Vipers take steam out of Quad City
April 11, 2003 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Jerrian James' one-handed, falling down grab with 16 seconds left in the game capped a furious Tennessee Valley comeback here Friday night as the Vipers defeated rival Quad City 62-59.
The Vipers (2-0) scored four fourth-quarter touchdowns to down the Steamwheelers (0-2) much to the delight of the 5,354 fans who turned out for the Tennessee Valley home opener at the Von Braun Center.
Four different Vipers scored in the final period, including a dramatic 49-yard interception run by defensive specialist Ernest Ross to give Tennessee Valley its first lead of the second half at the 10:59 mark. Before Ross' big defensive play, quarterback Matt Sauk connected with Calvin Hall for a 16-yard touchdown that cut the Quad City lead from 11 to four.
The teams then traded scores, with Tony Zimmerman hitting Jeff Hewitt for touchdown passes of 24 and 13 yards. Sandwiched in between was a 5-yard Reggie Worthy of the Vipers, then the James grab.
The Steamwheelers did have a last-ditch shot at tying, but kicker Brian Hegnauer's 47-yard field goal try missed badly.
Hewitt's performance of 10 catches for 209 yards and seven touchdowns earned him Player of the Game honors. James, who had six catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns on offense and 2.5 tackles on defense, was named Ironman of the Game. Ross' interception, 4.5 tackles and two pass deflections led him to the ADT Defensive Player of the Game award.
The game began with a fury as both teams scored on the first plays of their first possessions. Hewitt and Zimmerman hooked up for the first of their seven touchdowns together with a 34-yard pass. Sauk and James matched it less than a minute and a half later with a 23-yard scoring strike.
With 9:40 left in the first quarter, Zimmerman tossed another 23-yard touchdown pass, this one to Tim Dodge. However, Hegnauer missed the first of his three failed extra point attempts - the difference on the scoreboard when the clock struck zero.
Worthy tied the game with 1:47 left in the opening period on a 1-yard run. Viper kicker Mark Lewis gave his team a 14-13 lead with his extra point.
The second quarter belonged to the Steamwheelers, with two Zimmerman-to-Hewitt touchdown passes (15 and 8 yards) and a Zimmerman-to-Dodge strike from 12 yards out. Sauk hit James for a 38-yard touchdown and Ronney Daniels for a 30-yard score. Quad City led 32-27 at the intermission.
Zimmerman rushed for a 2-yard score and threw a 35-yard touchdown to Hewitt in the third quarter. The Vipers' only touchdown was a 1-yard run by Worthy.
Sauk finished the night with 21 completions on 35 attempts, five touchdowns and one interception. Zimmerman was 22 of 38 with eight touchdowns and one interception.
The Vipers travel to Louisville on Saturday, April 19. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. Quad City will host Wilkes-Barre/Scranton next Friday at 7:30 p.m.
United Indoor Football Association Stories from April 11, 2003
- Vipers take steam out of Quad City - Tennessee Valley Raptors
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