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Thunder Outplays, Outwits, Outlasts Phantoms

May 14, 2008 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Muskegon Thunder News Release


FLINT - The Muskegon Thunder and Flint Phantoms went head-to-head on Saturday night in the Continental Indoor Football League's version of Survivor: Perani Arena. Muskegon's Preston Garris claimed the ultimate title, scoring four touchdowns as the Thunder snapped a modest two-game losing streak with a 55-42 vicory.

Muskegon (5-3) easily handled the first challenge, a 155-mile trek across lower Michigan, but the remaining tasks proved more difficult to overcome.

The second hazard proved to be the playing conditions, as the Thunder walked off their comfortable chartered bus onto a playing surface that made any of the CBS reality show's locales look like all-inclusive resorts. The carpet had virtually no padding underneath as was evidenced by the gaping seams which revealed the cement below. It was worse where old logos had been painted over and the black end zones had the look and feel of asphalt. The wall padding was uneven and almost non existent along the top of the boards.

After Muskegon adapted to the Perani experience, it was time to face the third obstacle, the never-say-die Phantoms (1-7), who nearly toppled the then-undefeated New England Surge in their previous game action two weeks before. It didn't take long to find out Flint was much better than their record advertised.

It did take a little while, however, for either team to find the end zone as the first quarter ended in a scoreless tie as Muskegon failed to convert a golden opportunity when Flint turned the ball over on downs at their own nine.

Garris finally struck paydirt on the second play of the second quarter on a 7-yard run, capping a short drive that again occurred when the Phantoms' complete lack of a kicking game forced them to try to convert another fourth down from deep in their own territory. Thunder kicker Mike Brennan hit the left upright with the conversion try as Muskegon took a 6-0 lead 13:30 before halftime.

On the ensuing drive, it appeared the guests would gain additional momentum when defensive end Ernest Bentz sacked Phantom quarterback Jeff Griffis, setting up a fourth-and-goal from the Thunder 13 yard line. Griffis had the last laugh, though, as he scrambled up the middle and across the goal line to knot the score at 6-6. Griffis' two point pass was incomplete and the first of several ties took place at the 9:09 mark.

After both squads exchanged turnovers on downs, Muskegon's Garris struck again, hauling in a 25 yard pass from quarterback Dan Richard one play after the one-minute warning. Newcomer Derrick Phillips, Garris' teammate at Grand Valley State, ran in the two-point conversion and Muskegon took a 14-6 lead into the locker room. At the break, Muskegon held a 61-16 edge in net yards gained from scrimmage, but both teams would prove that stats can be misleading in the final thirty minutes.

Flint stopped Muskegon's first offensive effort of the third quarter and then drove 43 yards for a score as Griffis, who rotated at quarterback with Roosevelt Wideman, powered over from a yard out. Running back Andre Broach added the conversion run and the teams were deadlocked at 14-14 with 8:43 remaining in the frame.

Richard then found Garris yet again, this time on a 13-yard strike, shortly after Phantoms kicker Anwar Jackson had misdirected his kickoff into the seats, giving the Thunder the ball at midfield. Brennan again sent the P.A.T wide left, and the visitors had their third lead of the night at 20-14 with 6:49 left in the third quarter.

Brennan then returned the favor, as his out-of-bounds kickoff set up the hosts at the center stripe. Two plays later Broach raced around right end for an apparent 25-yard score, but Flint was flagged for holding on the play. On the night, the hosts racked up 118 yards on 13 infractions.

Broach and the Phantoms were not deterred as Wideman hit his shifty running back on a 25-yard screen pass that evened the contest at 20-all at the 2:57 mark as Griffis' two-point pass fell incomplete.

Jackson again drilled the kickoff out of bounds into his own bench along with an offsides infraction, giving the Thunder the ball at the Flint 15. Four plays later Muskegon cashed in as Phillips dove in from the one on the final play of the third quarter. Another Phantoms penalty on the point after allowed Muskegon to go for two and Richard bulled his way over the line for a 28-20 advantage heading into the final quarter.

The two non-conference combatants were just getting warmed up as they would eclipse the 48 points scored over the first 45 minutes by combining for 49 points over the final 15 minutes.

Flint's Crishaun Verdun kept the rally going with a 20 yard kickoff return that eventually led to a Wideman to Robert Boyer connection covering 14 yards. Griffis added the two-point conversion run and the score was even at 28-28 with 11:34 remaining in the see-saw affair.

Unfortunately for the Phantoms, Jackson finally kept a kickoff in play, and Garris made them pay, swerving through traffic enroute to a 41-yard runback. It was the first ever Thunder kickoff return for a touchdown in their 21-game history and gave them their fifth lead of the night, 35-28, as Brennan split the uprights at the 10:35 mark.

Flint appeared headed for another equalizer driving all the way to the Thunder 8-yard line before committing a costly mistake. Wideman was in the grasp of a defender when he tried to shovel the ball forward but defensive back Jon Horn stepped in front of the receiver and raced 41 yards for a score. Horn's fifth interception in six games gave the Thunder a 42-28 bulge with 6:18 showing on the clock.

