Post by 50yardfan on Feb 26, 2012 13:47:08 GMT -5
Opening Number: T.O., Wrangler defense lead the way in win over Wichita
www.allenamerican.com/articles/2012/02/26/sports_update/6876.txt
ALLEN -- While all eyes were squared on Terrell Owens' IFL debut, it was the Allen Wranglers' defense that proved the difference in Saturday night's season opener.
The former NFL receiver had his moments as well, pacing the Wranglers early with the defense closing the book on a 50-30 victory over the Wichita Wild from the Allen Event Center.
"We knew we came in with a target on our back," said Frankie Solomon, Jr., Allen defensive back, "having a great guy like T.O. on the team and everyone gunning for us. We just wanted to come out, act like normal guys and give back to the community."
Despite a 21-point outpouring in the second quarter which triggered a 31-20 Allen lead at the half, the Wranglers found themselves stuck in a one-possession contest at 31-23 entering the fourth quarter.
The Allen defense assured that margin didn't get any closer, forcing four turnovers in the fourth frame alone to trigger a 19-7 rally over the final 15 minutes of play.
Solomon buckled the Wild's bid at a tie with 8:17 left in the frame after bagging an interception that tipped off the hands of Wichita receiver Doug Pierce. Solomon fell to the ground untouched, got back to his feet and scampered 20 yards to the end zone for a 37-23 lead.
The Wranglers clamped down even further on Wichita's following possession, with Mike Landry sacking quarterback Phil Staback for minus-24 yards and a turnover on downs that set Allen up at the Wichita 16-yard line.
Running back Darius Fudge, who ran for 56 yards on 10 carries, required just two rushes to amass that yardage and extend the Wranglers' lead to 44-23 with 3:42 remaining.
Dwayne Slay got in on the fray one series later by snagging an interception that bounced off the hands of Marcus Jackson and set the table for a 9-yard touchdown scamper by backup quarterback Casey Printers for Allen's final points.
"We wanted to bang their receivers a little more," Solomon said. "The coaches told us to crack down and make them uncomfortable, and that seemed to throw off their timing with the quarterback."
All the Wild had to counter with was a touchdown hook-up between Staback and Pierce with three seconds left in the game to equate the team's only touchdown in the second half.
The Wranglers enjoyed a bit more success, as was the case in the second quarter during the offense's most productive stretch. The scoring started and finished with the team's prized offseason acquisition, as Owens accrued touchdown catches of 10, 22 and 16 yards to help break a 10-10 stalemate after one quarter.
"This was my first experience in the IFL but at the end of the day it's still football," Owens said. "I'm starting to get a feel for the little nuances of the game with the condensed field which is an adjustment because the timing of the routes is much faster."
Those three receptions were the entirety of Owens' damage in his Wrangler debut, totaling 48 yards on the night and netting Player of the Game honors for his trio of scores.
"I think I did alright," Owens said. "Obviously, I think we should have had more points on the board and overall we had too many penalties both offensively and defensively."
All three came behind the arm of Bryan Randall, who tallied 108 yards through the air on 6-of-20 passing to go along with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Wichita defense was game though, holding Owens without a catch through one quarter with the wide out's lone first-quarter target coming on a deep route on Allen's first play from scrimmage, where defensive back Darvin Peterson was flagged for pass interference.
Owens made good on his next target though, bagging a 10-yard score on the first play of the second quarter before beating Peterson downfield on a 22-yard fade pattern and then holding onto a 16-yard fade while blanketed by coverage.
"I was actually surprised by how much man-to-man they played against [Owens]," Randall said. "For press coverage, NFL guys can't stop him so it caught me off guard a bit to see that.
"As you can see, if I put it up there, he'll go make plays."
All three scores transpired in 12 minutes after the Wrangler offense was kept off the scoreboard through one frame. In fact, the team's first touchdown came of the special teams variety with Solomon returning a kickoff 50 yards for a touchdown that countered a 1-yard Staback touchdown sneak one series prior.
"Most of the time I just tell the guys to just stay in front of your man and give me a chance," Solomon said. "When I see the hole, I just try and hit it as fast as I can and go from there."
The Wild were quick to respond to Owens' initial flurry, finding the end zone after a Staback pass was tipped off the hands of Allen's Travonti Johnson and caught for a 10-yard touchdown by Tim Simmons.
It would be Wichita's last touchdown until the final three seconds of regulation, with Staback mustering 262 yards on 24-of-50 passing, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Pierce was the beneficiary target of Staback's passing, hauling in 118 yards on eight catches.
