Stealth Snakebit by Tennessee Valley Vipers
Published on June 7, 2003 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Wichita Stealth News Release
Huntsville, Ala. - The Wichita Stealth committed six turnovers, three fumbles and three interceptions, and Tennessee Valley capitalized on all six leading the Vipers to a 66-31 win over the Stealth in front of 4,805 at the Von Braun Center Saturday night. The Stealth fall to 6-4 with the loss and the Vipers remain undefeated at 9-0 on the season.
On their first possession of the night, the Stealth drove all the way to the Vipers 9-yard line before a Dan Dawson fumble which quickly led to a Vipers score putting them up 7-0 at the 10:42 mark of the first quarter. The Stealth bounced back with a 30-yard field goal by kicker Jason Corse. On the next play, Tennessee Valley quarterback Matt Sauk hooked up with wide receiver/defensive back Jerrian James putting the Vipers ahead 14-3 at the end of the first quarter. The Stealth dominated the time of possession in the quarter having the ball 13:31 to the Vipers 1:29.
The Stealth quickly rebounded in the second quarter with a seven play 36-yard drive capped off with quarterback Anthony Buich hooking up with new offensive specialist Golden Goodwin on an 11-yard touchdown pass, pulling the Stealth within four points, 10-14.
After a Vipers 45-yard field goal, the Stealth would tie the game 17-17 on an 8-yard pass from Buich to wide receiver/linebacker Shomari Buchanan. The Vipers would add a 1-yard run by Jerrian James putting them up 24-17 at halftime.
Anthony Buich would end the first half with 134 passing yards putting him over the 2,000 yard mark for the season with six games still remaining. Golden Goodwin would end his first half in a Stealth uniform catching six passes for 86 yards and one touchdown.
The Vipers started the second half with two quick scores. The first on their offensive possession when quarterback Matt Sauk found wide receiver/linebacker Calvin Hall for a 29-yard score giving the Vipers a 31-17 lead. The very next play Kenny Bailey would intercept a Buich pass and return it 33-yards putting the Vipers out to a 38-17 lead with 10:30 left in the third quarter.
The Stealth offense countered with the same duo that ended the first half, Buich to Buchanan. Buich found Buchanan in the end zone for an 11-yard score bringing the score to 38-24 Tennessee Valley. On the ensuing possession, Stealth defensive specialist Ty Ardoin would pick off a Matt Sauk pass at the Wichita 5-yard line. The Stealth would drive down and complete the scoring drive at the start of the fourth quarter on a four yard pass from Buich to wide receiver/linebacker Melvin Phillips bringing the Stealth to within seven at 31-38 with 14:47 left in the game.
On the first play of the ensuing Tennessee Valley drive, Stealth defensive specialist Ty Ardoin would come up big with his second interception of the night. Ardoin pulled down a deflected pass at the Tennessee Valley ten-yard line giving the Stealth the ball deep in Vipers territory. On the second Stealth play, Buich would overthrow Shomari Buchanan in the end zone and it was picked off by defensive specialist Ernest Ross giving the Vipers the ball back at their own five-yard line.
The Vipers would reel off 28 consecutive points to end the game. The Stealth dominated the game in the time of possession category, but could not convert on their scoring chances and as the turnovers continued.
The Stealth receivers that debuted tonight, Melvin Philipps and Golden Goodwin, combined for 14 catches and 171 yards and three scores. Goodwin also added four kick returns for 46 yards.
Next week, Wichita will continue their three-game road swing when they will travel to San Diego to take on the Riptide in a divisional showdown next Saturday, and they will finish up with a re-match against the Arkansas Twisters in Arkansas on June 21st.
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