Post by 50yardfan on Jun 18, 2011 23:24:56 GMT -5
www.americanpress.com/lc/blogs/wpnewssum/?p=22307
Most of the question marks surrounding the Louisiana Swashbucklers have been about the defense.
Those questions were answered in a 59-20 win over the Corpus Christi Hammerheads in a Southern Indoor Football League Western Conference semifinal game.
The Swashbucklers (9-4) advanced to face the winner of Monday’s Houston-Rio Grande Valley game in the conference championship next week. The win broke a two-game losing streak.
The Swashbucklers defense forced eight turnovers, scored a touchdown and held Corpus Christi (7-6) to two offensive touchdowns.
“This feels good after the two-game losing streak, it felt like we hadn’t won a game in a month,” said Swashbucklers head coach Darnell Lee.
“The defense played Swashbucklers football tonight,” he said. “They got a lot of pressure and made the quarterback move away from his throwing arm, which we hadn’t done a lot of this year. We went away from our soft zone and played a lot of man-to-man. We did a lot of slanting up front. I’m proud of the guys, they gave a great effort.”
Defensive end John Machado blocked a field goal attempt, recovered it for a touchdown, and returned a fumble 35 yards to set up another touchdown.
“We needed to come out strong and that blocked field goal (in the first quarter) got us going,” said Machado. “We have a rich tradition here and have to keep it going. We have to stick together and play as a family. It is good to get the first playoff win. We are going to celebrate a little bit but we have a big one coming up next week.”
The Swashbucklers put the game away with 10 points in the final 2 minutes of the third quarter to take a 38-14 lead.
Blake Bercegeay drilled a 10-yard field goal to make the score 31-10. After the Swashbucklers defense forced a turnover on downs, Ben McLaughlin threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Wilridge to stretch the lead to 24.
It was plenty enough for a Swashbucklers defense that forced eight turnovers, including an interception that was returned 35 yards for a touchdown by Bryant Mason.
The Swashbucklers dominated the first half with defense, holding the Hammerheads to 52 total yards.
Corpus Christi scored on defense as well, with Chris Williams stripping McLaughlin on a sack and returning it 15 yards for a touchdown. The defense set up the other Hammerheads touchdown, when Jason Lee intercepted a pass and returned it 38 yards. The plays later, Justin Hardman scored on a 3-yard run.
Wilridge had two first-half touchdown receptions in the first half. Taurean Robinson had an 8-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Chris Hudler returned an onside kick 8 yards for a touchdown.
McLaughlin finished with five touchdowns and one interception. Wilridge had nine receptions for 100 yards and three touchdowns.
Most of the question marks surrounding the Louisiana Swashbucklers have been about the defense.
Those questions were answered in a 59-20 win over the Corpus Christi Hammerheads in a Southern Indoor Football League Western Conference semifinal game.
The Swashbucklers (9-4) advanced to face the winner of Monday’s Houston-Rio Grande Valley game in the conference championship next week. The win broke a two-game losing streak.
The Swashbucklers defense forced eight turnovers, scored a touchdown and held Corpus Christi (7-6) to two offensive touchdowns.
“This feels good after the two-game losing streak, it felt like we hadn’t won a game in a month,” said Swashbucklers head coach Darnell Lee.
“The defense played Swashbucklers football tonight,” he said. “They got a lot of pressure and made the quarterback move away from his throwing arm, which we hadn’t done a lot of this year. We went away from our soft zone and played a lot of man-to-man. We did a lot of slanting up front. I’m proud of the guys, they gave a great effort.”
Defensive end John Machado blocked a field goal attempt, recovered it for a touchdown, and returned a fumble 35 yards to set up another touchdown.
“We needed to come out strong and that blocked field goal (in the first quarter) got us going,” said Machado. “We have a rich tradition here and have to keep it going. We have to stick together and play as a family. It is good to get the first playoff win. We are going to celebrate a little bit but we have a big one coming up next week.”
The Swashbucklers put the game away with 10 points in the final 2 minutes of the third quarter to take a 38-14 lead.
Blake Bercegeay drilled a 10-yard field goal to make the score 31-10. After the Swashbucklers defense forced a turnover on downs, Ben McLaughlin threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Wilridge to stretch the lead to 24.
It was plenty enough for a Swashbucklers defense that forced eight turnovers, including an interception that was returned 35 yards for a touchdown by Bryant Mason.
The Swashbucklers dominated the first half with defense, holding the Hammerheads to 52 total yards.
Corpus Christi scored on defense as well, with Chris Williams stripping McLaughlin on a sack and returning it 15 yards for a touchdown. The defense set up the other Hammerheads touchdown, when Jason Lee intercepted a pass and returned it 38 yards. The plays later, Justin Hardman scored on a 3-yard run.
Wilridge had two first-half touchdown receptions in the first half. Taurean Robinson had an 8-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Chris Hudler returned an onside kick 8 yards for a touchdown.
McLaughlin finished with five touchdowns and one interception. Wilridge had nine receptions for 100 yards and three touchdowns.