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Raptors move to 10-4 with last second heroics

July 2, 2006 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Rock River Raptors News Release


July 2, 2006 - Down 12-0 after the 1st frame, and down 24-0 halfway through the 2nd quarter the Raptors looked nothing like the #3 seed they had locked down with 1 regular season game to play...but like Coach Richards has always said " it isn't how you start, it's how you finish!" And once again the Raptors proved that theory right and finished strong allowing only 8 points the last 38 minutes of the game for another heart pounding, gut wrenching 38-32 victory in Carver Arena Saturday night over a winless Peoria team.

Turnovers and missed opportunities plagued the Central Division Champs for much of the first half being shut out for the first 27 minutes of the game until Running Back Terrell Goldsmith found the End Zone with 3:16 to go until the half. On the ensuing possesion Kareem Timbers stepped in front of an Andrew Porter pass and ran it back 30 yards for a quick Defensive score to make it 24-14 Peoria with a minute twenty-three left on the clock until the half. The Rock River defense forced a quick stop and got the ball back with 23 seconds to go and got into FG range as Dillon Pieffer connected from 24 yards out as the buzzer sounded to end the half with the Raptors Down 24-17!

The second half started with much of the same from the Rock River defense as they forced a stop after only 5 defensive plays, and a long 50 yard FG attempt that was wide right and returned by Chris Cole 17 yards to the Raptor 20. Ben Sankey would find Jeremiah Thompson soon after for an 11 yard touchdown and the Raptors had tied it up after reeling off 24 unanswered points!

The teams would trade defensive stops heading into the final stanza as the drama would begin to unfold...after losing star linebacker Greg Cole to an injury early in the 4th quarter the defense seemed to rise to the occasion as time ticked off the Carver Arena scoreboard. Ryan Aulenbacher took over in the 4th quarter for starter Ben Sankey in a planned move "to give Ryan reps and get him ready for the stretch run as well." However the plan backfired at least for the moment as Aulenbacher found Peoria Defensive Back Blue Aldridge instead of a Raptor receiver and was picked off on his first attempt of the night!

So with the Riders up 32-24 and Peoria with the ball on the Rock River 10, ready to capitalize on the errant throw and take the lead, the Raptor defense had to come up with another great defensive effort and that they did when they stopped the Rough Riders on 4th and goal from the 12 yard line to give the ball back to Aulenbacher and the offense, and this time Ryan found John Hollins for an 11 yard Touchdown to make it 32-30 Peoria! After a fade pass to Jeremiah Thompson for the 2 point conversion we were knotted at 32, and it looked as if the Raptors were ready to roll!

The Raptors got another defensive stop with 2:40 seconds to go and this time Aulenbacher hit Jeremiah with a perfect 22 yard scoring strike to take the lead 38-32...Pieffers extra point however sailed right and it was still a 6 point lead with 1:33 to play. After a sack by Fernandez Shaw to bring up a second and twenty, things were looking good, but after a spot foul pass interference by Kareem Timbers on a bomb by Anthony Porter, the Riders were in business at the Rock River 1 yard line with 42 seconds to go! On first and goal Porter was sacked and fumbled but recovered it as Rock River spent a timeout to save the clock. On the ensuing snap Adell Hawks was hit and fumbled and the "Flyin Hawaiian" Lance Sumaseva recovered it as the Raptors were able to kneel on it and preserve the come from behind 38-32 victory!

Aulenbacher was perfect after the interception going 6/7 for 57 yards and touchdowns in relief of Sankey who was 14/22 139 yards and a touchdown. The Raptors return to the "Big Orange Box" Saturday night against the Ohia Valley Greyhounds.



United Indoor Football Association Stories from July 2, 2006


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