Silverbacks Leave Wisconsin In Shock
May 17, 2010 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Dayton Silverbacks News Release
All season, it has seemed as if every close call, bounce of the ball, or break had gone against the Miami Valley Silverbacks (2-6). For once on the final play of the Saturday night's 22-18 upset of the Wisconsin Wolfpack (5-2) at Hartmeyer Arena in Madison, all those factors converged to go in Miami Valley's favor.
With the Silverbacks trailing 18-16 in the final seconds, Jason Cunningham, who was 2-for-2 on PATs in his first appearance in a football game since his senior year at Cedarville High School, was sent in to attempt a 34-yard field goal. The kick was tipped, but Cunningham managed to beat two Wisconsin return men to the ball at about the Wisconsin 15, then flipped it backward to lineman Derrick Crawford, who took a clear path into the end zone for the game-winning score as time expired.
"I saw someone jump to block it, so I just sprinted around the left side. Me and the return man were running for it and as I was getting tackled I turned and flipped it to Crawford," Cunningham said.
"I just went to block for him when he picked it off the ground and when he started to turn I put my hands out," Crawford added. "I knew it was a touchdown. It was just a matter of if the other team tips it on a field goal, it's live and we can pick it up."
"I've seen a lot of crazy stuff, but this has definitely been the craziest," added Crawford, who has experience in the NFL, NFL Europe, and Arena Football in addition to the CIFL.
After a conference by the officials, the touchdown was upheld and Miami Valley came away with its second win of the season, beating a second-place Wisconsin team whose only previous loss had been to undefeated Cincinnati.
"I knew it was a legal play. It's a live kick," said Miami Valley head coach Brian Wells. "That's why you can return those field goals- they're live kicks."
The final play would have made no difference had it not been for the continued improvement of the Miami Valley defense.
Two weeks ago the Silverbacks were torched for a CIFL-record 184 rushing yards in a 64-39 loss in Marion. Since then, that unit has allowed a then-season low 26 points in a loss in Fort Wayne last week, and this week held the CIFL's second-highest scoring offense to less than half its 37.3 point average coming in and a season low in points.
"The defense came out and we played another good game," said Crawford. "We just hustled to the ball."
Wells said along with the addition of veteran linebackers Tommy Sewell and Larry Byndon and the play of the secondary, Crawford's play was a significant factor Saturday.
"Derrick Crawford got a lot of pressure," Wells said. "It got to the point where they had to double team him."
Miami Valley was also able to overcome injuries to two of its top receivers, Daniel Stover and Melvin Bryant, coming into the game.
"(Receiver) Aric Evans is no slouch and neither is 'Zeke' (Isaiah Cheatham) and Eric Morton," Wells said. "I wasn't worried about that group being out there and (running back Derrick) Moss had a great game."
After Moss scored a 1-yard touchdown run to start the scoring for Miami Valley, Kyenes Mincy hit Evans for a touchdown that put Miami Valley ahead, 14-12.
Wisconsin quarterback Matt Schabert responded with a touchdown run to give the lead back to Wisconsin, but Will White forced Schabert to throw a pass away in his own end zone, resulting in intentional grounding and a safety that pulled the Silverbacks to within 18-16 in the fourth quarter.
In the final minute, Miami Valley got the ball back for one final drive from deep in its own territory. After a big play, it appeared Miami Valley could punch in the go-ahead touchdown in a more traditional manner, but penalties resulted in the decision to try the kick instead.
" 'Nez' (Mincy) completed a pass down the right sideline to Zeke inside the 15 yard line," Wells said. "Then we had two false starts because we were trying to get to the line and they were loud so I put the kicking unit out there."
"I was not really nervous," Cunningham said. "I was excited to have the chance, but I knew the odds were against me because the ceiling was so low and the defensive line was so tall. So there was kind of no pressure, because you're not expected to make a kick like that. I just wanted to give it my best shot."
Although unconventional, Cunningham's best shot may have helped the Silverbacks prove a point to the rest of the league.
"Our guys can play with anybody," Wells said. "It's just a matter of if we can come in together as a group and come in rested, we can beat anybody."
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Continental Indoor Football League Stories from May 17, 2010
- Silverbacks Leave Wisconsin In Shock - Dayton Silverbacks
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