Riders comeback against Ft. Wayne turns rocky
Published on June 25, 2005 under United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Peoria Rough Riders News Release
After battling toe to toe for three and a half quarters Fort Wayne Running Back Rocky Harvey authored a twin set of 20 plus yard 4th quarter romps and the Riders went down in defeat in a hard fought 56 - 35 game Saturday at Peoria's Carver Arena. The Rough Riders were seven down, 42 to 35, after a 4th quarter Peoria interception by Kevin Myers set up a Walt Church to Jon Schoonover 24-yard touchdown toss and then things got rocky. .
The first half belonged to the visitors. Fort Wayne led the first half 26 to 7 with Rocky Harvey running for one score and the Skelton to Dutcher Fort Wayne connection hitting for two td's. But a different Rough Rider team came out in the second half.
The Rough Riders scored on their first possession of the second half with Walt Church hitting JR Taylor over the middle for 14 and then spotting the feisty speedster Jon Schoonover for 27. Brandon Robinson sliced off tackle for the score making it 26 - 14.
The fired up Peoria Defense stiffened and stopped the Freedom at the 25 when defensive end Algie Atkinson batted down a Bill Skelton pass. Fort Wayne's Josh Telenko's 52-yard attempt was short. In four plays the Peoria defense had held the Fort Wayne Freedom to a minus two yards. On the Night the Peoria defense recorded 2 sacks from the duo of Jason VanLoo and newcomer Algie Atkinson that lost Fort Wayne 15 yards.
Brandon Robinson added to his resume as one of the most dangerous return men in the league with a 30-yard return of the Telenko miss to the Freedom 15. Robinson vaulted over the kicker as Telenko attempted to make a tackle and the collision sent Robinson flying on top of the wall. One play later Robinson scored form 15 yards out and it was 26 to 21 and the Riders were down by five to the Freedom.
A controversial fumble ruling by Officials gave the Freedom the ball at the beginning of the fourth quarter. A 27-yard Skelton to Luther Stroder pass put Fort Wayne up 42 to 21.
The Riders answered back with a screen to Tony Pryor from 15 yards out to tighten the score to 42-28. The Kevin Myers interception followed along with the Church to Schoonover bomb to bring the score to 42 - 35 and set the stage for the Rocky Harvey 4th quarter heroics.
A fourth quarter interception with 3:30 left ended the Rough Riders chances. The team has a two-week hiatus giving players some time to heal and refresh their legs. The rough Riders 4 win and 9 loss record means they need to win their last two home games: July 16 against Evansville and July 23rd against Ohio Valley, to make the playoffs.
United Indoor Football Association Stories from June 25, 2005
- Riders comeback against Ft. Wayne turns rocky - Peoria Rough Riders
- Early Offense and Timely Defense Push Lexington Past Tennessee Valley - Kentucky Horsemen
- Freedom broadcast sidelined - Fort Wayne Freedom
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