Xplosion Trounce Phantoms 62-8
by Randy Snow
March 22, 2008 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Kalamazoo Xplosion
Question: How does Kalamazoo Xplosion defensive back David Gator top last week's three interception performance against the Rock River Raptors?
Answer: With a four interception performance against the Flint Phantoms!
After last week's win in overtime against the Raptors, Gator was named the Continental Indoor Football League's Defensive Player of the Week. It was going to be tough to top a performance like that, but the Phantoms provided ample opportunities for Gator and the rest of the Xplosion to continue their winning ways last night at Wings Stadium.
Kalamazoo jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter with a pair of touchdown passes by quarterback Randy Hutchison, an eight-yard toss to wide receiver Dan Musielewicz and a 39-yard catch-and-run by running back Brent Lesniak. Lesniak then caught a pass for a two-point conversion.
The offensive onslaught continued in the second quarter. Wide receiver Kelly Baraka had an eight-yard touchdown catch and Lesniak added a three yard TD catch, giving Kalamazoo a 28-0 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Flint looked as though they would finally get on the scoreboard as they took the opening kickoff and drove the ball down to the five-yard line. But Phantoms quarterback Mario Harris' pass attempt was tipped up in the air by defensive lineman Andy Story and caught by fellow lineman Jody Clemons, who raced 45-yards down the middle of the field for a touchdown. Kalamazoo increased its lead to 35-0. Later in the third, a five-yard touchdown catch by wide receiver L.J. Parker increased the Xplosion lead to 42-0.
The Phantoms finally got into the end zone late in the third quarter on a 13-yard run by running back Andre Broach. He also ran for the two-point conversion making the score 42-8.
On the ensuing Xplosion drive, Hutchison was intercepted by Flint defensive back Jim Skodak, giving the ball back to the Phantoms. But on the very next play, Gator came up with his third interception of the game and Kalamazoo's offense went back on the field.
In the fourth quarter, Kelly Baraka had a 37-yard touchdown run, his second TD of the game, and Brent Lesniak had an 11-yard touchdown catch, his third TD of the game. Not to be outdone by Gator, Xplosion linebacker Chris Sheftic intercepted a pass and ran it back 10-yards for a touchdown for the final score of the game. That gave the Xplosion a 62-8 lead with 1:21 left in the game.
But Gator had one more trick up his sleeve. On the last play of the game, he intercepted his fourth pass of the evening in the end zone, ending the final scoring threat by the Phantoms.
After the game, Gator was reluctant as always to talk about his accomplishments. "It wasn't just me," Gator said. "Everybody out on the field is doing their job. Quarterbacks don't know where (to throw the ball). I think we played well as a team tonight."
In the game, Xplosion quarterback Randy Hutchison completed 24 of 32 passes for 210 yards and six touchdowns. He was also intercepted one time. Running back Brent Lesniak rushed six times for minus-one yards but he had five receptions for 66 yards and three touchdowns. Kelly Baraka caught four passes for 38 yards and a touchdown and rushed five times for 46 yards and another touchdown. On defense, David Gator had eight tackles and four interceptions. A fifth interception was nullified by a holding penalty in the first quarter. Gator currently has eight interceptions on the season.
LATE START
The start of the game against the Phantoms was delayed 30 minutes because the Flint team arrived late at Wings Stadium. On the first full day of Spring, Mother Nature decided to dump a foot of snow on Kalamazoo, making it hard for fans (and players) to get out to the game.
NEXT GAME
Kalamazoo (3-0) travels south of the (Indiana) border on Thursday night, March 27, to take on the expansion Fort Wayne Freedom (1-0). Kickoff is set for 7:30. The Freedom defeated the visiting Miami Valley Silverbacks 52-48 on Friday night.
- - -
Randy Snow is a freelance football writer from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Since 2003, he has covered the Arena Football League, arenafootball2, United Indoor Football, the Continental Indoor Football League and the All American Football League. Randy has been a member of the Arena Football League Writer's Association since 2005 and can be reached at randysnow22@yahoo.com.
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from March 22, 2008
- Muskegon Thunder Defense Rocks Raptors - Muskegon Thunder
- Gater Strikes Again, Xplosion Wins 62-8 - Kalamazoo Xplosion
- Xplosion Trounce Phantoms 62-8 - OSC Original by Randy Snow
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
