Rage drill through Beaumont
May 8, 2006 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
RiverCity Rage News Release
The RiverCity Rage of the National Indoor Football League used a goal line stand and some third quarter offensive fireworks to gain the team's sixth win of the 2006 season this past Friday night at Savvis Center. Leading 14-6 at halftime, the Rage turned on the juice and buzzed the visiting Beaumont Drillers for three third quarter scores by Sha-Ron Edwards, and pulled away for a 48-26 win and a two game lead in the Atlantic North division of the NIFL. The Rage is 6- 1 on the season and facing a bye week this weekend before heading to Lakeland, for what Wyatt calls our "biggest game of the season." Beaumont, playing it's third road game in as many weeks, fell to 4-3 on the year.
In a game Wyatt says "found several players thrust into unfamiliar positions, and with lack of adequate practice time to prepare for it," the Rage relied on some defensive heroics and a grind out running game to reach the midway point of the 2006 NIFL season with the team's best record under Wyatt's three year tenure in St. Louis.
Leading 14-6 with under 4 minutes left in the first half, the Rage defense turned back the Drillers on two straight running plays inside the 5 yard line, then, on 4th and goal at the 1, forced a Damone Scott fumble which was recovered by defensive back Jabari Smith. The Rage led early in the third quarter by the score of 14-12, before Edwards took over, hauling in a 7 yard Justin Peery pass for one score, romping 15 yards for a second TD at the end of the third, then wasted little time in dancing in the end zone for his third touchdown in less than 12 minutes (a 3 yard run) to put the Rage comfortably in front, 42-18. A 7 yard TD pass from Scott to Chad Luttrull was all the Drillers could muster in the final quarter, and it was matched by a 12 yard Kasey Young touchdown run in the final two minutes of play.
After a shaky start (1 for 5 and 6 yards) in the first quarter, Rage reserve quarterback Anthony Fisher, starting his second game in place of the injured Clay Groefsema, was replaced by back-up Justin Peery, who finished the game 9 of 18 for 99 yards and 1 touchdown. He was intercepted 4 times. Fisher finished the game at wide receiver and Wyatt says "the injuries are playing a factor with this team, especially in the game on Friday. We've got Hurtis out (ankle), Moses Regular was hurt (back spasms) and Danny Donaldson was sidelined with a minor ankle problem. We needed Anthony out there, and Justin is the quarterback when those situations arise. We'll spend the off week looking at players, healing up, and getting ready for Lakeland. That's looming large for us, the playoff implications are there, and a win at their place would make us one of only three teams in the league with just one loss. Granted, that would only be up to that point, but pulling up even is a big step and one we need to achieve as a football team."
Wyatt was pleased with the defense, which he says "stepped up despite the injuries and played well. Two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and two sacks, plus a forced fumble by special teams all went a long way towards keeping the Drillers out of the game. It seemed every time they threatened, we found a way to turn them back."
National Indoor Football League Stories from May 8, 2006
- A New Beginning: Richards and Co. Beat Revolution, 45-37 - Montgomery Bears
- Rage drill through Beaumont - RiverCity Rage
- ThunderBolts Dominate Twin City Gators, 88-14 - Lakeland ThunderBolts
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- Thunderbolts Rattle Gators - Twin City Gators
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