Raiders Down SteelHawks, Advance to Championship Game
July 1, 2013 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Richmond Raiders News Release
RoShawn Marshall made a touchdown saving tackle on the last play of the game to preserve the Raiders' 44-40 victory over the Lehigh Valley SteelHawks and set up a return trip to the PIFL Championship Game.
Warren Smith threw a 24 yard touchdown to a diving Hakeem Moore with 30 seconds left to put the Raiders up by three. The lead was extended to four when T.C. Stevens made his second uno of the game on the kickoff, forcing the SteelHawks to go for a touchdown. Adam Bednarik completed a pass to Tom Gilson, who stayed inbounds trying to gain yardage as the clock ticked down to 0:00. The Raiders were flagged for holding on the play, though, and Bednarik got one last chance from the Richmond 17. He again connected with Gilson, outside the end zone, and Marshall made a beautiful wrap-up tackle to keep Gilson away from the goal line.
Smith's eventual game winning touchdown followed Bednarik's fifth TD toss, a 19-yarder set up by a sack of Smith on fourth down. The Raiders outscored Lehigh Valley 23-12 in the second half thanks in large part to a defense that kept Bednarik on the run and under pressure. They sacked him four times and tallied seven hurries. He completed a season low 56% of his passes as the Raiders kept the league's second highest scoring offense out of the end zone on eight of their 13 possessions. The SteelHawks' 40 point total was their lowest since scoring 28 in their season opener at Alabama.
The SteelHawks dominated the early goings, striking for a 40 yard touchdown on the game's first play and getting a safety two snaps later. John Kennedy's interception led to a touchdown and a 15-0 lead, but the Raiders' defense strung together three straight stops. When Smith hooked up with a streaking Hakeem Moore, the game was tied at 21, but only briefly. Bednarik again dialed long distance and put his team back up by seven with another 40 yard TD.
The Raiders drove to the 'Hawks' five yard line in the final seconds of the first half, but their hopes of tying the game before the break were dashed when Smith threw his second interception - both in the end zone. The teams traded missed field goals to start the second half before Rodney Sledge's 23 yard run brought the Raiders even at 28.
Lehigh Valley converted three fourth downs during a 12 play, 40 yard drive that took nearly eight minutes spanning the third and fourth quarters. Gilson got open in the back of the end zone on fourth and goal from the seven, but Brandon Sutton blocked the extra point and the Raiders took the lead on Moore's third of four touchdowns.
The Raiders had a chance to really put the SteelHawks on their heels after Preston Hines recovered a fumble, but they could drive no farther than midfield before Smith was sacked on fourth down to set up Lehigh Valley's final score.
Smith finished with 234 yards on 24 of 36 passing. Moore led all receivers with 12 receptions, 149 yards, and four touchdowns. Scooby Bryant had two kick returns totaling 92 yards in the first half, both of which led directly to Raider touchdowns.
The Raiders will travel to Huntsville, AL to take on the top-seeded Alabama Hammers in the championship game. Alabama defeated the Albany Panthers, 61-46, in the other semifinal. The title clash will kick off at 8:00 on Monday, July 8.
Professional Indoor Football League Stories from July 1, 2013
- Raiders Down SteelHawks, Advance to Championship Game - Richmond Raiders
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