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Stockton Debuts with Big Win

March 29, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - The Stockton Lightning (1-0) opened the 2009 campaign in resounding fashion with a 68-54 road victory over the Central Valley Coyotes at Selland Arena on Saturday night in Fresno.

The Lightning, who won at Selland Arena for the second straight time, were led on offense by QB Andy Collins, who completed 24 of 28 passes for 309 yards and six touchdown passes, and also scored a career-high three rushing touchdowns, en route to the biggest offensive output to open a season in Lightning history.

With the Lightning boasting an offense with a revamped offensive line and a wideout corps fully intact from last season (Justin Taplin, Troy McBroom and Ruben Jackson), WR Justin Taplin had a monster game, and was Collins' favorite target, with 13 receptions for 168 yards and five touchdown catches.

Stockton's 68-point offensive outburst came against a Central Valley defense which featured former Lightning standout JaJuan Huddleston and which had limited the Tri-Cities Fever to a mere 28 points just a week ago.

Things got rolling early for the Lightning, who drew first blood three minutes into the first quarter when Andy Collins found Ruben Jackson in the end zone for fifteen yards to put the Lightning up 6-0 (PAT failed).

Stockton's lead was short-lived, however, as Central Valley would answer back five minutes later on a quarterback sneak by signal caller Jason Murietta. On the ensuing kickoff, the Coyotes' special teams would extend the Central Valley lead on a bizarre play, in which the kick caromed off of the uprights and through several pairs of hands, before it was finally recovered by Central Valley's Peter Plesa in the endzone to give the Coyotes a 14-6 lead.

Stockton would pull to within one point early in the second quarter, when Andy Collins found Justin Taplin for 16 yards to make the score 14-13. Several minutes later, with Central Valley looking to widen the gap, the Stockton defense would come up huge to give the Lightning the lead, as Nathan Kenion picked off Jason Murietta at the goal line and returned the interception the length of the field (50 yards) with 6:59 remaining in the second quarter, to give the Lightning a 20-14 halftime lead.

After a back-and-forth third quarter, which saw several lead changes, the Lightning struck 1:13 into the fourth quarter when Collins found Taplin for 11 yards to draw them ahead 39-34 - a lead they would never relinquish.

Stockton would score a whopping 35 points in the fourth quarter to ice the contest, as Central Valley would get no closer than six points the rest of the way.

Stockton's defense forced five total turnovers (INT, two fumble recoveries, and two turnovers-on-downs), and was led by Nathan Kenion's 7 tackles.



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