Raptors take down Peoria
May 1, 2005 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - It was a sweet return home for the Tennessee Valley Raptors.
Quarterback Mike Scipione threw for a season-high 242 yards and five touchdowns, while Luke McArdle had 119 yards receiving and two touchdowns as the Raptors posted a 39-32 victory over the Peoria Rough Riders before 3,650 fans Saturday night at the Von Braun Center.
The victory was all that more satisfying given the fact that Scipione, McArdle, and linemen Joel Page and Jerry Spencer all were early-season cuts at Peoria.
"This was just a great win and we got the job done on both sides of the ball,'' said Raptors coach Dick Adams, whose team improved to 2-0 at home and 2-3 overall. "We had some great performances out there and I think we showed just how good this team can be. I think it's a sign of good things to come."
The Raptors had trailed 29-26 late in the third quarter, but Scipione's 9-yard pass to McArdle and Steven Lee's extra point gave Tennessee Valley the lead for good at 32-29 heading to the final period.
Tennessee Valley would recover a botched snap on a field goal try at the Rough Riders' 10 and convert three plays later on Scipione's 1-yard dive. Lee's extra point made it 39-29 and the Raptors defense, coupled with a late offensive grind preserved the win from there.
"They kept coming down and scoring, but we came back every time,'' said McArdle, whose team visits Tupelo on Friday.
"Hopefully this will put us on a little roll and we're feeling pretty good about things."
Nicholas Wells had a pair of touchdown catches and Durocher Miller added another as Scipione completed 21 of 27 passes with one interception. McArdle finished with 259 all-purpose yards, while Walt Church completed 15 of 26 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns for Peoria (2-3).
The Raptors jumped ahead early on Scipione's 36-yard touchdown pass to McArdle, but Lee's extra point missed and the score stood at 6-0 with just 55 seconds elapsed.
Peoria answered quickly on a 30-yard pass from Church to Jon Schoonover and Matt Russell's kick gave the visitors the lead at 12:16.
The Raptors came up with a defensive stop and a blocked field goal late in the first half and drove 41-yards in two plays, reclaiming the lead on Scipione's quick 8-yard slant to Miller with 1:04 left.
That was enough time for the Rough Riders to drive 29 yards and score on Brandon Robinson's 6-yard run to lead it 14-13 at the break after Russell's extra point.
Scipione's 5-yard pass to Wells and Lee's miss made it a five-point Tennessee Valley advantage just more than four minutes into the third and another scoring pass to Wells from 9-yards out and Lee's kick gave the Raptors a 26-21 advantage at 5:19 of the third.
Church's 41-yard scoring bomb to Schoonover and a two-point toss to Shonn Bell with four minutes remaining in period No. 3 gave the visitors a three-point cushion before the Raptors rallied for the victory.
United Indoor Football Association Stories from May 1, 2005
- Raptors take down Peoria - Tennessee Valley Raptors
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
