Stockton wins over Central Valley

May 30, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - The Stockton Lightning (3-6) used a 22-6 run in the final two quarters to rally from a 15-point hole and upend the West Division rival Central Valley Coyotes in a 57-56 victory at Selland Arena on Saturday in Week 10 of arenafootball2 play.

The Lightning, who tied the Coyotes for third place in the West Division, won their third straight game at Selland Arena and have now won three of the last four matchups after the Coyotes won the first 8 of 9 in the head-to-head series. QB Chad Cavender spearheaded the Lightning attack with five touchdown passes and 258 passing yards on a 28-for-43 effort.

No Lightning receiver surpassed the 100 yard mark for the game. Yet, on a balanced effort, all four receivers who suited up caught at least six passes for no less than 59 yards, with Etu Molden leading the way with eight catches and 66 yards, along with two touchdown receptions.

The Lightning began the game on a 20-6 run and scored the first 13 points of the game, starting with Cavender's nine-yard strike to Etu Molden in the right corner of the end zone on a fourth down play and a 30-yard fumble recovery and touchdown return by ex-Coyote Maurice Holmes with 6:56 left in the first quarter.

Central Valley got on the board with QB Ryan O'Hara's 31-yard bomb to Roberson with 5:16 left to cut the deficit to 13-6 after a missed point-after kick.

Cavender found WR Justin Taplin on a 21-yard missile with 14:19 left in the second quarter for a 20-6 Lightning lead, but the Coyotes responded with a monster 30-7 run.

Roberson hauled in a 22-yard heave from O'Hara with 12:36 left in the second quarter to cut the gap to 20-13 and the Coyotes followed by tying the game on ex-Lightning JaJuan Huddleston's two-yard fumble recovery and touchdown with 12:15 left in the second quarter.

Rookie Brandon Horace restored the Lightning lead at 27-20 with 8:40 left in the second stanza when he hauled in Cavender's eight-yard heave, but O'Hara helped the Coyotes respond with a five-yard strike and a 47-yard bomb to Roberson on back-to-back series to snag a 33-27 lead.

Kyle Hooper's 22-yard field goal extended the Central Valley lead at 36-27 as time expired in the second quarter.

The Coyotes pushed the run to 37-7 on Roberson's four-yard rush on a misdirection play to begin the third quarter, but the Lightning put a stop to the Coyotes rally on Cavender's 10-yard bullet to Molden with 7:41 left in the third, cutting the deficit 43-35 on a two-point conversion.

Following LaMonte Jones' 13-yard touchdown reception with 3:19 to play, giving the Coyotes a a 50-35 lead, the Lightning ignited the late rally starting with Cavender's six-yard keeper as time expired in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 50-43 after a two-point conversion toss from Cavender to FB Peter Tuialuuluu.

Phil Goodman's dazzling one-handed catch on a 13-yard touchdown strike put the Coyotes ahead 56-43, but the Lightning kept their pace and responded after Kyle Hooper's missed point-after kick. Cavender found Taplin on a seven-yard heave to the right corner of the end zone with 10:10 left, closing the gap to 56-50.

Cavender then followed with the game-winning scamper, another six-yarder off the right tackle, with 6:51 to play to lift the Lightning to a 57-56 lead that would not be relinquished.

Central Valley had one final response which went awry, when Carl Walker intercepted O'Hara's desperate floater over the middle on a third-and-goal play, enabling the Lightning to burn the clock.

The Coyotes were led by receiver John Roberson's 10 catches, 191 yards and four touchdown receptions. O'Hara threw for a 20-for-35 rate, six touchdown passes and 285 yards with two interceptions.



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