Riptide Drop Another Heartbreaker, 39-36
May 15, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. â The Riptide just can't catch a break, losing their second straight heartbreaker, 39-36 to the Bakersfield Blitz. Chad Elliot tosses four touchdown passes and Brian Walker connected on a 36-yard field goal as time expired to drop San Diego to 1-5 on the season.
All four of Elliot's scores came in the first half as the âTide defense played their best game of the season, forcing three Bakersfield turnovers and holding the Blitz to just 12 second-half points, but it wasn't enough to keep from dropping another heartbreaker. The Riptide's (1-5) last three losses have come by a combined seven points, as the kicking game failed them again, despite their making their second change at kicker in three weeks.
Bakersfield dominated the first quarter on both sides of the ball, jumping out to an early 13-0 lead on touchdowns by Eric Mahanke and Reynard Reynolds. Meanwhile, the âTide offense struggled mightily. Kane Claunch was just 5-of-11 for 43 yards in the quarter as the Blitz' defensive line continued to pressure the Riptide signal caller, forcing several overthrows and numerous penalties on the offensive line. San Diego turned the ball over on downs on their first possession and missed a long field-goal attempt as the quarter ended.
The second period proved to be more of the same for the âTide. Bakersfield quickly found the end zone once again on another Elliot-to-Mahanke touchdown. The Blitz failed to convert on a two-point try, giving the ball back with a 19-0 lead.
San Diego finally found some offense on the ensuing drive as Claunch connected with Jesus Reyes, who made a quick move to get past the Blitz defender and headed toward the end zone. Delvin Miles came up behind Reyes, however, and knocked the ball loose at the two-yard line and Bakersfield recovered in their end zone for a touchback.
The Riptide finally turned things around after that, however, using some big plays on defense to key the comeback. Ryan Smith picked off Elliot on the Blitz' ensuing drive, giving San Diego the ball on the Bakersfield one-yard line. Matt Guardia quickly pounded the ball in on the very next play to give the âTide their first points of the game.
San Diego's defense was at it again on the next Bakersfield drive, as Rico Curtis stripped Reynolds of the ball after a reception and gave the Riptide the ball once again at the Blitz' 10-yard line. Once again, San Diego converted on the next play as Claunch found Carter, who reversed fields and waltzed into the end zone to help the âTide pull to within five, 19-14.
The Blitz came storming back with a TD of their own on their next drive when Elliot tossed his fourth TD pass of the game, again to Reynolds. Bakersfield converted a two point attempt to go up by 13 and the âTide could only muster a field goal before the clock expired, going into halftime down by 10.
The bounces continued to go San Diego's way to start the second half, however, as they stymied Bakersfield at the âTide one-yard line before forcing another fumble. Claunch then led the âTide on an 11-play, 44-yard drive that culminated in an eight-yard run for a score by the San Diego field general and took nearly 11 minutes off the clock.
Bakersfield added a field goal on their next drive, but the Riptide countered with another score â this time a 21-yard catch by Brad Greetis, just his second reception of the year. Ehmke missed the point-after try, however, and San Diego continued to trail by one.
The Blitz found the end zone again on a two-yard run by Ben McCombs, but Walker missed an extra point of his own, leaving San Diego with the ball, trailing by seven.
Claunch made Walker and the Blitz pay for the mistake, connecting again with Greetis to get the âTide into Bakersfield territory before hitting Nakoa McElrath for the score. Ehmke connected on the point after this time to tie the game with just 50 seconds remaining.
Much like their first meeting, however, Bakersfield took the ball with the final seconds ticking away, and produced a win as Walker atoned for his earlier miss, connecting on a 36-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Blitz their second straight three-point win over the âTide, 39-36.
SHARK BITES: San Diego garnered a season-high three takeaways in the loss... Claunch's streak of four straight games with at least five TD passes was snapped... Greetis grabbed two passes in the game, doubling his season total coming into action... Elliot now has 11 TD throws against San Diego this season... Mahanke has added five scores against the âTide in two games in 2004... Guardia now has three rushing scores against Bakersfield this year... QB Kevin Feterik was activated from the injured reserve this week... QB Tony Corbin was added to the short-term IR with a sore shoulder before the game... OL/DL Rob Moore and kicker Rich Ehmke were assigned to the âTide this week, while kicker Chris Arnce was reassigned...
NEXT GAME: The Riptide return home to take on the two-time af2 champion Quad City Steamwheelers for the first and only time in 2004 on Saturday, May 22. The first 3,000 fans will be treated to Riptide ball caps, courtesy of Assil and Flowers Vision Center. Fans can catch the excitement for all 16 Riptide regular season games at www.WorldTalkRadio.com with Mark Rogondino calling the play-by-play.
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