Thunder holds off Spartans behind four Thomas TDs
April 30, 2006 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Daytona Beach Thunder News Release
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - On a day spent by practically every sports broadcaster in western civilization overanalyzing the NFL draft, Calvin Thomas went out and actually played some football Saturday for the Daytona Beach Thunder.
Thomas, who has been the color commentator on the team's road game broadcasts this season, traded air time for playing time and made the most of it, rushing for 81 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Thunder to a 49-44 victory over the slumping Augusta Spartans before a season-high crowd of 3,776 at PBS 15 Field at the Ocean Center.
While Mel Kiper Jr. was lamenting over Matt Leinart dropping to the number 10 pick and John Clayton was having conniptions over a run of first-round defensive selections, our sportscaster was busting through the Spartan line for three third-quarter touchdowns, including a 40-yarder, that helped the Thunder turn a 26-21 halftime deficit into a 49-32 advantage with just over 12 to play. Can Kiper even run 40 yards?
Memo to Communications: you're going to have to find another analyst for next week's game at Florence.
"I was glad for the opportunity to play,'' said Thomas, who was making his first Thunder appearance of the season as well as his first on-field action since his senior season at Arkansas Pine-Bluff. "I thought I could do a good job, but not this good."
His yardage and scores - including a two-point conversion - -were the most for any Thunder running back this season. The four TDs were his personal best as well.
"My line - Myqual Spann, Steve Canidate and Tommy Moody - really helped me out." Thomas said. "I couldn't have done it without them."
The ground game helped a Thunder offense that just wasn't clicking on all cylinders claim Daytona Beach's fifth victory in six contest and remain the fourth seed in the American Indoor Football League's Southern Conference playoff picture. Heck, the Thunder's within a game of the Raleigh Rebels for third.
Once again, Daytona Beach did that fall behind early thing we're really getting tired of. Augusta (2-6) got three first-quarter touchdown passes from Marvin Stone and took leads of 13-0 and 19-7.
Then the Thunder's defense stepped up, giving up just one offensive touchdown on the next eight possessions, and that was a sweet catch by Augusta's Morris Drakeford. In fact, two of the Spartans final three touchdowns came via defense or special teams.
Daytona Beach closed to 26-21 on Oscar Davenport's 19-yarder to Kwaise Kwaku just before halftime, then used picks by Joe Giddens and Javon Camon and fumble recoveries by Spann and Durell Preston to help the offense gain some traction.
Camon, who led the team with five tackles, registered his first interception of the season.
"I was the only DB without an interception, so I couldn't let that go," Camon said. "We came out sluggish, not much intensity. We had a great game plan in the second half."
The Spartans closed to 49-44 on Drakeford's 14-yarder from backup Anthony Young with five seconds to go, but Nick Allison recovered the onside kick to preserve the victory.
Davenport was 8-20 for 137 yards and three touchdowns - all season lows. Robert Bailey caught three balls for 59 yards and two scores, Kwaku three for 55 and one TD. Allen Suber had two catches for 23 yards.
Rashaan Kearney had two sacks and Dereck Rivers one for the Thunder defense.
Stone had a good night, throwing for 213 yards and four touchdowns before leaving the game with an injury. This was the Spartans' sixth consecutive loss.
NOTES: Thunder opponents have scored first in every game this season and have led after the first quarter in all but one ... The Thunder's 93 yards rushing were a season high ... It may have been a quiet night for Bailey, but he did finish with a season-high 201 all-purpose yards thanks to 46 yards in missed field goal returns ... This was the fifth game this season decided by six points or less, we're 2-3 in 'em ... Pierson Taylor AD Tommy Morris, who coached Moody and three Thunder assistants in his tenure as football coach, was honored as the Local Legend... This was the Thunder's first-ever sweep of a season series ... Pierson Taylor and Father Lopez provided honorary coaches and captains ... and one more thank you to Gladeez McCoy for her rendition of the National Anthem.
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American Indoor Football Association Stories from April 30, 2006
- Thunder holds off Spartans behind four Thomas TDs - Daytona Beach Thunder
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