ThunderBolts overall game could make Rome burn
July 9, 2005 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Lakeland ThunderBolts News Release
ROME, Ga. - The trek from Lakeland, Florida, is a long one. Like most bus rides north, they can be long. Up to 10 hours or more.
The Lakeland ThunderBolts made the trip into Rome on Saturday in preparation for their National Indoor Football League first-round playoff game against the Rome Renegades on Sunday.
Game time is 4 p.m. Eastern at The Forum where the Renegades (7-7) have won four of their last six games, but lost to this same âBolts team, 31-23, at home back on May 20.
In a lot of ways, this is the same ThunderBolts' team with quarterback Jeremy Martin at full strength, the big-four receivers at full stride and the defensive backs honing in on their prey even more intensely.
What Lakeland head coach Garett Hagin has done, however, has added a few new talents to the mix to make special teams and other areas stronger. Several current players got that much better over the season.
This was all indicative in Lakeland's season-ending game at Kissimmee when they crushed the Kreatures from the get-go, 61-41. Both starting units had some of the same suspects as the ThunderBolts captured their sixth win of the season.
It was on special teams that Lakeland jumped a notch above itself when Greg Golden, disguised as John Jefferson, made his first touch on that oval NIFL Spalding ball and raced 55 yards, literally untouched, for a touchdown.
Here's the way the matchups look for Sunday's game:
QUARTERBACK - Lakeland's Jeremy Martin came back strong after recuperating from injuries and an infection. Martin, who missed three games, still maintained the 7th-best pass rating in the NIFL (105.8) and had 34 touchdowns on 174 completions; 62% on all passes. He was 5th in passing yards (1,184).
In his last game at Kissimmee, he was 14 of 17 for 140 yards and 4 TDs.
Bo Bartik is football savvy having grown up in family of gridiron noterity. His father, Mike, is defensive coordinator at Shorter College. Bartik took over for Dixie Wooten who was released and has 102.87 rating over 12 games (135-231 .58%). Has 25 TD passes.
EDGE: Martin has experience; control under pressure. Has better receivers. Lakeland the nod here.
RUNNING BACKS - Nunnie Booker is out for Lakeland. This could hurt. Booker was team's leading rusher, so coach Hagin has to find a replacement. Rostered is Tuskegee's Cortland Florence. For Rome, Travis Booker, Nunnie's brother, has 93 totes in 14 games and nine TDs. Shares running with Perry Tisdale who in only five games has 13 TDs., had eight carries for only 49 yards in last win of season against Daytona Beach but had 4 scores.
EDGE: Rome has pair of weapons; both intense and stats to back it up.
RECEIVING - You won't find Tavarius Johnson, Will Glover, William Andrews or Raymond Hardy in the league's top 10 receiving stats. That's because this ThunderBolts' foursome has darn-near equal numbers. Hardy 15 TDs, Johnson 12, Glover 10 and Andrews 7. They can all fly, are big and punishing. Gerald Gales is top receiver for Rome with 60 catches, 11 scores but Clinton Rafe has 56 grabs and 13 TDs.
EDGE: Lakeland's talented group gives Martin more options. Watch for several scores from at least two of those receivers.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Greg Golden is more than a âGolden Lad' for the ThunderBolts. When he touches the ball, anything can happen, and he's devastating on defense as well. He's 5-foot-11, a return specialist out of North Carolina State. Glover and Johnson (23.2 average is 6th in league) are just as effective on KORs and MFG returns. Gales and Booker share duties for Rome.
EDGE: Solid ThunderBolts' group gives them more advantages. Watch Golden fly now that he's practiced more than once with the team.
DEFENSE: Damon Demps, Aramis Haralson and Lance Small have combined 16 interceptions. Demps, an All-Star selection, has 14 total passes defended. Small is NIFL's leading tackler, 100 solo. Eli Shorter tough in this department. Line play led by Chris Campbell, Terrell Showers and DJ Grant, not many sacks, but big on pressure to the quarterback.
Rome is led by Vernon Turner's 7 interceptions. Prentice Purnell, All-Star selection, had nine sacks.
EDGE: Lakeland has a variety of backs and linemen. More the merrier.
KICKING GAME: Steve Kratz is 6th in league in kick scoring (71 points) and 6th in field goals (13). Can make a difference for Lakeland.
Rome has Brian Tracy, one of the most accurate in the league. Connected on 20 of 45 (.444) on field goals (2nd in NIFL) and 3rd in kick scoring (46 of 62 extra points 74%) with 106 points.
Edge: Tracy has been more accurate.
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National Indoor Football League Stories from July 9, 2005
- Maulers Drown Morays - Montgomery Bears
- ThunderBolts overall game could make Rome burn - Lakeland ThunderBolts
- Dayton at Guard: Strategy by Generals will prevail - Dayton Bulldogs
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