Riverhawks dominate Freeze
April 29, 2006 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Johnstown RiverHawks News Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - From start to finish of Saturday night's game at Cambria County War Memorial, the Johnstown Riverhawks kept the heat on first-place Erie - dropping the Freeze 57-38 in a key AIFL North battle for the Riverhawks (5-4).
The win, coupled with Canton's bye week, moves Johnstown into a fourth-place tie with the Legends.
Johnstown opened the scoring on an 18-yard field goal from Jason Cherry with 4:16 expired in the first. Johnstown added a point to its lead on the ensuing kickoff when Erie's Jon Frazier failed to return the ball out of the end zone.
Quarterback Adam Haught then connected with receivers Marko Thomas and Richard Cooper for touchdowns as Johnstown took an 18-0 lead into the second. Haught scored Johnstown's next touchdown by using his legs on a 19-yard scrambling romp to the end zone. Erie's David Dinkins scored on short rushing touchdowns before and after Haught's run to pull Erie within 11 points at 25-14.
Riverhawks receiver Quenteen Robinson bumped the Johnstown back to 18 points with the first of his three touchdown grabs - from 26 yards away - to give the Riverhawks a 32-14 lead. Erie's Darmel Whitfield pulled in a 33-yard pass to keep the Freeze afloat at halftime.
Whitfield followed with a 39-yard scoring grab on Erie's first drive of the second half, pulling his squad within six points.
It was the closest Erie would get.
Kickoff returner Carlos Campbell took the ensuing kickoff 50 yards to pay dirt to return Johnstown's lead to double digits at 38-26. Cherry rattled home a 19-yard field goal to expand the lead late in the third.
Cherry's third field goal - a 23-yarder - gave the River hawks a 44-26 advantage early in the fourth. The Freeze could get no closer than 12 points the rest of the way with Robinson answering two Erie scores with touchdowns of his own.
Robinson pulled in an 8-yard pass after a Chris Blackshear touchdown and a 33-yarder after Frazier hauled in a score. Both of Erie's touchdowns covered 20 yards.
Haught ended with 244 yards passing on 17 completions with no interceptions in his 29 attempts. Robinson led all receivers in catches and yardage with seven grabs for 105 yards.
Erie was paced by Whitfield's 98 yards on five catches. Dinkins was 12 of 28 for 175 yards and was sacked three times.
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American Indoor Football Association Stories from April 29, 2006
- Thunder keep coming back, knock off Spartans, 49-44 - Daytona Beach Thunder
- Riverhawks dominate Freeze - Johnstown RiverHawks
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