Outlawz Outlast Crunch, 50-43
by Randy Snow
Published on June 12, 2006 under Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Battle Creek Crunch
In their biggest game to date, the Battle Creek Crunch played host to the visiting Lehigh Valley Outlawz at the Kellogg Arena on Saturday night. Both teams had identical 3-4 records going into the game and both teams needed a win to keep their respective playoff hopes alive.
Outlawz starting quarterback Chad Schwenk injured himself during pre-game warm-ups and was replaced in the lineup by backup QB Keeno Theadford. The Outlawz mounted a ground attack early in the game and did not throw a single pass in the first quarter. They put together two long drives, however, that resulted in 14 points. Battle Creek also scored 14 points in the first quarter, but their touchdowns came on two, one-play drives that resulted in touchdown catches by Richard Gills and Brian Dolph.
With under a minute to play in the first half, Battle Creek WR/BD Herb Heygood did something he has done quite a bit lately. He intercepted a pass. It was Heygood's third interception in three games. The score at halftime was 28-22 in favor of the Outlawz.
Both defenses tightened up in the third quarter. The Crunch shut out the Outlawz in the quarter and the only score Battle Creek could muster was a one-yard keeper by quarterback Ken Kubiak. That gave the Crunch the lead for the first time in the game, 29-28 at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Kubiak scored his second rushing touchdown of the game on another one-yard dive, extending the Crunch lead to 36-28.
On their next possession, the Outlawz tied the score at 36-36, but Battle Creek got the ball back and was driving for yet another score. However, Crunch receiver Brian Dolph was stopped short of a fourth down play ending the Battle Creek scoring threat. The Outlawz regained the lead 42-36 on a touchdown pass from Theadford to Chris Downs with one minute left in the game.
Down by only six points, the Crunch were once again moving down the fireld when quarterback Ken Kubiak was stripped of the ball while scrambling for a first down with 44.6 second remaining in the game. The Outlawz recovered the loose ball. They increased their lead 50-36 shortly afterwards when Theadford scrambled into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the game.
Battle Creek closed the gap to seven points in the closing seconds when WR/DB Eric Gardner made his only catch of the game, which resulted in a touchdown. The ensuing onside kick by the Crunch was recovered by the Outlawz, who ran out the clock to preserve the 50-43 win.
"In this game, you can't take a play off," said Crunch head coach Bob Kubiak. "And if you do, it's going to come back and haunt you."
Battle Creek quarterback Ken Kubiak completed 8 of 21 passes for 114 yards, four touchdowns, one interception and a fumble. His counterpart, Outlawz quarterback Keeno Theadford, completed 10 of 12 passes for 101 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also ran 11 times for 64 yards and two touchdowns.
The loss dropped the Crunch from third place in the standings to fifth with just two games remaining in the regular season. Only the top four teams will advance to the playoffs
LATE ARRIVAL
Battle Creek WR/DB Herb Heygood almost didn't make it in time for the game Saturday night. He had been in Denver, Colorado all week participating in a mini camp with the NFL Denver Broncos as an assistant coach. Heygood flew back to Lansing, Michigan and arrived at about 6:05. He then had to drive to Battle Creek, a distance of about 45 miles. He made it to the game just in time, which starter at 7:35, but he missed the pre-game warm-ups.
BREAKFAST IS SERVED
Earlier in the day, before the Crunch-Outlawz game, the city of Battle Creek hosted the 50th Annual World's Longest Breakfast Table. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm was even on hand for the event in the Cereal City.
NEXT GAME
The Battle Creek Crunch (3-5) travel across the state to take on the Port Huron Pirates (8-0) next Saturday night, July 17. The two teams last met in week one of the season in Battle Creek. The Pirates won that game, 62-22.
FINAL HOME GAME
It was announced during the Outlawz game that all remaining tickets for the final Crunch home game on July 24 against the New York/New Jersey Revolution, will be priced at just $5.00 each. So, if you haven't been to a Great Lakes Indoor Football League game yet, or if you want to see the Crunch one more time this season, don't miss out on this great opportunity to bring the entire family.
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Randy Snow is a freelance football writer who lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Since 2003, he has covered the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League for ArenaFan.com. He has also covered games in arenafootball2, United Indoor Football and the Great Lakes Indoor Football League. Randy has been a member of the Arena Football League Writer's Association since 2005.
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from June 12, 2006
- Outlawz Outlast Crunch, 50-43 - OSC Original by Randy Snow
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
