Rage "pinball wizards" go full tilt in home victory over Thunderbolts
April 25, 2005 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
RiverCity Rage News Release
How does a team come back from a disappointing loss on the road? For the River City Rage of the NIFL on Friday night it was simply a matter of average, and then some!
The Rage went into Friday's game at Family Arena against the Lakeland Thunderbolts averaging 60 points per game and in an offensive display of ESPN type highlights, stayed on track and came away with a 60-38 victory against a team that had previously allowed it's opponents an average of only 30. The Rage used a number of new defensive formations to shut down the Thunderbolt's passing game and improve it's record to 4-1 on the year, good for first place in the Atlantic East Conference. Lakeland fell to 2-4 in the Atlantic South.
Facing a Thunderbolt team Coach Mike Wyatt called "far better than it's record and one with no quit in it at all" The Rage again used an amazing array of offensive weapons to strike early and often in ringing up 23 first downs, 240 passing yards, and 8 touchdown passes from quarterback Clay Groefsema to three different receivers. The Red-Zone scoring was the real tale-of-the-tape as the team scored on all 6 of it's chances from inside the 10 yard line. The Rage ran 9 fewer plays from scrimmage, yet still came out on top in every offensive category as the "Pinball Wizards" lit up the scoreboard again to the delight of a Family Arena crowd that has come to expect nothing less.
Lakeland's sure-footed kicker Steve Kratz booted a 24 yard field goal at 4:45 of the first quarter to get the 'Bolts on the board first for the only lead they would have in the game. It was all River City offense after that as Clay Groefsema found his favorite target, Scott Pingel, open in the end zone for a 17 yard touchdown strike. Wade Hampton's extra point put the Rage up 7-3. After another Kratz field goal, The Rage showed fans why it's offense is the talk of the NIFL. Over the course of the next 7 minutes, Groefsema threw TD passes to Moses Regular, Scott Pingel and Hurtis Chinn. Wade Hampton converted 2 of 3 PAT's and the Rage showed some thunder of their own in jumping out to a 27-6 lead.
Lakeland used a 5 play, 32 yard drive to find paydirt some 3 minutes later as Running Back Nunnie Booker shot into the end zone on a one yard run. It was one of only 5 rushing attempts for the Thunderbolt's in the game. Lakeland's lopsided play calling accounted for 45 passing attempts as The 'Bolts QB Jeremy Martin operated from the shotgun formation throughout the game, trying to find ways to penetrate the Rage pumped-up defense.
After Lenny Williams' interception thwarted the two- point conversion attempt, The Rage used only 3 plays to go 34 yards and score again, when with 12 seconds to go in the half, Groefsema hit a wide open Moses Regular in the end zone from 6 yards out to vault The Rage into a 33-12 lead at the break. It was Clay's 5th TD pass in the first half.
The fireworks continued in the third quarter with a Groefsema one yard touchdown run, followed up by a 6th touchdown pass, this one to Hurtis Chinn who made a great catch in the left corner of the end zone, good for 26 yards and a 46-12 lead. It was Lakeland's refusal to fold that impressed Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt, however, as the 'Bolts Jeremy Martin rifled four passes for touchdowns over the final 16 minutes of the game. "Give credit to Lakeland, they didn't quit when they could have rolled over and given up. We out-gunned them for three quarters, but they came back strong in the fourth quarter and over-all outplayed us on both sides of the ball. It's a good thing we had a huge lead or we could have found ourselves in trouble."
But it was a victory, nonetheless, as the Rage tilted the scoreboard for two more touchdowns in the final quarter, both on touchdown passes from Groefsema to Wide Receiver Scott Pingel. Newly employed running back JerMarsh Robinson's grab of the two- point conversion on one TD helped account for the final score.
The Rage will attempt to get road victory number two this Friday when the team travels to Lincoln, Nebraska to take on the Lincoln Capitals. The game can be heard on 1380 ESPN Radio and audio- streamed on the 1380 website.
ON THE SIDELINES
Clay Groefsema's 8 touchdown passes on Friday set a franchise record for TD passes in one game. He now has 29 on the year.
There was some added excitement on the sidelines for this game as a scout for the St. Louis Rams watched from the Press Box. In the past week, the Rams and the Seattle Seahawks have expressed vast interest in signing Wide Reciever Hurtis Chinn to a free-agent contract. Also, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Minnesota Vikings are talking to Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt about Defensive End Bruce Blue. Both players will learn more later in the week about their chances of signing with a team in the NFL.
QUOTES FROM RAGE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH MIKE WYATT
(On the team's defensive play against Lakeland)
"The defense really showed me something Friday night. We had agreed overall to employ some new zone type formations that I felt would improve things, and the guys really put in the effort to get it done. It's one thing to implement something new, but any plan is only as good as the people who do it. We got it done!"
(On some defensive standout players)
"I thing CJ (Clarence Jones) had one of his best games, all over the field with 7 solo tackles and 8 assists. Terrell Washington is really coming on and beginning to understand his role on this team, and don't forget Maurice McClain with 3 interceptions. Andy Peterson, Lenny Williams and Bruce Blue all stepped up on Friday. I'm excited about what we can expect the rest of the year."
(On the offense )
"Scott , Moses and Hurtis played their usual solid games, but the pleasant surprise was JerMarsh Robinson who filled in for Sha-Ron Edwards (injured). He proved to be a formidable sub and I was especially pleased with his blocking. He ran hard and contributed to the success we had as an offense."
(On the teams 4-1 record and the season thus far)
"Well, it's no secret we should be 5-0 , but I'll say this, the Tri-Cities loss was a learning experience for this football team with no disrespect for Tri Cities, since they took another undfeated team down to the wire last week in losing 64-62 to Everett. But, It sent the message to the guys that regardless of a team's record, you can't afford to look past anyone. A lesson hard learned, sure, but an eye-opener that we'll not forget as the season progresses."
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National Indoor Football League Stories from April 25, 2005
- Rage "pinball wizards" go full tilt in home victory over Thunderbolts - RiverCity Rage
- Round 2: Hawks vs. Fever - Everett Hawks
- Sears Calls - Lincoln Capitols
- Hammerheads fall to Swashbucklers - Corpus Christi Hammerheads
- Renegades take loss to Daytona with a final score of 17-22 - Rome Renegades
- Marshals Score 81 Points in Victory Over Dayton - The Marshals
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