Raptors pick up first road win
July 3, 2005 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
WHEELING, W. Va. - Playing on the road is no longer a load for the Tennessee Valley Raptors.
The Raptors won their first road game of the season Saturday night as they used a dominating defense and a strong first half to post a 45-33 victory over the Ohio Valley Greyhounds before 3,000 fans at WesBanco Arena.
Defensive back Sean Hilliard had a 10-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown and a 33-yard interception return for another as Tennessee Valley improved to 5-8 on the year and won for the first time in seven road contests. The Raptors also took another important step in locking up a United Indoor Football playoff berth as they get set to return home Saturday to face the Tupelo Fireants at the Von Braun Center. Kickoff is set for 7:30, $5 mezzanine tickets are available and the first 1,500 fans 18 and under will get Replica Raptors Jerseys.
Former UNA standout Tyus Boyd forced an early fumble and had a late interception, and defensive lineman Anthony Harris dropped Ohio Valley running back Troy Albea for a second-quarter safety as the Raptors threatened to pull away ahead 42-14 early in the third quarter. The Greyhounds rallied to pull within 42-33 late in the fourth quarter, but former Jacksonville State kicker Steven Lee capped off his best game of the season by nailing a 25-yard field goal with 2:21 left to play. Lee also had a pair of 40-yard field goals during the win and connected on 4-of-5 extra points. "Our defense was great, but it took this entire team to win in a place like this,'' Raptors coach Dick Adams said. "We just came up here with the attitude that we were not going to lose. This was a great win. We aren't dead yet and I think the fans in Huntsville and the whole Tennessee Valley have something to look forward to in the next couple of weeks.
Things went well from the start for the Raptors, who broke into the scoring column after a pair of defensive stands by both teams. A short pass from Ohio Valley quarterback Zac Bruney to Greg Muckerson was stripped away by Boyd, and Hilliard was there to scoop up the ball and return it 10-yards for a touchdown. Lee's kick made it a 7-0 game with 8:48 left in the opener.
Ohio Valley (6-6) answered on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Bruney to Albea and got a game-tying extra point from John Wehrle to even things at 7-all after one, but Raptors quarterback Chris Gunn hit fullback Keith Glover for a 33-yard touchdown off a screen to open the second quarter. Glover carried a pair of defenders for the final 8-yards of that run and then Lee's kick gave the Raptors a seven-point cushion. Albea's 20-yard run and Wehrle's kick evened things at the 10:53 mark before Lee booted a season-long 40-yard field goal for a 17-14 Raptors' advantage with 8:20 left in the second quarter. Tennessee Valley took control a minute later when Harris dropped Albea on a draw play for a safety and a 19-14 lead. The Raptors then answered with a solid drive that ended with Luke McArdle's 2-yard run and Lee's kick at 3:42.
The Raptors extended their run to 18 straight points following Boyd's 18-yard interception return for a touchdown and a 32-14 advantage at the break and then Lee kept the run alive with another 40-yard field goal just minutes into the third quarter. Hilliard added his interception return for a score on the Greyhounds' next possession and Tennessee Valley held on from there ahead by four touchdowns.
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United Indoor Football Association Stories from July 3, 2005
- Raptors pick up first road win - Tennessee Valley Raptors
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