Phantoms Run Over Indiana
May 9, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Toronto Phantoms News Release
Toronto, Ont. â "When we got the ball in the red zone I was hell bent on getting the ball in", Jermaine Younger said of his two yard plunge in the fourth quarter, his 20th rushing touchdown of his AFL career. The late score was the deciding factor in the Phantoms' 45-36 win over the Indiana Firebirds Thursday in an Arena Football League game at the Air Canada Centre.
Younger rushed for 16 yards and 2 touchdowns on the night. As a team, Toronto piled up 47 yards on the ground â a new team record. That total eclipses the record of 40 set in the Phantoms most recent home victory, a 50-30 win over Detroit in the home opener.
"The game is designed for the wide receivers and you hope sometimes they get tackled inside the five so you can punch it in," Younger said, "We are the type of team that can blow other teams out when we are clicking â it was good for us to be in a dogfight."
The Phantoms jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead courtesy of a Chad Salisbury to Kerry Brown 6-yard touchdown pass and an Anthony Hicks 1-yard plunge into the endzone.
But Indiana came back quickly. First it was Raymond Philyaw launching a 41-yard bomb to wide receiver Van Johnson for the touchdown but they missed the convert and trailed 14-6. Then Philyaw found offensive specialist Eddie Brown from 8 yards out to cut the Phantom lead to14-13.
"When we jumped out and got control but (Indiana) came back," Head Coach Mark Stoute said. "It was like a tennis match â they served an ace and we returned it with an ace of our own."
The offensive back and forth continued in the 2nd quarter of play as Salisbury drove the Phantoms down to the one yard line setting up Younger's first touchdown of the game. But the Toronto's score was quickly answered by a 9-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Gary Compton. Indiana missed the extra point again and trailed by two points 21-19 at the half.
In the third quarter, the Firebirds came out quickly as Philyaw found Brown for a 23-yard touchdown putting Indiana up 26-21. Then the offensive pendulum swung back towards the Phantoms as they answered with a 25-yard touchdown strike from Salisbury to offensive specialist Damian Harrell. That gave Toronto the 28-26 lead.
Harrell led all receivers with 10 receptions. He accounted for 121 yards through the air, marking the 3rd consecutive week he surpassed the 100-yard receiving plateau. The 10 receptions matches Harrell's single game team record set last year in a win over the New York Dragons.
Indiana answered again as Philyaw drove the Firebirds down to the three yard line then took it in on the quarterback keeper for the 33-28 Indiana lead. After a field goal cut the Indiana lead to two, Younger scored his second TD of the game, tying a franchise record for rushing touchdowns in a single game â that score put Toronto in the lead for good. The Phantoms added a late touchdown and won the game 45-36.
The back and forth game was what Arena Football is all about according to Stoute. "That is the nature of the game. It is never over until the final whistle."
Younger echoed the sentiments of his coach. "It's not over till the last whistle. A team can be up 21 at the half and lose by 21. It is never over."
Salisbury bounced back from arguably the worst outing of his career (3 interceptions & 1 fumble in the loss to Arizona) with a fine game. He completed 22 of his 33 passing attempts for 223 yards and 3 scores.
Kerry Brown scored 2 touchdowns for the 2nd consecutive week finishing with 6 catches covering 38 yards.
The win has to be especially gratifying to Toronto considering the number of players missing in action. Ty Law, Steve Konopka, John Summerday, Luke Leverson and Jerald Long â all Phantoms regulars â all sat out with an assortment of injuries With the win the Phantoms move to 3-1 for the season. The Ghosts of the Gridiron will now head to Buffalo for their next game - a pivotal inter-divisional match according to Stoute. "We have had a good start going 3-1. It will be a tough game but it is great to go into (the game) with three wins."
Two weeks from now, the Phantoms return home to the Air Canada Centre to face another divisional rival, the New Jersey Gladiators. Tickets for that game set for Thursday, May 23rd are now on sale and can be purchased by calling (416) 341-1234 or by logging on to torontophantoms.com. Kickoff at the Air Canada Centre is set for 7:00 PM. Get "Insane for the Game" and be a part of "Thursday Night Gridiron Madness"!
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 9, 2002
- Phantoms put out Firebirds - OSC Original by Campbell Blake
- Phantoms Run Over Indiana - Toronto Phantoms
- Taylor, Diaz Join Rush - Chicago Rush
- Arena Football League Transactions - AFL I
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