Raptors Take Down Tupelo
April 17, 2005 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. â The Tennessee Valley Raptors entered Saturday night's home opener against Tupelo looking for their first win of the season.
They're not looking anymore.
Defensive back Henry Freeman's 42-yard interception return sparked a Raptors' scoring spree early in the fourth quarter as the Raptors pulled away for a 36-20 win before 4,042 fans at the Von Braun Center.
Quarterback Mike Scipione threw touchdown passes - including a 38-yarder to Luke McArdle with 9:08 to play â and then added a late 1-yard sneak to seal the team's first victory of the United Indoor Football season.
The Raptors defense was the major key as it sacked Tupelo quarterback Tommy Miller nine times. Defensive end Fernandez Shaw had three and a half sacks and noseguard Lionel Macklin three more in the win.
Durocher Miller had an early 18-yard touchdown reception and newcomer Nicholas Wells a 12-yarder as Tennessee Valley improved to 1-2 with the South Division win over the Fireants (1-4).
"Our front guys did an excellent job of putting some pressure on and our coverage made that happen,'' said Raptors coach Dick Adams, whose team visits Ohio Valley on Saturday.
"Our offense did a good job. We're young and we're still going to make some mistakes. But it was great finally getting back home and hearing those fans cheer for us."
Scipione completed 8 of 17 passes for 113 yards with two interceptions to go along with his three touchdowns, while Tommy Miller was 17 of 38 for 154 yards and two touchdowns with the costly pick in the final period.
Things started slowly for the Raptors.
Scipione threw an early interception to give the visitors an early stop, but the Raptors' defense held and Scipione answered four minutes when he connected with Durocher Miller for an 18-yard touchdown. Steven Lee's extra point to put the Raptors up 7-0.
Tupelo answered at the 8:01 mark when Tommy Miller hit Jamie Armstrong for a 22-yard touchdown to even the score. The defenses then took control for the rest of the opener before the tie was broke five minutes into the second when Lee kicked a 27-yard field goal to put the Raptors up 10-7. Scipione added his second touchdown pass to the evening when he completed a 12-yard pass to Wells to put the Raptors ahead 16-7 at the break.
Chris Rainey's 1-yard run pulled Tupelo within three points with 9:03 left in the third quarter before Freeman's interception return and Lee's kick made it 23-13 game with 13:48 left.
Rico McDonald's 14-yard pass from Jamie Miller and John Michael Martin's kick pulled Tupelo back within three with 10:29 to play, but then Scipione hit McArdle on his long touchdown less than two minutes later for a 29-20 Tennessee Valley advantage.
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United Indoor Football Association Stories from April 17, 2005
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- Raptors Take Down Tupelo - Tennessee Valley Raptors
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