Roughnecks Edge Amarillo 37-24, Finish Regular Season at 10-4
June 11, 2011 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
West Texas Roughnecks News Release
MIDLAND, TX: The West Texas Roughnecks finished out the 2011 regular season on a winning note on Saturday evening (June 11) at the Ector County Coliseum by defeating the Amarillo Venom, 37-24. Amarillo held a 11-9 halftime lead over the Roughnecks due to the strong play of their defense, but the Roughnecks would record 28 points in the second-half as the defense supplied three turnovers to help complete the win. The Roughnecks finish 10-4 on the 2011 regular season beginning post-season play next week, as the Amarillo Venom finish out the 2011 season at 4-10.
Without a play from scrimmage, the Amarillo Venom took an early 1-0 lead in the game as Roughnecks kick returner Josh Floyd was tackled in the end-zone on the opening kickoff resulting in a one-point rogue for the Venom. The Roughnecks would take their first lead of the game on their first series as QB K.J. Black connected with WR Ryan Bugg for a 15-yard touchdown pass, making it 6-1. Amarillo would close the gap at 6-4 when kicker Jordy Finley connected on a 45-yard field goal midway through the first quarter. After the Roughnecks were stopped on fourth down on their next possession, the Venom would regain the lead when QB Sherard Ellis scrambled for a four-yard touchdown run giving Amarillo an 11-6 lead.
Offensive struggles would continue for both teams in the second quarter as the Roughnecks had two missed field goals from kicker Zeke Arevalo, and Amarillo QB Sherard Ellis was intercepted twice, once by DB Derrick Boyd and once by DB Marrio Norman. The Roughnecks would close the gap at halftime when Zeke Arevalo connected on a 38-yard field goal to make it 11-9, Amarillo leading at halftime.
With QB Arkelon Hall leading the offense in the second-half, the Roughnecks would retake the lead early in the third quarter as RB Evin Jones recorded a nine-yard touchdown run to make it 16-11. The Roughnecks defensive unit would come away with two turnovers in the quarter as DL Jeramie Richardson recovered a RB Marcus Robinson fumble, forced by LB Eric Henri, and Roughnecks DB Anthony Beck intercepted a Sherard Ellis pass late in the quarter. The Roughnecks would extend their lead to 23-11 in the third quarter when QB Arkelon Hall found WR Josh Floyd for a 10-yard touchdown pass.
Amarillo would close the gap in the fourth quarter when QB Sherard Ellis found FB Kyle Wilson for a five-yard touchdown pass, making it a 23-17 game. The Roughnecks would counter the Venom score with a key seven-play drive, going 26 yards and capping it off with a two-yard touchdown run from WR Ashlan Davis to give the Roughnecks a 30-17 lead. Amarillo would continue to battle late into the fourth quarter as QB Sherard Ellis found WR Anthony Clark for a 17-yard touchdown pass to close the gap at 30-24. Amarillo would follow the score with an onside kick attempt which resulted in an illegal touching penalty against Amarillo. With possession of the football, the Roughnecks capped the game off with a nine-yard touchdown run from RB Evin Jones extending their lead to 37-24.
With their 10-4 record this season, the Roughnecks have recorded double-digit wins for the first time since the 2006 season when the former Odessa Roughnecks finished 12-2 and won the 2006 Intense Football League Championship. With the first round of the 2011 IFL Playoffs beginning next week the Roughnecks will either host the Tri-Cities Fever if the Seattle Timberwolves defeat Tri-Cities, or the Roughnecks will travel to Washington for a first round playoff match-up against Tri-Cities if the Fever defeat Seattle. The game between Tri-Cities and Seattle is scheduled for Sunday, June 12 at 7:05 p.m. (pacific time zone).
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Indoor Football League Stories from June 11, 2011
- Extreme will open 2011 IFL Playoffs at Omaha - Bloomington Extreme
- Roughnecks Edge Amarillo 37-24, Finish Regular Season at 10-4 - West Texas Roughnecks
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