Post by 50yardfan on May 30, 2010 0:04:33 GMT -5
Revolution Clinch Home Playoff Game, Defeat Green Bay 54-44
RICHMOND, VA: An afternoon game brought out the gamblers in the Richmond Revolution and the team hit the jackpot en route to its eighth straight victory and at least one guaranteed home game in the Indoor Football League playoffs. Three fourth-down touchdown passes played a huge role in the Revolution's 54-44 decision over the Green Bay Blizzard this afternoon at the Arthur Ashe Center. The last of those passes came from Bryan Randall to Damon "Redd" Thompson with 15.7 seconds left. It ended the suspense as the Revolution improved to 11-1 and clinched the championship of the Atlantic East Division of the IFL's United Conference. This is the Revolution's first year in the league and they're the only team with as many as 11 victories. Green Bay fell to 7-4 but still leads the Central North Division.
"One of the great things about this game is it doesn't end until that zero goes up," Richmond coach Steve Criswell said. "We say it all the time but people don't really understand until they sit and watch it. Another great game, another great finish."
Randall, continuing his push to be the IFL's rookie of the year, accounted for seven touchdowns. He threw for a season-high six and ran for one more. Randall has 15 touchdown passes and seven rushing touchdowns in his past three games. He has 51 scoring tosses on the season. Thompson caught three touchdown passes against Green Bay (all in the second half), Aaron Alexander two (both on fourth down) and Larry Williams one. "In this league, you have to be able to score on fourth-down passes if you want to win games," Randall said. "You have to have the confidence to go for it and our receivers have been doing a great job getting open all year."
Criswell is honest enough to admit the game's final sequence that led to the last touchdown was not how he'd planned things. Taking over on downs on the Green Bay 3 with 1:04 left, the Revolution had Randall take a knee twice to force Green to use its final timeouts. But the Blizzard would have been able to get the ball back for at least one play down only three if Randall hadn't found Thompson for the third TD of the day on fourth down. "Redd just did his thing and I was able to get the ball in there," Randall said.
Said Criswell, "We actually messed up a little bit, didn't do the math right. We should have run the ball one more time. I wouldn't give us an A-plus on that one but it worked out, so we'll take it."
Another big play for the Revolution came late in the first quarter, when 2009 IFL special teams player of the year Demarcus James picked off a pass in the end zone and returned it the length of the field for a touchdown. That TD and Chris Segaar's extra point tied the game and Richmond never trailed again, though the score was tied at 34 in the third quarter. It was James' eighth interception of the season, best in the IFL as of the end of the game. Richmond played without leading receiver Antwun Williams, who injured a knee in last weekend's victory over Rochester. Randall was still able to spread the ball around to a variety of teammates including Alexander, who had missed the Rochester game with an injury. Five Revolution players caught passes. "We miss Antwun. He's been great for us all year," Randall said. "But all our receivers have been great this year and they got a chance to shine today." Alexander said he wasn't even thinking it was fourth down when he caught his scoring passes. He said his simple philosophy is to try and make a play when he's given the opportunity. "I'll do anything I can," he said, "to make a play."
The defense's season-long ability to come up with stops at critical times as well as Randall's continuing development as an indoor player have given the team confidence in any situation. Most of the season, Richmond has been tested in the fourth quarter. As the results show, the Revolution has handled those tests well. Today, Randall threw a late interception to give Green Bay a chance with 2:27 left but the defense came up with a stop and Randall found Thompson for the final touchdown. Randall ran for 50 yards on the day and threw for 152. "We knew once Bryan figured out this game, he could take it under his wing and go. He'd be great. That's exactly what he's done," Alexander said.
Richmond has two regular-season games left before the playoffs begin the weekend of June 26. The date and opponent for Richmond's playoff opener has yet to be determined. Richmond will play at Maryland next Saturday and then close the regular season June 12 at the Ashe Center against the Rochester Raiders. Kickoff is at 7:05 p.m.
RICHMOND, VA: An afternoon game brought out the gamblers in the Richmond Revolution and the team hit the jackpot en route to its eighth straight victory and at least one guaranteed home game in the Indoor Football League playoffs. Three fourth-down touchdown passes played a huge role in the Revolution's 54-44 decision over the Green Bay Blizzard this afternoon at the Arthur Ashe Center. The last of those passes came from Bryan Randall to Damon "Redd" Thompson with 15.7 seconds left. It ended the suspense as the Revolution improved to 11-1 and clinched the championship of the Atlantic East Division of the IFL's United Conference. This is the Revolution's first year in the league and they're the only team with as many as 11 victories. Green Bay fell to 7-4 but still leads the Central North Division.
"One of the great things about this game is it doesn't end until that zero goes up," Richmond coach Steve Criswell said. "We say it all the time but people don't really understand until they sit and watch it. Another great game, another great finish."
Randall, continuing his push to be the IFL's rookie of the year, accounted for seven touchdowns. He threw for a season-high six and ran for one more. Randall has 15 touchdown passes and seven rushing touchdowns in his past three games. He has 51 scoring tosses on the season. Thompson caught three touchdown passes against Green Bay (all in the second half), Aaron Alexander two (both on fourth down) and Larry Williams one. "In this league, you have to be able to score on fourth-down passes if you want to win games," Randall said. "You have to have the confidence to go for it and our receivers have been doing a great job getting open all year."
Criswell is honest enough to admit the game's final sequence that led to the last touchdown was not how he'd planned things. Taking over on downs on the Green Bay 3 with 1:04 left, the Revolution had Randall take a knee twice to force Green to use its final timeouts. But the Blizzard would have been able to get the ball back for at least one play down only three if Randall hadn't found Thompson for the third TD of the day on fourth down. "Redd just did his thing and I was able to get the ball in there," Randall said.
Said Criswell, "We actually messed up a little bit, didn't do the math right. We should have run the ball one more time. I wouldn't give us an A-plus on that one but it worked out, so we'll take it."
Another big play for the Revolution came late in the first quarter, when 2009 IFL special teams player of the year Demarcus James picked off a pass in the end zone and returned it the length of the field for a touchdown. That TD and Chris Segaar's extra point tied the game and Richmond never trailed again, though the score was tied at 34 in the third quarter. It was James' eighth interception of the season, best in the IFL as of the end of the game. Richmond played without leading receiver Antwun Williams, who injured a knee in last weekend's victory over Rochester. Randall was still able to spread the ball around to a variety of teammates including Alexander, who had missed the Rochester game with an injury. Five Revolution players caught passes. "We miss Antwun. He's been great for us all year," Randall said. "But all our receivers have been great this year and they got a chance to shine today." Alexander said he wasn't even thinking it was fourth down when he caught his scoring passes. He said his simple philosophy is to try and make a play when he's given the opportunity. "I'll do anything I can," he said, "to make a play."
The defense's season-long ability to come up with stops at critical times as well as Randall's continuing development as an indoor player have given the team confidence in any situation. Most of the season, Richmond has been tested in the fourth quarter. As the results show, the Revolution has handled those tests well. Today, Randall threw a late interception to give Green Bay a chance with 2:27 left but the defense came up with a stop and Randall found Thompson for the final touchdown. Randall ran for 50 yards on the day and threw for 152. "We knew once Bryan figured out this game, he could take it under his wing and go. He'd be great. That's exactly what he's done," Alexander said.
Richmond has two regular-season games left before the playoffs begin the weekend of June 26. The date and opponent for Richmond's playoff opener has yet to be determined. Richmond will play at Maryland next Saturday and then close the regular season June 12 at the Ashe Center against the Rochester Raiders. Kickoff is at 7:05 p.m.