Raptors regrouping after opening loss at Evansville
March 22, 2005 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
HUNTSVILLE â After days of sorting through game film, Tennessee Valley Raptors coach Dick Adams came up with a solid assessment of his team's season-opening 53-51 road loss to Evansville on Saturday night.
The inaugural game of United Indoor Football was decided in the final seconds when Evansville quarterback Ramon Robinson threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Clark, but Adams said that his squad did plenty to beat itself.
"Offensively, we just can't turn the ball over like we did,'' said Adams, whose team lost a pair of key fumbles in the final period. "If we don't lose those two possessions, we win the football game."
The Raptors led twice in the final four minutes, getting a go-ahead field goal from kicker Steven Lee with 3:38 remaining and then an 11-yard pass from quarterback Neil Lindsey to Kerwin Cook with 23 seconds to go.
"It was a tough way to lose, but our guys learned a lot and when you look at the fact that we were playing an experienced indoor team with plenty of returnees, you have to take something positive away,'' Adams said.
Seven Raptors scored a touchdown apiece in the loss, with the first touchdown in franchise history coming on defensive back Henry Freeman's 26-yard interception return on the second play of the game. Tennessee also got a 38-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Chesaurae Rhodes, fullback Travoris Nunn's 2-yard score and an 8-yard run from Lindsey in the first half.
Noseguard Lionel Macklin returned a fumble 15 yards for a touchdown in the second half and Durocher Miller had an 8-yard rushing touchdown that gave Tennessee Valley a 41-34 lead late in the third quarter.
The Raptors will take the weekend off before traveling to Dayton (Ohio) on April 2.
Fan Day set for Thursday, March 24: Tennessee Valley will host Raptors Fan Day on Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the South Hall of the VBC. Fans can pick up and purchase season tickets, meet the players, coaches and staff, and find out how to join the Raptors Booster Club.
United Indoor Football Association Stories from March 22, 2005
- Bluecats win Week One thriller 53-51 - Evansville BlueCats
- Raptors regrouping after opening loss at Evansville - Tennessee Valley Raptors
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