Stealth Stomp Out the Fire
June 30, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wichita Stealth News Release
Wichita, KS - Louisville, KY - A sore and exhausted Wichita Stealth team boarded the bus late Thursday evening and headed into a 13 hour drive take on a Louisville Fire team that was coming off a huge road win over the Memphis Xplorers. The Stealth had just lost a disappointing contest just one week earlier to the Bossier City BattleWings, and had not won a road game all year long. The stakes were high when these two teams stepped on the field as the Fire and Stealth are battling for the final playoff spot in the Midwest Division. Saturday the Stealth moved one step closer to winning that last spot by defeating the Fire 48-28 in front of 9,600 Fire Faithful.
A large crowd hung around for the majority of the game and kept Freedom Hall loud, and hostile. But all the cheers and encouragement would not detour the Stealth who got another stellar performance from quarterback Ron Lopez. Lopez threw 27 passes completing 19 for 337 yards and six touchdowns, and earned the Games Most Valuable Player award.
Wichita got things going early, scoring on six of its first seven possession 's. Wichita's first touchdown came only 3 plays into the game when Lopez connected on a 28-yard pass to Willie Grissom. Grissom ended with four receptions and 60 yards receiving. The Fire would drive right back and tie it with a five-yard run by newly activated Fullback Anthony Shellman. Shelman scored all three of the Fire's offensive touchdowns and made 2 tackles, which won him the Ironman of the Game award.
Wichita's second drive would result in the Stealth's longest pass play of the year. A 41-yard bomb from Lopez to Greg Kyler gave the Stealth a 13-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. Kyler had another great night, ending with six catches for 105 yards and one touchdown. The Fire would come right back to take the lead on another run from Shelman, but that would quickly be answered from the Stealth who would regain the lead before halftime with a rushing touchdown of their own by Bruce Henderson, and never relinquish their lead again.
Wichita's defense was remarkable, allowing only 134 total passing yards and intercepting Fire quarterback Matt Hicks three times. Harold Piersey made three-and-a-half tackles; four pass defenses, and one interception. Piersey was named ADT defensive player of the game. Defensive Specialist Robert Hall and Defensive back Will Sullivan both intercepted a pass from Hicks. Wichita's defense did not allow a single touchdown pass and only gave up one in two meetings with the Fire.
Sullivan came up big for the Stealth seeing extra minutes in the fourth quarter due to an injury to Xavier Patterson. Sullivan caught two passes for 19 yards and one touchdown, but gained a first down late in the fourth quarter to put the Stealth out of reach from the Fire.
arenafootball2 Stories from June 30, 2002
- Stealth Stomp Out the Fire - Wichita Stealth
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