Rats Are 3-0 After Road Win In Georgia

Published on March 23, 2008 under American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Erie Explosion News Release


(Columbus, GA) - In his first start for the Erie RiverRats, QB Jarrod Highberger threw 5 touchdown passes, and the Rats' defense once again delivered several game-changing plays, as Erie, on its longest road trip of the season, defeated the Columbus Lions (1-1) in Columbus, GA by the final score of 54-48. The Rats' improved their record to 3-0, the best in the AIFA.

Highberger replaced David Dinkins, who could not make the road trip for work-related reasons. In his debut as a starting quarterback, he completed 13-31 passes for 188 yards. WR Darmel Whitfield led Erie with five receptions, including a pair of first-quarter touchdowns. WR's Sean Coffey and Brandon Jackson added four catches apiece, with Jackson accounting for the other three Rats' touchdown receptions.

Both offenses were productive to start the game as each team scored touchdowns on their first two possessions. Highberger and Whitfield connected twice for scores in the first quarter for Erie. Columbus QB Joey Conrad matched it with a 2-yard touchdown run followed early in the second quarter by a 13-yard connection to Silas Daniels to tie the score at 14-14. The teams then traded field goal attempts, with Erie's J.R. Cipra missing from 40 yards out, and Columbus' Wes Wilson hitting from 30 yards away to give the Lions a 17-14 lead.

The lead lasted just 1:33 and it was to be the only time Columbus was ahead in the game.

On the ensuing drive, the Rats' Jovon Johnson returned the kickoff 33 yards to the Lions 24, which set up Highberger on the next play to connect with Brandon Jackson for the go-ahead touchdown. The Lions drove to Erie's 12 yard line and then the Rats' defense made the first big defensive play of the game as CB Jovon Johnson picked off a Conrad pass in the end zone and returned it 51 yards for an Erie touchdown. A Cipra kickoff through the uprights gave Erie a 29-17 lead. The Rats' defense wasn't done making big plays as on Columbus' next possession, Conrad was hit hard by several defenders and came down with a dislocated shoulder. He was not able to return for the rest of the game.

In the second half, each offense continued to trade scores with Columbus pulling within six points at 47-41 with 9:54 remaining, behind backup QB Maurice Mullins. Then the defenses became the story.

Erie drove to the Columbus 15-yard line when Columbus DL Rod Marshall forced and recovered a fumble by Erie RB Robert Hammer. The officials huddled for a while to discuss the play before rewarding the Lions with possession at 6:32 remaining. The Rats' defense responded on the very next play as Erie LB Glenroy Watkins forced a Mullins fumble which was picked up by DL Densville Saunders and returned 13 yards for a touchdown and a 54-41 lead. The Lions scored a touchdown on a 30-yard pass from Mullins to WR Gerald Gales to pull within 54-48 but then the Columbus defense made a play of its own, intercepting a Highberger pass to give their offense the ball at midfield down six with 1:37 to play.

Just as they had done in their first two games, the Rats' defense took over the game in crunch time. After sacking QB Mullins on second down to force a 3rd-and-17, they sacked him again and this time, forced a fumble recovered by Erie DL JoValle McKenzie to seal the win for the Rats'.

The Erie RiverRats return home on Monday, March 31, 2008, when they host the North Division defending champion Reading Express at the Tullio Arena. The first 1,500 in attendance will receive a lithograph of a painting of Erie's Jovon Johnson by Kevin-John, world-renown sports artist, who will be in attendance to personally sign all lithographs distributed. Tickets are now on sale at the Tullio Arena and at all Ticketmaster outlets.

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