Shockwave Win, Improve to 9 - 1
June 24, 2007 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
San Diego Shockwave News Release
Multiple defensive stops in one game aren't too common in the NIFL or indoor football in general. Despite the fact that Defensive Coordinator Montra Edwards wasn't pleased with his defense's effort, their four key stops, three in the first half alone, were key to the Shockwave's 33 - 24 victory against the talented, stubborn Tri-Valley Ranchers Saturday night at Cox Arena.
A crowd of 2,933 fans witnessed a Shockwave win that wasn't particularly pretty and wasn't by their usual large margin. But it was a win and San Diego will take it as they continue plowing their way through their inaugural NIFL campaign; improving their record to 9 - 1.
"I'm not too impressed," Edwards said in reference to the defense's effort. "We seemed to be a step slow tonight. We weren't swarming the ball and playing with our usual aggressive style of defense."
The Shockwave special teams, however, looked sharp early. They scored on the game's opening kickoff when newly signed wide receiver Shawn Brown ran it back 49 yards for a score on his first play as a pro. With just 11 seconds off the clock; the Shockwave were up by seven. And although they led the entire game, like dust on a cowboy's boots, they couldn't shake the Ranchers from theirs.
The Shockwave, thanks to a Ty Evans run and two touchdown passes; from quarterback Matt Pound to wide receivers Michael Pittman and Nakoa McElrath respectively, held a relatively small 16 point lead at halftime, 28 -12. Pound was 11 of 19 for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Pittman and McElrath each had three catches. Evans would finish with 22 yards on 11 carries.
Early in the second half, the Ranchers cut the lead to ten, 28 - 18, when pesky running back Jamar Julien, (70 yards on 19 carries), ran it in from the one-yard line.
But the Shockwave defense again rose to the occasion, adding two points, not on a safety, but on a rare interception return of the failed Ranchers two-point conversion attempt. Defensive back Antoine Chambers stepped in front of Ranchers wide receiver Nick Iano at the goal line for the pick, taking it back along the left dasherboard for the score. "That was a big play," added Edwards, of Chambers' interception. "It made a statement that even though we weren't playing at our best, we certainly weren't giving up."
Meanwhile, San Diego's offense completely sputtered in the second half, scoring only once on a John "Auto" Matich 17-yard field goal with 5:50 remaining in the game, seemingly putting the game out of reach, 33 - 18.
But Tri-Valley, digging in their spurs, wouldn't go quietly, scoring with just 36 seconds left in the game when veteran indoor quarterback Frank Borba hit wide receiver/defensive back Paki Gordon for 12-yard score. Borba was 14 of 24 for 124 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The two-point conversion, which would have cut the lead to seven points, again failed. The ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Shockwave and they ran out the clock, preserving their nine point margin of victory.
The win was the Shockwave's slimmest margin of victory this season over a Ranchers team that was missing their kicker and several key starters due to injury. Tri-Valley attempted (and failed) on four, two-point conversions.
"I'm not sure what it was this week," explained Edwards of the defense's lack of intensity. "We hadn't seen a lot of game film on Tri-Valley so we weren't sure of what to expect. But we're going back to the basics this week and will be ready to continue our march to the championship."
Ranchers' Coach Michael Greer, although unhappy with the loss, commented, "I'm proud of our effort in staying in the game. San Diego's a great team and we played with a lot of heart, never giving up despite the fact we were without several injured starters."
The first-place Shockwave return to action next Saturday, June 30th at 7:05 p.m. at Cox Arena in the regular season finale against the San Bernardino Bucking Bulls. Tickets remain on sale for this game and for the upcoming playoffs through Ticketmaster outlets, the Cox Arena box office, by going to www.sandiegoshockwave.com; or by calling 877.SHOCWAV (877.746.2928).
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National Indoor Football League Stories from June 24, 2007
- Shockwave Win, Improve to 9 - 1 - San Diego Shockwave
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