Raptors put it all together against Storm
June 19, 2005 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. ¬" The Tennessee Valley Raptors' offense came to life Saturday night against the Sioux Falls Storm.
The Raptors shrugged off back-to-back low-scoring efforts and finally put some points on the scoreboard as they rolled to a 29-point lead early in the fourth quarter. Sioux Falls rallied to make things close down the stretch, but Tennessee Valley prevailed 49-39 before 2,846 fans at the Von Braun Center.
The Raptors improved to 4-7 overall and to 4-1 at home, while Sioux Falls fell to 7-5 and lost for the second time in as many games. Storm coach Kurtiss Riggs was also ejected from the game after receiving an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty with 5:16 left in the third quarter. We just came out of the gate with the attitude that we were going to win this football game and give our defense some support,'' said Raptors coach Dick Adams, whose teams plays at Lexington on Saturday.
The Raptors had led 29-13 at halftime following Chris Gunn's 5-yard pass to Nicholas Wells at the horn and a two-point conversion pass to Durocher Miller. Then, Gunn hit Luke McArdle from 7-yards out to open the second half, the Raptors' defense shut down the visitors and Tennessee Valley enjoyed its largest lead at 43-13 following Wells' 2-yard touchdown catch with 2:16 left in the third.
A recovered on-side kick set up an 8-yard touchdown pass to McArdle for a 29-point advantage to open the fourth quarter before Sioux Falls chipped away with 21 unanswered points down the stretch. The Raptors, however, prevailed.
¬ÅIt was a tribute to our guys the way they played tonight,'' Adams said. ¬ÅThis is what we are capable of doing every game. We beat a very good football team. ¬Â
Gunn completed 20 of 25 passes for 130 yards with six touchdowns and an interception. McArdle caught eight passes for 80 yards and four touchdowns, while Miller had five catches for 27 and Wells four for 21 and two scores.
Sioux Falls quarterback Bob Fagnan completed 12 of 22 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns. He was also sacked three times, 2.5 times by Raptors defensive end Pat Billings.
A long kickoff return got things started for the Storm, which led by six points early following Casey Veenhof's 4-yard pass from Fagnan. Kicker Steven Lee would then miss a 42-yard field goal try to end the Raptors' first possession, but Fagnan was sacked in the end zone by Billings for a safety to make it a 6-2 game with 9:21 left in the opener.
The Raptors claimed the lead on Gunn's 15-yard pass to McArdle and Lee's kick at the 5:33 mark of the first, and then went ahead 15-6 at 11:05 of the second when Wells recovered teammate Keith Galbreath's fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Lee's kick would miss and Tennessee Valley led 15-6 after the eight play, 45-yard scoring drive.
Gunn's 7-yard pass to McArdle extended the advantage to 21-6 with 2:49 left before halftime, but Sioux Falls answered with a quick 33-yard drive capped by Jerry Davis' 5-yard run and Adam Hicks' extra point.
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United Indoor Football Association Stories from June 19, 2005
- Raptors put it all together against Storm - Tennessee Valley Raptors
- Raptors claw Sioux Falls 49-39 - Tennessee Valley Raptors
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