Stampede Fumble Snaps, and Game
by J.P. Matti
Published on May 1, 2006 under 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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