Roughnecks Win Nail Biter Over Wichita 54-47
April 1, 2011 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
West Texas Roughnecks News Release
MIDLAND, TX. : The West Texas Roughnecks improved to 4-1 on the 2011 regular season by edging the Wichita Wild on the road Friday evening, April 1, 54-47. In what was certainly a back-and-forth battle throughout the ball game, the Roughnecks running department posted a late touchdown in the fourth quarter to extend the Roughnecks lead to 54-47. The Roughnecks defense was able to hold off the Wichita Wild on fourth down on the ensuing possession and run the clock out to post the victory.
The Roughnecks took an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter as QB Arkelon Hall connected with wide out Tim Bush for a 22-yard touchdown pass. The Wild countered with a 35-yard touchdown pass from QB Brandon Walker to WR Clinton Solomon to tie the game at seven. On the next possession, Wild defensive back Randy Kelly intercepted Arkelon Hall returning it 18 yards for a touchdown giving the Wild a 13-7 lead at the end of the quarter.
The Roughnecks would quickly retake the lead in the second quarter as Arkelon Hall scrambled for a six-yard touchdown run making it 14-13. Wichita would once again answer with a six-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Walker to Clinton Solomon giving Wichita a 20-14 advantage. The Roughnecks would tie the game at 20 on their next drive as Arkelon Hall found an open Wilson Kimble down the sideline for a 40-yard touchdown pass. Wichita quarterback Brandon Walker countered the Kimble touchdown reception with a 29-yard touchdown run to give the Wild a 27-20 lead. The Roughnecks would make the game a one-point deficit at halftime at 27-26 as Hall connected with Tim Bush for a 25-yard touchdown pass.
Wichita would gain momentum in the third quarter as Brandon Walker found Clinton Solomon for a big 20-yard touchdown pass, extending the Wild lead to 33-26. The Roughnecks would come back with an identical result as Arkelon Hall connected with Wilson Kimble for a leaping 15-yard touchdown reception closing the gap at 33-32. With a drive that started with good field positioning, the Wild went up 39-32 with a five-yard touchdown run from running back Darius Fudge closing out the third quarter.
The Roughnecks would begin the fourth quarter equaling the score at 39 when running back Evin Jones recorded a one-yard touchdown run. In one of the more important moments of the game, Roughnecks linebacker Jeremiah Turner sacked Wild QB Brandon Walker in the end-zone for a safety on the next drive, giving the Roughnecks a 41-39 lead. With the Roughnecks offense back with the football, the Roughnecks extended their lead to 48-39 as DeWayne Hogan added a nine-yard touchdown run. With just over 4:30 left in the fourth quarter, a Roughnecks field goal attempt was blocked as the loose ball was recovered by Wild DB C.J. Lovett in the end-zone for a touchdown. The Wild would successful convert a two-point conversion narrowing the gap to 48-47. The Roughnecks would quickly answer with a four-yard touchdown run from Evin Jones, extending the lead to 54-47. With one more opportunity left in the game, the Wild were unable to convert on fourth down and five within Roughnecks territory on the ensuing drive. The Roughnecks ran out the clock to seal the win.
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Indoor Football League Stories from April 1, 2011
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- Roughnecks Win Nail Biter Over Wichita 54-47 - West Texas Roughnecks
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