The victory advanced Allen to 1-0 on the season, setting the stage for a four-game road trip. The Wranglers won't return home until March 31 for a 7:05 p.m. showdown with the Nebraska Danger, while Saturday will deal Allen a matchup at the Everett Raptors.
www.allenamerican.com/articles/2012/02/26/sports_update/6876.txt
ALLEN -- While all eyes were squared on Terrell Owens' IFL debut, it was the Allen Wranglers' defense that proved the difference in Saturday night's season opener.
The former NFL receiver had his moments as well, pacing the Wranglers early with the defense closing the book on a 50-30 victory over the Wichita Wild from the Allen Event Center.
"We knew we came in with a target on our back," said Frankie Solomon, Jr., Allen defensive back, "having a great guy like T.O. on the team and everyone gunning for us. We just wanted to come out, act like normal guys and give back to the community."
Despite a 21-point outpouring in the second quarter which triggered a 31-20 Allen lead at the half, the Wranglers found themselves stuck in a one-possession contest at 31-23 entering the fourth quarter.
The Allen defense assured that margin didn't get any closer, forcing four turnovers in the fourth frame alone to trigger a 19-7 rally over the final 15 minutes of play.
Solomon buckled the Wild's bid at a tie with 8:17 left in the frame after bagging an interception that tipped off the hands of Wichita receiver Doug Pierce. Solomon fell to the ground untouched, got back to his feet and scampered 20 yards to the end zone for a 37-23 lead.
The Wranglers clamped down even further on Wichita's following possession, with Mike Landry sacking quarterback Phil Staback for minus-24 yards and a turnover on downs that set Allen up at the Wichita 16-yard line.
Running back Darius Fudge, who ran for 56 yards on 10 carries, required just two rushes to amass that yardage and extend the Wranglers' lead to 44-23 with 3:42 remaining.
Dwayne Slay got in on the fray one series later by snagging an interception that bounced off the hands of Marcus Jackson and set the table for a 9-yard touchdown scamper by backup quarterback Casey Printers for Allen's final points.
"We wanted to bang their receivers a little more," Solomon said. "The coaches told us to crack down and make them uncomfortable, and that seemed to throw off their timing with the quarterback."
All the Wild had to counter with was a touchdown hook-up between Staback and Pierce with three seconds left in the game to equate the team's only touchdown in the second half.
The Wranglers enjoyed a bit more success, as was the case in the second quarter during the offense's most productive stretch. The scoring started and finished with the team's prized offseason acquisition, as Owens accrued touchdown catches of 10, 22 and 16 yards to help break a 10-10 stalemate after one quarter.
"This was my first experience in the IFL but at the end of the day it's still football," Owens said. "I'm starting to get a feel for the little nuances of the game with the condensed field which is an adjustment because the timing of the routes is much faster."
Those three receptions were the entirety of Owens' damage in his Wrangler debut, totaling 48 yards on the night and netting Player of the Game honors for his trio of scores.
"I think I did alright," Owens said. "Obviously, I think we should have had more points on the board and overall we had too many penalties both offensively and defensively."
All three came behind the arm of Bryan Randall, who tallied 108 yards through the air on 6-of-20 passing to go along with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Wichita defense was game though, holding Owens without a catch through one quarter with the wide out's lone first-quarter target coming on a deep route on Allen's first play from scrimmage, where defensive back Darvin Peterson was flagged for pass interference.
Owens made good on his next target though, bagging a 10-yard score on the first play of the second quarter before beating Peterson downfield on a 22-yard fade pattern and then holding onto a 16-yard fade while blanketed by coverage.
"I was actually surprised by how much man-to-man they played against [Owens]," Randall said. "For press coverage, NFL guys can't stop him so it caught me off guard a bit to see that.
"As you can see, if I put it up there, he'll go make plays."
All three scores transpired in 12 minutes after the Wrangler offense was kept off the scoreboard through one frame. In fact, the team's first touchdown came of the special teams variety with Solomon returning a kickoff 50 yards for a touchdown that countered a 1-yard Staback touchdown sneak one series prior.
"Most of the time I just tell the guys to just stay in front of your man and give me a chance," Solomon said. "When I see the hole, I just try and hit it as fast as I can and go from there."
The Wild were quick to respond to Owens' initial flurry, finding the end zone after a Staback pass was tipped off the hands of Allen's Travonti Johnson and caught for a 10-yard touchdown by Tim Simmons.
It would be Wichita's last touchdown until the final three seconds of regulation, with Staback mustering 262 yards on 24-of-50 passing, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Pierce was the beneficiary target of Staback's passing, hauling in 118 yards on eight catches.
The victory advanced Allen to 1-0 on the season, setting the stage for a four-game road trip. The Wranglers won't return home until March 31 for a 7:05 p.m. showdown with the Nebraska Danger, while Saturday will deal Allen a matchup at the Everett Raptors.