Raptors take down Evansville
June 5, 2005 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- The Tennessee Valley Raptors were looking for payback Saturday night.
Entering their game against Evansville, the Raptors were 0-2 against the Bluecats this season in United Indoor Football.
Make that 1-2.
Tennessee Valley beat Evansville 29-22 before an announced crowd of 2,725 at the Von Braun Center and snapped its three-game losing streak.
"The big thing is it keeps us in the playoff hunt," Raptors coach Dick Adams said. "And all we want is a chance to get there."
"We've been working hard the whole season," said Luke McArdle, who had a 27-yard touchdown catch and 49-yard kickoff return for another TD. "Finally we're starting to gel a little bit."
"We just wanted to come out and execute," said quarterback Chris Gunn, who completed 11-of-15 passes for 134 yards and the touchdown. "I'm a little upset we didn't capitalize on some of the chances the defense was able to give us. But we're going to work on that."
Tennessee Valley intercepted two passes and had 197 total yards to Evansville's 182.
"We wanted to please our coach," said defensive back David Knott, who had four tackles (two solo), an interception and a quarterback hurry. "And it happened. Defense, offense and special teams. We executed just like he wanted us to do."
The Raptors (3-6) struck first on the 27-yard touchdown pass from Gunn to McArdle. Steven Lee's kick made it 7-0 Raptors at 7:27 in the first quarter after the four-play, 45-yard drive.
On the ensuing possession, Knott intercepted a pass by Evansville quarterback Ramon Robinson. The Raptors were driving again but fumbled the ball away.
The Bluecats (5-5) took advantage of the miscue and scored on Robinson's 1-yard run. Erik Rockhold's kick tied the score 7-all with 55 seconds left in the quarter.
Gunn went down with an injury at 12:39 in the second quarter; and Mike Scipione took over at quarterback. He directed the Raptors to a touchdown on Keith Glover's 2-yard run at 9:36. Lee's kick put the Raptors up 14-7 after the nine-play, 33-yard drive.
Evansville drew to within 14-13 on Otis Shannon's 3-yard run at 5:36. That was the halftime score after Sean Hilliard intercepted Robinson's pass on the final play.
Gunn returned to quarterback the Raptors in the second half. After a Tennessee Valley turnover, Rockhold put Evansville up 16-14 with his 25-yard field goal at 8:25 in the third quarter.
Tennessee Valley retook the lead on Kevin Galbreath's 30-yard touchdown run at 8:10. Lee kicked it to 21-16 Raptors, which was the score entering the fourth.
Evansville went up 22-21 on Shannon's 1-yard run with 11:48 left. The Raptors struck back with McArdle's touchdown return on the ensuiing kickoff. Gunn hit Durocher Miller with a two-point conversion pass and the Raptors led 29-22.
The Raptors got another scoring chance when Hilliard forced an Evansville fumble on the ensuiing kickoff and Wesley Bynam recovered for a first down on the Bluecats' 1. But Tennessee Valley returned the favor with a fumble of its own.
Evansville drove down the field and got a first-and-goal on the Raptors' 4. The Bluecats faced fourth-and-goal on the 3 with 1:30 left; and Tennessee Valley's defense recovered a fumble.
Gunn connected with Miller for 12 yards and a first down on the Raptors' 18 at 1:01. He hit McArdle for 12 yards and a first down on Evansville's 20 with 42 seconds left; and the Raptors ran out the clock.
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