Stampede Fumble Snaps, and Game
by J.P. Matti
May 1, 2006 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Steubenville Stampede
For the Steubenville Stampede players, new and old, this is not what they imagined. Down 34-0 in the second quarter, the team was all but demolished.
Eighteen players had assembled at St. John Arena for the road trip. Each not quite sure what to expect. After the upheavals before the Canton game, two weeks of trying to get the best available players and form a cohesive team: that was the goal. It took roughly 20 minutes of game time before some form of cohesion took place.
Not that the Stampede were without chances. Twice early on, DeJoeve Platt and the rest of the Stampede offense had the ball deep in Silverback territory looking for a score. Instead each time the tides were turned and one way or another, it resulted in a lost possession, and an eventual score by Miami Valley.
Sly Brumfield lived up to his billing, as he made the best of a bad situation fielding kickoffs. More often than not, returning them past midfield.
Rattled with injuries to his hands, Platt was never able to gain composure in the passing game. Demoralized by an onslaught of bad snaps, he did everything he could to at least try and make the game respectable.
Down 34-8 at the half, the Stampede players and coaches knew that to win would take a miracle. Sadly, what happened on a kickoff in the third quarter, was all the miracle the Stampede would get. On a fumble by Brumfield near the 25 as he was being brought down, Ben Johnson, a recent acquisition, scooped up the ball and raced to the endzone for a touchdown.
The other scores of the day were courtesy of Hasan Brown (#5) with two, and Sly Brumfield (#6) with one.
A late TD by backup QB hailing from New York, Josh Kraph, was the last of the points put up for the Stampede. A late score by Miami Valley indicative of running it up, caused an eruption of pent up anger, humiliation, and disgust at what transpired. Barring the botched snaps, this would've been a different game. Had the first quarter not been played, this would've been a different game. Sadly, there are no do-overs in professional football, at any level.
The Stampede faced the brutal truth of the 73-28 on the scoreboard with zeros across the board. Tonight, this was the outcome. True, it may not have been the best of each player. Injuries or bad timing or snaps could've affected the outcome. The reality is this team lost in every facet of the game.
Still, all eighteen players--battered, bruised, and dejected--loaded their gear on to the vans. They sat down, relaxed, and settled in for the long trip home as teammates. As much as it is to lose a game, they know it's so much better to win one. And their next chance is Saturday May 6th, at home, to the defending regular season champion, Erie Freeze.
American Indoor Football Association Stories from May 1, 2006
- Stampede Fumble Snaps, and Game - OSC Original by J.P. Matti
- Family Feud Set for Friday at the Forum - Rome Renegades
- Road Weary Freeze flooded by Johnston - Erie Freeze
- AIFL Week 10 Recaps - AIFA
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