead that the team never relinquished.

Rage scoring continued in the third quarter with a one yard touchdown from Rage RB Sha-ron Edwards, and a 3-yard TD pass from Groefsema, to league reception leader Scott Pingel. Mike Matheny made one of two PAT's and the Rage held a commanding lead at the end of three periods, 40-17.

New Jersey made a stab at credibility late in the final quarter, when wide receiver Abdul McCrary made a fantastic, over the shoulder catch between two defenders to score a 30-yard touchdown.

A 9-yard touchdown strike to Sha'ron Edwards from Groefsema, late in the quarter, and a final TD shot to Corey Bethany from 4-yards away with just 32 seconds to play rounded out the scoring and gave the RiverCity Rage an undefeated record at the Family Arena.

Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt had good things to say about Sha-Ron Edwards, as well. "Edwards came out of the backfield on several occasions to grab passes from Groefsema and showed the type of versatility he employed as a standout at Illinois State. Sha-Ron was really involved in the game, from the start he stepped up his game and made up for the fumbles in Fayetteville a week earlier," Wyatt said. "He apologized after that game, and showed me some character. I knew he would be ready this week, and he was. I was especially pleased with his blocking; he did a good job giving Clay the pass protection he needed."

Wyatt went on to say that part of the reason Edwards was open, was due to the fact that New Jersey backs did a good job of taking away the deep ball, one improvement on defense that stood out for the X-treme.

For the night, Groefsema completed 70% of his passes and threw 7 touchdowns to 5 different Rage receivers. Overall, Clay was 24 of 34, for 183 yards. Rage receiver Scott Pingel finished up with 7 catches good for 50 yards, and one touchdown.

Defensive standouts included Terrell Washington who had 6 solo tackles, and 4 assists. Bruce Blue chipped in with 4 solo tackles and 3 assists. Rage defensive back Gary Bolden played a solid game, with 4 solo tackles and assisting on two others. Former Mizzou standout, Clarence Jones has 3 solos and 5 assists, Maurice McClain stepped up with 4 solo tackles and 1 assist, and finally, newcomer Joe Bevis, a University of Illinois product, finished with 3 solo tackles and doubled up on two others.

Rage DB Andy 'Pick-em-off' Peterson continues to confound opposing QB's, this time managing two interceptions to give him a team high, 7 on the season.

QUOTES FROM RAGE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH MIKE WYATT

(On Facing the Capitols for a 2nd Time this Season)

"They are improving as a team and they don't have any "quit" in them. Last week they played to within 10 points of a very good Wyoming team at 65- 55, so they will come here loaded for bear, I am sure.."

(On Last Week's Performance by the Rage)

"We started off a little slow on defense, but picked it up and held them to 6 points in the 2nd half. Offensively, we scored on all but one of our possessions. Clay Groefsema threw for 7 TDs to 5 different receivers. Moses Regular rushed for a TD and caught 2 TD passes. It is obvious that our Offensive Line picked up their game from last week."

(On the 3 game lead over Dayton in the Atlantic East Conference)

"It is good to have that lead, but we need to maintain the status quo. We want to host all the playoff games, here. To do so, we must take care of business each week."



National Indoor Football League Stories from May 31, 2005


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