Vipers Go Medieval on Knights, Remain Unbeaten
May 17, 2003 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Tennessee Valley Vipers entered the contest against the Macon Knights the only undefeated team in af2. They left that way, too.
The Vipers (6-0) scored early and often en route to a 56-36 victory Saturday night at the Von Braun Center. It was only the second loss for the Knights, who fell to 5-2, much to the delight of 5,675 Viper fans.
Tennessee Valley scored on five of its first six possessions as quarterback and Player of the Game Matt Sauk completed 15 of 28 passes for 231 yards and five touchdowns. Nine of those were grabbed by Auburn product Reggie Worthy, who finished with 132 yards and one touchdown. Two of Viper receiver Calvin Hall's three catches were for scores, and Ronney Daniels and Jerrian James each caught a touchdown.
"We knew they were going to press us, and we felt our receivers could beat it," said Vipers head coach Kevin Guy. "Our receivers did a good job of beating the press, and Matt did a good job of putting the ball where it needed to be."
The Viper defense and special teams squad chipped in a touchdown apiece, as well. To complete the final tally, Tennessee Valley also had a rushing touchdown.
Tennessee Valley jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first 6½ minutes of the game behind a Sauk-to-Daniels 21-yard touchdown connection and Sauk's 27-yard toss to Worthy. The first PAT failed, but the Vipers recouped the lost point on a extra-point run by James.
Macon's first score didn't come until almost 11 minutes in the opening period when starting quarterback Renotto Soloman snuck in for a touchdown. Wesley Wilson's PAT kick failed. The Vipers wasted little time answering, scoring 1½ minutes later on a nice, 26-yard catch-and-run from Sauk to Hall. Following Mark Lewis' kick, Tennessee Valley held a 21-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was more even as the teams traded scores. Wilson kicked a 29-yard field goal to cut the Vipers' lead to 21-9. But Sauk quickly connected with Hall for a 20-yard score. Lewis' kick put Tennessee Valley ahead 28-9 with 9:39 left in the half.
However, a strange turn of events closed the mostly uneventful period. Macon scored with nine seconds left in the half on a 5-yard pass from Soloman to Jacques Rumph, moving to within two touchdowns of the Vipers. Following Worthy's kickoff return, Vipers coach Kevin Guy called in Lewis for a 41-yard last-second field goal.
The kick was wide right, but bounced off the net and into a pile of Vipers and Knights. After several players laid hands on the football, Viper lineman Andy Fuller recovered it for a touchdown as time expired. Lewis booted the PAT to give Tennessee Valley a 35-15 lead at halftime.
"We had our short-yardage field goal team in," Fuller said. "And if we don't make (the kick), we've got cover. I got down there and pulled it in. It helped us out, because we went in up by 21 and we won by 20."
The rest of the game was even, as both teams scored 14 points each in the third quarter and seven points in the fourth period. Viper defensive lineman Wes Stephens forced Soloman to fumble in the end zone, and linebacker Jimmy Freeman jumped on the loose ball. After Lewis' PAT kick, the Vipers led 42-15.
The Knights rallied to prevent the blowout with back-to-back touchdown passes from backup quarterback Sean Peterson to Rumph of 24 and 38 yards. The Vipers did add one more score in the third quarter on an 11-yard pass from Sauk to James. Tennessee Valley led 49-29 at the end of the third quarter.
Macon snuck back into striking distance less than a minute into the final period. Peterson hit Anthony Snead on a 40-yard bomb to cut Tennessee Valley's lead to 49-36. The Vipers shut the down close with 4:05 remaining on a 9-yard run by fullback Dedric Maffett.
For his two touchdown catches and his solid defensive play, Hall was selected the Ironman of the Game. James, who in addition to catching a touchdown, led the Vipers with 5½ tackles, forced a fumble and deflected two passes. He was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game.
The Vipers will host Cape Fear on Saturday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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United Indoor Football Association Stories from May 17, 2003
- Vipers Go Medieval on Knights, Remain Unbeaten - Tennessee Valley Raptors
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