Wifl The Monday After: Road Win Gives Smith Extra Satisfaction
Published on April 23, 2007 under World Indoor Football League 2 (WIFL 2) News Release
The Osceola Ghostriders' 40-19 victory over the Daytona Beach Thunder not only gave the team its first road victory of the season, but also a but of personal redemption for head coach Marquette Smith.
Two years ago, Smith suffered the worst loss in his playing or coaching career in the Daytona Beach Ocean Center when his Kissimmee Kreatures were pounded by the Daytona Beach Hawgs 60-19 in a National Indoor Football League game.
Sure, the Kreatures were playing on only two days rest thanks to the interesting schedule that league always comes up with, but 41 points is still 41 points.
"I'd never won in here, so it's a nice feeling," Smith said. "It's also great to get that road victory under us. We needed it."
Osceola is back at home Sunday against the Columbus Lions in a key battle for first place. Columbus has the league's best road record at 2-2, while Augusta and Osceola are both 1-2 and Daytona Beach's 0-3.
AUGUSTA: See what happens when you get Voncellies Allen motivated?
Inspired by some tough love from head coach Bubba Diggs, the Augusta Spartans veteran lineman responded Friday with 2.5 sacks in the 48-19 destruction of the Columbus Lions.
Sometimes even veterans need encouragement.
"He's been around a long time," Diggs said. "He's been with me since 2000 with the [af2 Augusta] Stallions. He's been a veteran, been to arena one, so he does a great job when he comes to play.
"I've had to motivate him here lately, kind of put some pressure on him, talk trash to him, but he's done a great job,"Diggs added.
COLUMBUS: After a 48-19 shellacking at the hands of Augusta. Columbus head coach Jason Gibson didn't mince words about posting the lowest offensive output in the league this season:
"Let's face it, our offense just isn't clicking," steamed Jason Gibson. "Our receivers aren't going and getting the ball enough, kind of letting the football come to them. We're going to change things up to allow our playmakers to make plays." Gibson was deliberately not specific about the types of changes he had in mind, but noted the Augusta defense deserved praise for an aggressive and active game.
Columbus had to go with defensive back Cedric Ware at receiver after Silas Daniels suffered a first-quarter ankle injury. Ware did have one touchdown catch.
DAYTONA BEACH: It's hard to comment on the Daytona Beach Thunder's running game when the team really doesn't have one.
Aside from three keepers by quarterbacks Bo Bartik and Lawrence McCloud, the Thunder attempted just one rush against the Osceola Ghostriders Sunday.
"When you don't run the ball, that hurts a lot," said Thunder defensive back/receiver Nick Allison. "That takes away your dig, post and curl routes -- all of your inside patterns. A linebacker can just sit back. We can't throw play-action, because they're not going to respect it." Allison finished with 128 all -purpose yards.
World Indoor Football League 2 Stories from April 23, 2007
- Wifl The Monday After: Road Win Gives Smith Extra Satisfaction - WIFL 2
- GhostRiders Raise Money for Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society - Osceola Ghostriders
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