Thunder Rattles Bonecrushers
March 30, 2008 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Muskegon Thunder News Release
MILWAUKEE - The Muskegon Thunder of the Continental Indoor Football League made their first road trip of the 2008 season a memorable one, knocking off the Milwaukee Bonecrushers 60-35 at U.S. Cellular Arena on Saturday night.
It was Muskegon's (2-1) only scheduled away game among their first six games, as they will now head back home for three consecutive contests starting with Kalamazoo on Friday, April 4th. The 277-mile trek was also the furthest the team will travel in the regular season.
The hosts actually opened the game's scoring at the 7:46 mark of the opening quarter on a Ryan Maiuri to Reggie Davis 4-yard touchdown pass after the Thunder's initial drive stalled. The crowd of 5,407 had little to cheer about the rest of the night as Milwaukee's defense had difficulty solving Muskegon's top offensive weapons.
Thunder quarterback Dan Richard, making his first start of the season, quickly killed the celebration mood when he answered the hosts' tally with a 30-yard bomb to running back Preston Garris on the first play of the ensuing drive. The first quarter ended 7-7, but it was merely the calm before the storm, as the two squads combined for 81 points over the final 45 minutes.
Richard, who won the starting spot a week ago after a solid relief performance in a come-from-behind win over Rock River, struggled with his control early on. Head coach Shane Fairfield patiently waited as the 6-foot-3, 215 pound Rockford native started to find his rhythm in the second stanza, hitting wideout Tremaine Rembert on a 34-yard scoring toss on a third-and-15 play. That drive was set up by an interception from defensive back Jon Horn, who just signed with the Thunder last Wednesday.
After a tackle for loss by Muskegon's Ernest Bentz killed the next Milwaukee drive, Richard found Garris open over the middle on a 28-yard strike to push the visitors on top 20-7. That score also occurred on a third-and-15 scenario, as Muskegon made big plays in crucial situations on numerous occasions.
Another one of those huge plays came with just one second remaining on the clock before halftime. Milwaukee faced a third-and-goal at Muskegon's six yard line as Maiuri threw a quick pass to receiver Brian Sylvas who was about to reach the ball over the goal line when Thunder free safety Tim Gough swatted the ball out of his outstretched hand. Gough then alertly picked up the loose ball and promptly ran 49 yards for a touchdown as a stunned crowd looked on. Gough (6-0,235) got great blocks by teammates Eric Malloy and Corey Sullivan to help spring the big play, which left the halftime score at 27-7.
Milwaukee (0-2) showed a little more life in the second half as head coach Gilbert Brown and offensive coordinator Eliseo Ramirez finally found a few plays that would work against their stingy guests.
Maiuri started the second half with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Sylvas on the first play from scrimmage to get the crowd and the Bonecrushers back into the game, trailing 27-14. The rally lost some fizzle, however, when Muskegon's defense again stood tall, stopping the hosts on downs at Muskegon's 11-yard line, after Milwaukee had blocked a Mike Brennan field goal attempt and taken over at the 16.
The Thunder offense then went on its most time-consuming drive of the night, covering 8 plays and 39 yards while using nearly half the quarter's clock. The series ended when Richard found a wide open MarQuise Applewhite on third-and-goal from the 7. Brennan's successful kick made it 34-14, but neither team could breathe easily as the score touched off a wild touchdown blitz with the two teams combining to score on seven consecutive possessions.
Maiuri dove over from a yard out on the final play of the third quarter, again momentarily cutting the gap to 34-21. A big kickoff return by Garris set Muskegon up for another one play drive as Richard hit Rembert on a 16-yard pitch and catch to restore the three score cushion at 40-21.
Rembert (6-2, 196) has provided a big lift to the Thunder since their top two pass catchers, Richard Gills and Nathan Wruble, were placed on the disabled list earlier this month. The former track star from Cornerstone University and East Kentwood High had 3 catches for 91 yards and two scores, but his most impressive effort was a 41-yard leaping grab over the back of a defender that set up a one-yard plunge by Richard, answering an Adam Chorazy 2-yard scoring run, giving the visitors a 47-28 lead.
The Bonecrushers had one final response as Chorazy bulled over from two yards out and kicker Jake Provan, who was 5-for-5 on PAT's, added the point after to pull within 47-35 with 6:25 left in the game.
Muskegon then looked to ice the game on Brennan's 35-yard field goal, but Milwaukee was called for an illegal outside rush, giving the Thunder an automatic first down and allowing them to run off an additional three minutes of clock before slamming the door with a 20-yard Richard to Garris hookup that sent the home fans streaming to the exits at 54-35 with just 93 seconds remaining.
The Thunder then delivered one final blow as the defense, which recorded a whopping eight stops on the night, made one final play that summed up their dominating effort. With the hosts backed up at their 3 yard line, Malloy blew past his offensive counterpart and blasted Maiuri, jarring the ball loose. Malloy then fell on the pigskin in the end zone for the game's final score.
Muskegon outgained Milwaukee 282-209 in total yards as Richard posted 257 yards passing on 16-of-38 accuracy with 6 TD's and one interception (by Sylvas). Maiuri countered with 168 yards in the air, hitting on 13 of his 33 attempts.
Garris, a rookie from Grand Valley State and Mona Shores High, finished with nine catches for 137 yards and three scores. He also added a 34 yard kickoff return and 25 yards rushing to give him 196 all-purpose yards. Applewhite had 2 catches for 18 yards.
The Bonecrushers got a seven catch effort from Dorian Palmer worth 90 yards, and 54 yards on five catches from Sylvas. Davis recorded two catches for 24 yards.
Although Thunder offensive coordinator Brent White's troops lit up the scoreboard, Muskegon's kickoff team could easily have been awarded the game ball as Brennan's well-placed kickoffs along with exceptional coverage from guys like Mike Nichols, Gough, Sullivan, Malloy and Dominic Thocher helped hem in a dangerous Marques Johnson. The dangerous return specialist, who came in averaging 26 yards per return including a 50-yard score against Chicago last week, was held to an average of only 12 yards on 7 runbacks.
Muskegon converted only 4-of-12 third down chances, but all four were turned into touchdowns. The hosts were 1-of-8 on third downs and turned the ball over four times, while the Thunder had only one turnover.
Thocher led Muskegon's defensive effort with 6.5 stops and an interception. Gough added 5 tackles while Nichols and Mitch Cumings chipped in 4.5 stops each. Adam Pringle and Malloy each posted a sack for a unit that has been energized by first-year defensive coordinator Ryan Hodges.
Milwaukee was led on defense by defensive backs George Carpenter and Tyrone Rhone with 5 and 4.5 stops, respectively while David Benton, Jr. recorded the team's lone sack.
Muskegon will now host the 4-0 Xplosion this Friday while the Bonecrushers will finish their three-game home stand with a tussle against the Flint Phantoms (0-3) on Sunday, April 6th.
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from March 30, 2008
- Thunder Rattles Bonecrushers - Muskegon Thunder
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