Wolfpack Fall in Home Opener
Published on March 22, 2009 under Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Wisconsin Wolfpack News Release
The Wisconsin Wolfpack gave the fans something to cheer about from the opening kickoff, but fell just short in Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) Saturday night. The Wolfpack (1-1) fell to the Chicago Slaughter (2-0), 40-36.
Derrick Brown started the scoring on the opening kickoff, a 57-yard return for a touchdown. Kicker Paul Schroeder added the extra point and the Wolfpack led 7-0 just 20 seconds into the game.
The Slaughter would answer on their opening drive as quarterback Russ Michna would bull his way into the endzone from one-yard out. Kicker Chris Nendick added the extra point and the game was tied at seven with 9:29 left to play in the first quarter.
The Wolfpack responded on their next drive. Stetzer found wide receiver Reggie Davis on a 42-yard touchdown pass. Schroeder's kick was wide right and the Wolfpack led 13-7.
The back-and-forth battle would continue as the Michna connected with wide receiver Reggie Gray on a nine-yard touchdown toss on their next drive. Nendick's kick was good and the Slaughter took their first lead of the game, 14-13 with 1:55 to play in the first quarter.
Michna and Gray would again team up with 11:50 to play in the half. Michna found Gray wide open down the right sideline on a 32-yard toss-and-catch. Nendick convertedhis 15th consecutive conversion to give the Slaughter a 21-13 lead.
Brown nearly broke the ensuing kickoff, returning it to the Slaughter five-yard line. Running back Eric Donoval would finish the job, going in from five yards out. He would also tack on a two-point conversion run to tie the game at 21 with 6:30 to play in the half.
The Slaughter took the lead right back on Michna's third passing TD of the game, this time to lineman Raasche Hill from two yards out. Nendick's kick attempt failed and the Slaughter led 27-21 with 3:38 to play.
The Slaughter would get an interception and turn it into six more points on a two-yard run by wide receiver Dontrell Jackson. Nendick's kick was good and the Slaughter led 34-21 with just five seconds left in the half.
The Wolfpack would pull off the unbelievable with just one second left on the clock. Stetzer hit wide receiver Will Norwood who took the ball to the Slaughter 20-yard line. With three Slaughter defenders hanging on him, Norwood was able to pitch the ball to a streaking Marques Johnson who took the ball in the rest of the way for a touchdown. Schroeder added the extra point and the Wolfpack went into the half down 34-28.
The two teams only managed two scores between them in the second half. The Slaughter scored midway through the third quarter when Michna ran in from a yard out for his second rushing touchdown and fifth total touchdown of the game. The two-point conversion run failed and the Slaughter led 40-28.
With just 1:45 left in the game, Stetzer found Johnson on a five-yard pass for a touchdown. Donoval ran in for the two-point conversion and the Wolfpack trailed 40-36.
Schroeder setup for an onside kick. The kick went ten yards and took a Wolfpack bounce but glanced off the hands of defensive back Sam D'Alie and into the hands of Slaughter player Dennison Robinson. The Slaughter ran out the clock and squeaked away with a 40-36 victory.
The Slaughter improve to 2-0 and in first place in the CIFL Western Division, a game ahead of both the Wolfpack and Milwaukee Bonecrushers, who play next week Saturday in Milwaukee.
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from March 22, 2009
- Wolfpack Fall in Home Opener - Wisconsin Wolfpack
- Bonecrushers top Rock River for first win of the season - Milwaukee Bonecrushers
- An Xplosion in Fort Wayne - OSC Original by Randy Snow
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