Slaughter Defeat Green Bay Blizzard 46-39; Advance To Second Round
June 26, 2010 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Chicago Slaughter News Release
HOFFMAN ESTATES - The Chicago Slaughter (7-8), the premier indoor football team in the Chicagoland area, secured an upset victory over Central North Division Champions and fierce rivals the Green Bay Blizzard (10-5) 46-39 at the Resch Center in Green Bay, in the first round of the Indoor Football League (IFL) United Conference playoff competition. DB Dennison Robinson's last second touchdown gave the team the lead with 1.3 seconds left, paving the way for the Slaughter to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Slaughter QB Tavares Woodley finished the game going 16-25 for 217 yards and four touchdowns. WR Reggie Gray chipped in with six catches for 114 yards and three touchdowns. RB Jarrett Payton returned to the field this week rushing for 54 yards on 10 carries and a 2 point conversion.
The Slaughter started off fast, as Woodley's long completion and subsequent run got the ball near the Green Bay goal line. Slaughter K Chris Nendick nailed a 23-yard field goal to put Chicago up 3-0. Slaughter defense got into the game on the next possession as DB Sam Smith picked off a pass from Green Bay QB Jake Phillips near the Chicago goal line and returned it into Green Bay territory. The Slaughter missed a field goal on their next drive, in the last scoring chance of the first quarter. Slaughter special teams came up big to start the second quarter, as DL Jon Kowalyshen blocked a GB field goal to preserve the 3-0 lead. On the Slaughter's next possession, Woodley found Gray wide open down the middle for a 42-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 9-0. The Slaughter failed on an onside kick attempt on the ensuing kickoff allowing Green Bay to score on a four-yard run making the score 9-7 Slaughter. RB Jarrett Payton's strong run and pass reception out of the backfield led the Slaughter to another Nendick field goal to extend the lead to 12-7. The Blizzard didn't take long to answer as backup QB Willie Copeland found WR Scott Burnoski wide open for a 25-yard touchdown to take the lead, 14-12. After the teams traded field goals near the end of the quarter, Woodley fumbled on an attempt to reach the end zone leaving the Slaughter down by two points at 17-15 at the end of the first half.
Green Bay took the opening kick to start the second half and scored on a two-yard touchdown run to go up 23-15 after a missed extra point. The Slaughter responded as Woodley found WR Irani DeAraujo wide open for a 28-yard touchdown. With a successful two-point conversion on a Payton run, Chicago tied the score at 23-23. The Blizzard responded quickly as Copeland found Burnowski in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown, as Green Bay gained a 30-23 lead. The Slaughter wasted no time to tie the score on their next possession as Woodley connected with Gray, this time for a 17-yard touchdown to tie the score at 30.
After two quick turnovers, one by each team, the Blizzard got the ball back at the Slaughter three yard line and scored on a two yard pass from Copeland to WR Daniel Robinson as Green Bay took the lead 37-30 to start the fourth quarter. After several missed field goal attempts, Woodley found Gray once again in the end zone tie the score at 37. The Slaughter kept the momentum going as Green Bay fumbled the ball into their own end zone for a Chicago safety giving the Slaughter a 39-37 lead with three minutes left in the game. However, the Slaughter stalled on their next drive and Green Bay was able to drive down to the Slaughter goal line. On the next play, Copeland fumbled the ball on third down leading to Slaughter's Sam Smith's recovery with 24 seconds left on the clock. Chicago tried to run out the clock and was tackled in their own end zone giving Green Bay a safety to tie the game at 39 and gain possession with less than 20 seconds left. Miraculously, on the next play, Chicago's Sam Smith intercepted a Copeland pass and lateralled the ball to DB Dennison Robinson who ran the ball back for a touchdown to put the Slaughter up 46-39 with 1.3 seconds remaining The Blizzard got the ball back after a series of penalties and had one last chance to tie the game from the Chicago 8-yard line with no time left on the clock. However, the Slaughter defense held strong giving Chicago the victory over Green Bay allowing them to advance to the second round.
"Jarrett Payton is a game changer and that was very evident tonight," said Slaughter GM Alan Perkins. "Having him [Payton] in the back field...a guy who can make plays makes a big difference for us. Woodley stepped up in the Quarterback position tonight, Gray put up great numbers again, and our defense was also key with several interceptions and a safety. I couldn't be more proud of our guys."
IFL second round match-ups will be determined following the outcome of the remaining first round action scheduled this weekend. For more information, contact the Chicago Slaughter at (847) 310-3190 or visit the Chicago Slaughter website at www.chicagoslaughter.com
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