Wyoming Defeats Utah Valley Thunder, 62-34, In Season Opener
Published on March 23, 2009 under American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Utah Blaze News Release
OREM, Utah - Utah Valley Thunder quarterback Michael Affleck completed 25-of-37 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns and he also rushed for two more, but it wasn't enough as the Wyoming Cavlary handed the Thunder a 62-34 loss in their home opener Monday night at the McKay Events Center.
Affleck connected Akamu Aki for a pair of first-quarter touchdowns to give the Thunder (0-1) a 13-8 lead at the end of the quarter, but the Cavalry (1-0) broke the game open with three unanswered touchdowns in the second quarter to build a 30-13 lead at the half and never trailed again.
The Cavalry's offensive onslaught continued as they scored on the first play of the second half on a 13-yard pass from Matt Strand, who finished the game 16-of-25 for 219 yards and seven touchdowns, to Dante Dudley, who tallied four catches for 44 yards and three touchdowns. Teammates BJ Charlton finished with six catches for 52 yards and a touchdown, and AJ Street had five catches for 98 yards and two scores.
Following UV's Duane Paul intercepted Strand, Affleck dove in from two yards out to cut the Cavalry lead to 38-27 with 4:17 left in the third quarter. Following a Chris Bolden interception, the Thunder scored again on Affleck's third touchdown pass of the game to Aki to pull the Thunder to within four, at 38-34, but that was as close as they would get.
For the game, Utah Valley, which was stopped on downs two times inside the one-yard line, recorded 258 yards total offense to Wyoming's 214.
Utah Valley's wide receiver Jeff Johnson finished with a game-high 16 catches for 141 yards, while Aki had five catches for 35 yards and three touchdowns
The Thunder host the New Mexico Wildcats Monday, March 30, at the McKay Events Center. The game kicks at 7 p.m.
American Indoor Football Association Stories from March 23, 2009
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