Vipers Hold off Cape Fear
May 24, 2003 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - There was no Fear here Saturday night for Tennessee Valley, and as a result, the Vipers are off to 7-0 start for the first time in franchise history.
The victim this time was the Cape Fear Wildcats, thanks in no small part to Viper wide receiver/defensive back Jerrian James. The University of Houston product rushed for one touchdown, caught another and even threw one as the Vipers held off the late-charging fear for a 57-54 victory in front of 5,158 fans at the Von Braun Center.
Not that the game wasn't exciting. Cape Fear rallied in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Vipers 20-6. Wildcat kicker Justin Skinner's last-second field goal, which would have sent the game into overtime, sailed right and dropped Cape Fear to 5-2 on the season.
"Cape Fear is a good team, and they're suppose to be in the game," said Viper head coach Kevin Guy. "Fortunately, we turned it around and found a way to win."
James was the driving force behind the Vipers' hard-hitting defense, racking up eight solo tackles and two assists. He also forced a fumble and deflected a pass. For his effort, James cashed in on the honors trifecta. He was named Player of the Game, Ironman of the Game and ADT Defensive Player of the Game..
The rest of the defensive unit harassed Wildcats quarterback Bryan Snyder, who once played for Tennessee Valley, much of the night. On top of three sacks, the Vipers' defense hit Snyder another 12 times.
The Vipers appeared poised to dominate the Wildcats and quarterback Bryan Snyder, who once played for Tennessee Valley. The Vipers jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first 7½ minutes of the game with passes of 33 and 12 yards from quarterback Matt Sauk to receivers Ronney Daniels and Xavier Patterson. Snyder did lead the Wildcats to the end zone before the end of the quarter with a 10-yard pass to Jamie Deese.
The teams combined for six touchdowns and a field goal in the second quarter.. James started the scoring with a 3-yard run to give the Vipers a 21-7 lead. Cape Fear responded with a 36-yard touchdown strike from Snyder to Anthony Hines. Mark Lewis booted a 24-yard field goal to move the Vipers out in front 24-13 midway through the quarter.
In a nice touch of trickery, the Vipers scored again as Sauk tossed a lateral to James, who hit a wide-open Andy Fuller for a 17-yard score and a 31-13 lead. Three touchdowns were scored in the final 49 seconds of the half. Snyder found Deese for an 11-yarder. On the next play from scrimmage, Sauk threw deep to James for a 45-yard touchdown. Snyder hit Deese from 13 yards out with eight seconds left in the half. The Vipers took a 37-27 lead into the intermission..
The third quarter saw the Vipers extend their lead to 51-34 behind Sauk touchdown tosses to Calvin Hall (17 yards) and James (36 yards). Calvin Ceasar contributed the Wildcats' only score of the period on a 7-yard run.
Cape Fear then cut into the Tennessee Valley lead with a 3-yard Wilmont Perry run and a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown by Kelvin Suggs. With less than 12 minutes left in the game, the Vipers 17-point lead evaporated to only 51-48. But Sauk led Tennessee Valley back into a more comfortable area on an 8-yard touchdown pass to Hall. However, Lewis' kick failed, and the Vipers advantage stood at 57-48.
Snyder pulled Cape Fear closer when he hit Matt Burstein for a 16-yard touchdown. But Skinner also missed his extra-point attempt. The Wildcats recovered the onside kick to set up the failed field goal with one second remaining.
The Vipers travel to Columbus for a Saturday night game. Kickoff is 6 p.m. Cape Fear plays at Florida.
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United Indoor Football Association Stories from May 24, 2003
- Vipers Hold off Cape Fear - Tennessee Valley Raptors
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