
San Angelo stop Thunderbolts, 56-42, in Sunday matinee
May 15, 2005 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
San Angelo Stampede Express News Release
LAKELAND, Fla. â San Angelo had not scored more than 34 points in a game this season. Even in their only win in seven outings, the Stampede had 24 points.
Sunday was different for a beaming Chris Simpson, the head coach of the Stampede who had just defeated the Lakeland ThunderBolts, 56-42, in a National Indoor Football League game.
"I would say our offense broke out in this one," said Simpson, in his first indoor season after heading up a semi-pro team in Tucson, Arizona, for the past two years. " I said before the offense has got to break out."
Break out it did. The Stampede jumped in front of the ThunderBolts, 21-14 in the first quarter.
It didn't take long as defensive back Jeff Smith stripped Nunnie Booker on a running play, took the ball away and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown a little more than a minute into the game.
At 9:52 of the first, Lakeland (3-6) came back to take it's only lead of the game, 7-6, when quarterback Jeremy Martin connected with Raymond Hardy for 3 yards. Steve Kratz added the extra point.
San Angelo went ahead after a 14-14 tie as Demont Burdine scored on 4 and a 1-yard run, the second coming with 3:42 left in the second period, which gave the Stampede a 27-14 lead.
Quarterback Brian Villanueva a pair of touchdown passes, but in the fourth quarter, San Angelo scored 23 points thanks to possibly the biggest wide receiver in the NIFL.
Travon Magee, a rookie out of Kansas State played in his first NIFL game Sunday, and did not disappoint coach Simpson. His two catches only five minutes apart from 3 and 6 yards boosted the Stampede's margin to 49-34 with 4:30 remaining.
The Stampede play five of their last six games at home, including Saturday against the tough Everett Hawks (8-0). San Angelo's last four games are at home against Billings, Wyoming, Corpus Christi and Southwest Louisiana.
"If we win out, we can make the playoffs," said a confident Simpson. "We just need to have these kind of efforts.
National Indoor Football League Stories from May 15, 2005
- San Angelo stop Thunderbolts, 56-42, in Sunday matinee - San Angelo Stampede Express
- Morays retake first place with 72-39 win over Xtreme - Miami Morays
- Hawks remain unbeaten with 58-34 win - Everett Hawks
- Warbirds cannot hold 4-point halftime lead, lose to River City Rage - Dayton Bulldogs
- Maulers End Losing Streak - Montgomery Bears
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent San Angelo Stampede Express Stories
- Local Farmer Joins Team
- Stampede Express Hosting First Round of the Playoffs
- Stampede Express Receive Proclamation
- Indoor Football League Week 10 Vidswap.Com Players Of The Week
- Veteran Quarterback Takes the Snaps

