Post by 50yardfan on Jun 13, 2011 11:15:54 GMT -5
www.marionstar.com/article/20110613/SPORTS/106130312/Blue-Racers-season-ends-sour-note
CINCINNATI - The all-for-one, one-for-all season-long mantra the Marion Blue Racers hoped would lead them to a Continental Indoor Football League title came up one game short Saturday night at Cincinnati Gardens.
Putting themselves in a 21-point hole, the Blue Racers were unable to overcome the early deficit, losing 44-29 to the Cincinnati Commandos in the CIFL title game.
"The team fought hard and gave it their all," Blue Racers head coach Ryan Terry said. "But you can't afford to turn the ball over against a team like Cincinnati."
An interception set up one touchdown and another tally came on a fumble return as Cincinnati jumped out to a 21-0 lead.
Marion finished with a record of 9-3, and all of its losses were to Cincinnati.
"Cincinnati deserves to be the champion this year," Terry said.
It was the Commandos second straight CIFL title.
"It is a great feeling to repeat," said Commandos head coach Billy Back, who has led the team to a 23-1 record over the last two years, including 12-0 in 2011. "It goes to our coaches and players. We have meshed together so well."
James Frazier went 49-yards for a touchdown on a fumble recovery that staked Cincinnati a 21-0 lead.
Back was pleased with opening start but also felt it caused some problems late in the first half.
"The lead gave us some confidence but we also got a little complacent," Back said.
Marion scored twice in the final two minutes of the second half, a 30-yard run by Christen Haywood,who totaled 107 yards on 18 carries for the game, and a three-yard pass from Josh Harris to Brandon Williams, and trailed 21-13 at the half.
The Commandos scored on their first possession of the third quarter, a six-yard pass on fourth down from Tyler Sheehan to George Murray.
Marion's Tyler Lorenz kicked a 43-yard field goal to make it 28-16, but Cincinnati upped the count to 34-16 on a two-yard run by Greg Moore.
The Blue Racers closed to within 34-23 with 11:57 left in the fourth quarter on a one-yard smash by Haywood, but could not get any closer the rest of the way.
Marion was playing without the services of Mike Tatum, the CIFL leader in touchdowns with 14, with an ankle injury, but Terry said the team did its best to make up for his absence.
"We fought hard to the end," Terry said. "Their fourth-down play for the score made it a hard fight from there."
CINCINNATI - The all-for-one, one-for-all season-long mantra the Marion Blue Racers hoped would lead them to a Continental Indoor Football League title came up one game short Saturday night at Cincinnati Gardens.
Putting themselves in a 21-point hole, the Blue Racers were unable to overcome the early deficit, losing 44-29 to the Cincinnati Commandos in the CIFL title game.
"The team fought hard and gave it their all," Blue Racers head coach Ryan Terry said. "But you can't afford to turn the ball over against a team like Cincinnati."
An interception set up one touchdown and another tally came on a fumble return as Cincinnati jumped out to a 21-0 lead.
Marion finished with a record of 9-3, and all of its losses were to Cincinnati.
"Cincinnati deserves to be the champion this year," Terry said.
It was the Commandos second straight CIFL title.
"It is a great feeling to repeat," said Commandos head coach Billy Back, who has led the team to a 23-1 record over the last two years, including 12-0 in 2011. "It goes to our coaches and players. We have meshed together so well."
James Frazier went 49-yards for a touchdown on a fumble recovery that staked Cincinnati a 21-0 lead.
Back was pleased with opening start but also felt it caused some problems late in the first half.
"The lead gave us some confidence but we also got a little complacent," Back said.
Marion scored twice in the final two minutes of the second half, a 30-yard run by Christen Haywood,who totaled 107 yards on 18 carries for the game, and a three-yard pass from Josh Harris to Brandon Williams, and trailed 21-13 at the half.
The Commandos scored on their first possession of the third quarter, a six-yard pass on fourth down from Tyler Sheehan to George Murray.
Marion's Tyler Lorenz kicked a 43-yard field goal to make it 28-16, but Cincinnati upped the count to 34-16 on a two-yard run by Greg Moore.
The Blue Racers closed to within 34-23 with 11:57 left in the fourth quarter on a one-yard smash by Haywood, but could not get any closer the rest of the way.
Marion was playing without the services of Mike Tatum, the CIFL leader in touchdowns with 14, with an ankle injury, but Terry said the team did its best to make up for his absence.
"We fought hard to the end," Terry said. "Their fourth-down play for the score made it a hard fight from there."