Post by 50yardfan on Jul 1, 2011 10:18:07 GMT -5
SIFL CHAMPIONSHIP: Swashbucklers backup QB who beat Stallions gets nod again vs. Panthers on Saturday
When Louisiana starting QB Ben McLaughlin opted to leave the franchise two games ago for an opportunity to play in Team U.S.A.’s football tournament overseas, the Swashbucklers turned to WR/DB Sammy Knight, who led the Bucs past previously unbeaten Houston in the semifinals and right into Saturday’s title game against Albany.
www.albanyherald.com/sports/headlines/SIFL_CHAMPIONSHIP_Swashbucklers_backup_QB_who_beat_Stallions_gets_nod_again_vs_Panthers_on_Saturday_124833134.html
ALBANY — The Louisiana Swashbucklers had to eliminate the previously undefeated Houston Stallions without starting quarterback Ben McLaughlin, who was under center for all 12 of the Bucs’ regular-season games, as well as the first round of the SIFL playoffs.
They very well might find themselves in the same situation Saturday.
That’s why the Albany Panthers (12-2) have been preparing for any offensive scheme the Swashbucklers (10-4) might deploy in the SIFL Championship game at the Albany Civic Center.
McLaughlin, who threw for 226.5 yards per game and 58 touchdowns in the regular season, left the team before its Western Conference title bout at Houston to prepare for a stint with Team U.S.A. in the World Championship of American Football, which runs from July 8-16 in Austria.
“It was already prearranged (for Ben to follow this opportunity),” Swashbucklers coach Darnell Lee said in a telephone interview with The Herald on Thursday. “It’s just that the Houston game was supposed to fall on a weekend according to the (SIFl) schedule (but was moved to a Monday because the Stallions could only get their arena on that day), and that’s how (McLaughlin) made his schedule in March.”
With McLaughlin unavailable last weekend, Louisiana turned to receiver/defensive back Sammy Knight to lead a Wildcat-style rushing attack in his first start under center all season.
Knight rose to the occasion, and the scheme worked to perfection — especially considering Houston had beaten Louisiana in both regular-season meetings.
The switch in scheme proved effective for an offense that averaged a league-best 51.8 points per game. The Swashbucklers ran nearly 50 rushing plays in handling the top-seeded Stallions, 56-41, and punching their ticket to Albany.
“What we did was, they call it ‘Wildcat’ — we just play football,” Lee said. “You would think because you’re playing inside the arena, you have to play the arena football game (which is mostly passing), but this is the SIFL, the Southern Indoor Football League.
“You get it done the best way possible, and that’s all we’re doing right now.”
Knight, who is normally one of McLaughlin’s favorite targets in the passing game, led the Swashbucklers with 612 receiving yards and caught 11 touchdowns in the regular season. The receiver has prior experience taking snaps in games, and against Albany, no less.
“We played against Sammy last year when both their quarterbacks went down,” Panthers coach Lucious Davis said Thursday. “He’s a very good athlete. He’s a dual threat.”
“We have to be disciplined (on defense against him). We have to trust in our scheme.”
While it appears that Knight — who also recorded 14 tackles on defense this season — will step in at quarterback again for a chance to win it all, Panthers defensive back Demetrie McCray said Albany was making no assumptions.
“They could be trying to throw a wrench at us like they’re not going to have a quarterback, and then he shows up,” McCray said Thursday at practice. “Going into a game like this, a game of this magnitude, you have to be prepared for whatever comes. We’re preparing for the (main) quarterback and the receiver (Knight) at quarterback.”
McCray, the Panthers’ second-leading tackler, said Albany’s defense would have to be extra sound fundamentally if Knight indeed starts for Louisiana on Saturday.
“He can run, he can break a lot of tackles and he can improvise and maybe find a receiver downfield, so everybody’s got to be very disciplined,” McCray said. “You’ve got to be disciplined anyway on defense, but at the same time, you’ve got to be extra disciplined with that because he can hurt you with his running ability, too.”
When Louisiana starting QB Ben McLaughlin opted to leave the franchise two games ago for an opportunity to play in Team U.S.A.’s football tournament overseas, the Swashbucklers turned to WR/DB Sammy Knight, who led the Bucs past previously unbeaten Houston in the semifinals and right into Saturday’s title game against Albany.
www.albanyherald.com/sports/headlines/SIFL_CHAMPIONSHIP_Swashbucklers_backup_QB_who_beat_Stallions_gets_nod_again_vs_Panthers_on_Saturday_124833134.html
ALBANY — The Louisiana Swashbucklers had to eliminate the previously undefeated Houston Stallions without starting quarterback Ben McLaughlin, who was under center for all 12 of the Bucs’ regular-season games, as well as the first round of the SIFL playoffs.
They very well might find themselves in the same situation Saturday.
That’s why the Albany Panthers (12-2) have been preparing for any offensive scheme the Swashbucklers (10-4) might deploy in the SIFL Championship game at the Albany Civic Center.
McLaughlin, who threw for 226.5 yards per game and 58 touchdowns in the regular season, left the team before its Western Conference title bout at Houston to prepare for a stint with Team U.S.A. in the World Championship of American Football, which runs from July 8-16 in Austria.
“It was already prearranged (for Ben to follow this opportunity),” Swashbucklers coach Darnell Lee said in a telephone interview with The Herald on Thursday. “It’s just that the Houston game was supposed to fall on a weekend according to the (SIFl) schedule (but was moved to a Monday because the Stallions could only get their arena on that day), and that’s how (McLaughlin) made his schedule in March.”
With McLaughlin unavailable last weekend, Louisiana turned to receiver/defensive back Sammy Knight to lead a Wildcat-style rushing attack in his first start under center all season.
Knight rose to the occasion, and the scheme worked to perfection — especially considering Houston had beaten Louisiana in both regular-season meetings.
The switch in scheme proved effective for an offense that averaged a league-best 51.8 points per game. The Swashbucklers ran nearly 50 rushing plays in handling the top-seeded Stallions, 56-41, and punching their ticket to Albany.
“What we did was, they call it ‘Wildcat’ — we just play football,” Lee said. “You would think because you’re playing inside the arena, you have to play the arena football game (which is mostly passing), but this is the SIFL, the Southern Indoor Football League.
“You get it done the best way possible, and that’s all we’re doing right now.”
Knight, who is normally one of McLaughlin’s favorite targets in the passing game, led the Swashbucklers with 612 receiving yards and caught 11 touchdowns in the regular season. The receiver has prior experience taking snaps in games, and against Albany, no less.
“We played against Sammy last year when both their quarterbacks went down,” Panthers coach Lucious Davis said Thursday. “He’s a very good athlete. He’s a dual threat.”
“We have to be disciplined (on defense against him). We have to trust in our scheme.”
While it appears that Knight — who also recorded 14 tackles on defense this season — will step in at quarterback again for a chance to win it all, Panthers defensive back Demetrie McCray said Albany was making no assumptions.
“They could be trying to throw a wrench at us like they’re not going to have a quarterback, and then he shows up,” McCray said Thursday at practice. “Going into a game like this, a game of this magnitude, you have to be prepared for whatever comes. We’re preparing for the (main) quarterback and the receiver (Knight) at quarterback.”
McCray, the Panthers’ second-leading tackler, said Albany’s defense would have to be extra sound fundamentally if Knight indeed starts for Louisiana on Saturday.
“He can run, he can break a lot of tackles and he can improvise and maybe find a receiver downfield, so everybody’s got to be very disciplined,” McCray said. “You’ve got to be disciplined anyway on defense, but at the same time, you’ve got to be extra disciplined with that because he can hurt you with his running ability, too.”