The celebrating didn't last long as Boyer matched Garris' feat with a 49 yard kickoff return that pulled the Phantoms back within shouting distance at 42-34. Broach was stopped short on a conversion run attempt with 5:07 left.

Muskegon then put together a seven play drive, the longest by either team all night, that ended with Phillips crashing through the Flint defense for a one-yard scoring burst that padded the lead to 49-34 with just one minute remaining.

The hosts mounted one last comeback as Wideman hit lineman Stephen Levels with a scoring toss from the nine yard line. Broach tacked on two more points with a conversion run slicing Muskegon's lead to 49-42 with 17 seconds left.

Flint's onside kick attempt failed and Muskegon, needing to gain yardage to keep the clock from stopping, actually managed one final score as Richard dove in from a yard out to cap the incredible point-scoring spree that was hard to believe, even by indoor standards.

Muskegon made a mountain out of a mole hill by scoring 55 points while accumulating just 157 total offensive yards. Likewise, the Phantoms seemingly used smoke and mirrors to record 42 points on a mere 117 net yards from scrimmage. Flint was aided by 174 yards worth of kick returns as their special teams were just that.

Garris led the guests with 117 all-purpose yards including a game-high 46 yards receiving on three grabs. Richard hit 13-of-21 passes for 118 yards and two scores without a turnover. Richard Gills led all players with five catches totaling 38 yards. Phillips made the most of his carries scoring twice despite gaining just seven yards on three carries in his professional indoor debut.

Defensively, linebacker Mike Nichols paced the Thunder with nine involvements including four tackles for loss. Bentz also notched four tackles behind the line bringing his team-leading total to 14 on the season. He also recorded both Thunder sacks. Horn contributed 5.5 stops and Eric Malloy tallied 4.5 tackles.

Wideman did the lion's share of passing for the Phantoms, completing 6-of-15 attempts for 94 yards and three scores with one pick. Griffis was just 1-of-5 for 6 yards in the air but led the team with 15 rushing yards and a pair of scores on the ground. Broach mustered just 10 yards rushing on 13 carries to go with 25 receiving yards. Justin McHugh had a team-high 98 all-purpose yards including 71 via returns.

Flint's David Johnson and Wesley Fisk were in on 8 tackles each while Clint Galvas was credited with 1.5 sacks.

The Phantoms followed through on another Survivor theme as three players were ‘voted' out of the game by officials during the contest. TiMirr Horton, Keyon Menifield and Luke Jones were all ejected for losing their cool in the heat of battle.

The Thunder were penalized for 92 yards on 10 whistles.

Muskegon now heads back home to face Milwaukee (0-8) on Saturday, May 17th.The Thunder knocked off the Bonecrushers 60-35 on March 29th. It will be the final regular season home game at L.C. Walker Arena this season as the team will travel to Fort Wayne, Chicago and Saginaw over the final three weekends.

Flint will now take a four-game losing streak on the road to Rock River (3-5) this Saturday. The Phantoms will rematch the Raptors at Perani Arena on May 31st, sandwiched by a pair of games against defending champion Rochester on May 24th (home) and June 8th (away).

GAME NOTES Prescription Filled The 55 point outburst for Muskegon was just what the doctor ordered after scoring a combined 29 points in back-to-back losses to Chicago and Kalamazoo. For the season, the Thunder is averaging 38 points-per-game (11th in the CIFL) while giving up 36.6 (6th best).

Damaged Goods Muskegon has suffered more than its share of serious injuries in 2008 losing defensive back James Poole, linebacker Mitch Cumings and offensive/defensive lineman MarQuise Applewhite for the season. Against Flint the Thunder was also without the services of regulars Tim Gough, Dan Kliphuis, Tony Terrell and Nathan Wruble.

Line ‘Em Up Muskegon started the season with only three true offensive lineman on the roster as Matt Bolles, Lance Dusendang and Dan Kliphuis held down the fort, but a recent recruiting trip landed a pair of versatile Grand Valley State products in Sean Stevens (6-4, 270) and Drew Burton (6-3, 295). Stevens caught a TD pass in his debut at Kalamazoo and Burton, who also plays fullback, made a catch in his debut at Flint.

Land O' Lakers In addition to the recent signings of linemen Sean Stevens and Drew Burton, Muskegon also inked former GVSU standout Derrick Phillips last week. The 6-foot, 215 pounder transferred to the Lakers in 2003 from Joliet (Ill.) and instantly became a starter for the national champions. He will play on both sides of the ball and if his pro indoor debut at Flint is any indication (2 TD's on three offensive touches; 3.5 tackles with 2 pass break ups on defense), Thunder fans are in for a treat

Preston the Magnificent Muskegon native Preston Garris has wracked up 853 everything yards during his rookie campaign and leads the team with 17 touchdowns scored. Flint native Derek "Rockstar" Hawthorne established a franchise best 19 TD's in 2007 for the Thunder. Garris was the original GVSU Laker on the 2008 Thunder roster, but his presence has paved the way for recent acquisitions like Phillips, Stevens and Burton, who all bring national title pedigrees to Muskegon.

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