Wings Clipped

June 16, 2015 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks News Release

Allentown, PA: The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (6-5, 5-5 PIFL) dropped the last three games of the season, this one in Alabama to the Hammers (4-7), and leaving the fate of their playoffs hopes up to the Nashville Venom and Trenton Freedom. The Hawks and Hammers have combined for some high scoring games the past few seasons. This week's game looked to be another barn burner as the first quarter got underway.

Lehigh Valley would win the coin toss and elect to kickoff to start the game. On their first possession, Alabama used the league best WR Mico McSwain (14 catches, 210 yards, two TD) to move the ball down the field. To complete the drive, QB Garett Sutphen would find WR Maurice Dupree for a 12 yard scoring pass. Their PAT attempt was no good, but K Brandon Rutherford would connect on the uno to put the Hammers up seven. The Steelhawks would be forced to attempt a long field goal (48yds), that K Pat Clarke would successfully hit. Alabama would march back down the field, using McSwain as the workhorse and again, Dupree ended up with the ball in the endzone. Again, Lehigh Valley would be held to a long field goal attempt; this one being returned out to the 25. But the Hawks would get the ball right back when DB David Castillo intercepted an errant pass. The Hawks' offense would put their first points on the board when QB Shane McSweeny found WR Brandon Renford for a two yard touchdown. At the end of the quarter, Alabama led by four.

The second quarter started with a hungry Steelhawks defense. They got to Sutphen multiple times on the drive and forcing the Hammers into some costly penalties. The Hammers would be forced to attempt a 29 yd field goal that was no good, giving the Steelhawks the ball back on their own 15. After gaining almost 30 yards, the Hawks would be faced with a fourth and two from the six yard line. Going for it, the play resulted in a WR Jerell Jones touchdown catch. A Clarke uno; and the Steelhawks had their first lead of the game, 18-14 with approximately four minutes left in the half. Lehigh Valley would get the ball back right away when DL Amara Kamara recovered a fumble. But another quick turnover, this one an interception for Alabama, ended the Steelhawks scoring chance. With 47 seconds left in the half, the Hammers had a chance to score themselves. They would go for it on fourth and goal from the three, and DB Joe Powell would intercept it in the endzone, capping either teams scoring hopes for the half.

The third quarter continued more of the back and forth action, McSweeny would find Renford for a 23 yard touchdown pass on LV's first possession. But Alabama's McSwain would continue to be big time as he was responsible for all but two yards on the ensuing Hammers' scoring drive. Following a missed field goal, Alabama would get the lead back on another Dupree touchdown. The Hawks looked like they might start to take control of the game when WR Mack Ogletree hauled in a 30 yard pass over a defender for six points; then, on the proceeding Alabama drive, Powell came up with another big interception. But the Hammers would quickly end that momentum when a Hammers defender picked off McSweeny in the endzone. The third quarter would end with the Hawks clinging to a five point lead.

Steelhawks' defense would continue to make plays in the fourth, but the offense struggled. The only points they could muster was another Renford receiving touchdown after breaking a tackle to get in for the 20yd TD catch. The defense would force (DL Gerard Bryant) and recover (Larry Ford) a fumble. But Alabama would be able to get into the endzone twice, another score from both Dupree and McSwain, to tie the game at 39 (before the PAT attempt) with 52.8 seconds on the clock. The Hammers would botch the snap on the PAT attempt; Rutherford would pick the ball up and loft it towards the corner of the endzone where an eligible lineman would get underneath it for two points. Lehigh Valley had one last possession to try and win the game, but they would only be able to move the ball down to their own 24 yard line, setting up long last ditch field goal attempt. Clarke would hook it just wide right. Final score: Alabama Hammers 41, Lehigh Valley Steelhawks 39.

With the loss the Steelhawks no longer control their own destiny. The team will be scoreboard watching on Saturday evening as the Nashville Venom travel to New Jersey to take on the Trenton Freedom. The Steelhawks need Nashville to come out victorious to clinch the #4 seed in the playoff via the tie breaker scenarios in the PIFL. By virtue of splitting victories against each other in the season series, it would come down to strength of victory, which the Steelhawks own should both teams finish with a .500 record in league play.

Keep checking for the latest news and events from the Steelhawks! For further information please call Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Clark at (610) 282-3100, or visit our website at www.lvsteelhawks.com for the latest Steelhawks news!

Can't get enough of the Hawks? Season ticket packages for the Steelhawks 2016 season inside the PPL Center will be on sale soon. You can reserve your seats for the 2016 season by calling the Steelhawks front office at 610-282-3100.

Lehigh Valley Steelhawks vs. Alabama Hammers

Professional Indoor Football League Stories from June 16, 2015

• Wings Clipped - Lehigh Valley Steelhawks
• Hammers Named PIFL Players of the Week - Alabama Hammers
• PIFL Names Players of the Week - PIFL

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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