Stealth Buzzed by Swarm
July 27, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wichita Stealth News Release
Wichita, Kans. - In what proved to be another nail-biter at the Kansas Coliseum, the Cincinnati Swarm defeated the Wichita Stealth 61-59 in front of 5,034 fans. Stealth quarterback Anthony Buich had the second best passing game in Stealth history as he threw eight touchdown passes to Stealth receivers in the losing cause. The Stealth end the regular season with an 8-7-1 record, making it the first time the franchise has finished with a winning record. Cincinnati ends their inaugural af2 season with a 7-9 record and a second place finish in the National Conference Midwest Division.
The Stealth offense had a tough time early versus the Swarm defense as they committed turnovers on their first two possessions. On the opening drive of the game, Stealth wide receiver/linebacker Melvin Phillips fumbled at the Cincinnati 15-yard line and the Swarm recovered. Cincinnati would take the ball and capitalize on the Stealth miscue with a 35-yard strike from Andy Sahm to Mutsami Takahashi putting the Swarm up 7-0. On the ensuing Stealth drive, Anthony Payton would pick off Buich at the 25-yardline. The Stealth defense would handle the scoring on the next drive, as they blocked a Cincinnati field goal attempt, which was recovered in the end zone by Stealth lineman Henry Stephens for a touchdown. Michael Trimble would miss the extra point leaving the Stealth trailing 7-6.
The Stealth defense held on the next Cincinnati possession and gave the offense a chance to go ahead of the Swarm. It would only take two plays for the offense to come together. Buich found Derrick Yates, who was playing his first game as a two-way player for the Stealth, for a 12-yard touchdown, the conversion would fail but the Stealth would lead 12-7. Cincinnati would add a 29-yard run by Miguel Merritt to end the first quarter with a 13-12 Swarm lead.
The Stealth offense would be stopped on the first drive of the second quarter, when Buich threw his second interception of the night to Tony Locke. The Swarm would convert the possession on a Mutsami Takahahi four-yard run putting them ahead 20-12. The Stealth would tie the score on the very first play of the next drive on a 45-yard bomb from Buich to Shomari Buchanan. After the two-point conversion, the game was knotted at 20-20.
The Swarm would add two more scores before the end of the half, while the Stealth would add Buich to Melvin Phillips 20-yard touchdown reception to bring the halftime score to 33-27 in favor of the Swarm.
The Stealth offense would sputter again in the third quarter, as they were held scoreless. The Swarm would add two more scores to increase their lead to 19 at the end of three quarters of play, 46-27.
The Stealth offense would find their way back onto the scoring track in the fourth quarter as they put up 32 points. The Stealth were led by Shomari Buchanan who had three touchdown receptions in the fourth quarter. Buchanan would end the game with six catches for 118 yards and four touchdowns. Melvin Phillips would add four catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Buich would end the night going 30-of-39 for 310 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Stealth kicking team would contribute to the 32-points by recovering two crucial onside kicks. The first one came after the Stealth scored on a Buich to Phillips 33-yard touchdown bringing the score to 61-46 in favor of the Swarm. Then on the ensuing kick-off Henry Stephens, who already had jumped on a blocked field goal for a touchdown, came up with the recovery on the first onside kick. The possession would lead to a Buich to Buchanan 24-yard connection, getting the Stealth closer at 61-52, after the missed extra-point attempt. The kicking team again came up big as they recovered the second consecutive onside kick. They would once again capitalize on the recovery with a Buich to Buchanan touchdown21-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 61-59. The Stealth would attempt another onside kick, but the Swarm recovered with 15 seconds left in the game. The Stealth would get the ball back after Cincinnati committed an intentional grounding foul on fourth down. The Stealth would get 1 second on the clock to try and work some magic.
The Stealth would line up for a 32-yard field goal attempt for Michael Trimble. On what would prove to be a busted play when the Swarm line broke through the Stealth offensive line, Stealth holder David Castleton was forced to take the snap and throw the ball downfield to Drew Mitchell who made his way into the endzone, only to be called back after a penalty on the Stealth and the Swarm. With the penalties offsetting each other, the Stealth would again get a chance for the game winner. They would again line up for a 32-yard Michael Trimble field goal attempt, but their luck seemed to run as the kick sailed wide right, preserving the Swarm victory, 61-59.
Next up for the Stealth are the 2003 arenafootball2 playoffs. With the loss to Cincinnati and an Arkansas win, the Stealth are assured of a road game, the location will depend on the outcome of the Bakersfield Blitz versus Hawaiian Islanders game on Sunday night.
arenafootball2 Stories from July 27, 2003
- Stealth Buzzed by Swarm - Wichita Stealth
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