Post by 50yardfan on Jun 7, 2010 15:36:08 GMT -5
Fever Breaks Through On The Road to Clinch Playoff Spot
KENT -- The drought is but a distant memory.
The Tri-Cities Fever ended a 16-game road losing streak Friday night with down-to-the-wire 57-50 win over the Kent Predators at the ShoWare Center.
It is the Fever's first victory on the road since May 24, 2008 when Tri-Cities beat the Stockton Lightning 44-21 when both teams played in the arenafootball2 league.
The end of one streak helped prolong the Fever's season past the regular season. With the win, Tri-Cities (6-6) clinches an Indoor Football League playoff spot in its inaugural season.
The Fever has now won five of its last six games and return home for its final regular season home game next Saturday against the Alaska Wild.
The Fever trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half before a furious second-half rally that ended with a last-second touchdown catch by Thyron Lewis.
Lewis, who had three touchdown catches on the night, caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Houston Lillard with 9 seconds left in the game to give the Fever a 57-50 lead. The clock expired on the ensuing kickoff.
Early on, it appeared that Kent quarterback Charles McCullum and the Predators would add to the Fever's road woes. Kent (4-8) led 37-20 late in the first half and seemingly had complete control of the game.
But on the final play of the first half, Lillard scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to cut the margin to 37-27. The Fever then scored on the opening possession of the second half on a 40-yard TD catch by Joey Hew Len to get Tri-Cities to within 37-34. The Fever defense that allowed Kent to score a touchdown on all five of its first half possessions, got its first stop on the Predators first drive of the third quarter. The drive ended when Ameer Ismael blocked a field goal out of the end zone resulting in a safety getting the within one at 37-36.
But as soon as the Fever appeared to seize the momentum, Kent recovered the ensuing onside kick and returned it for a touchdown to lead 43-36. The Predators gambled again with an onside kick and again recovered the ball. Four plays later, Ismael intercepted McCullum to keep the Fever within one touchdown.
Hew Len and the Fever got back to 43-42 after a 3-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. After a third straight stop by the Fever defense, Lionell Singleton returned a missed field 56 yards for a touchdown to give the Fever its first lead at 48-43. After the 2-point conversion the Fever led 50-43.
Kent would eventually tie the game with 35 seconds remaining, before the Fever orchestrated its game-winning drive that ended with Lewis' TD grab.
The Fever allowed just 13 second-half points, and only one offensive touchdown.
Lillard had his most efficient game of the season, completing 14 of 18 passes for 183 yards and five touchdowns.
Ismael, in addition to an interception and a blocked field goal, had four tackles-for-loss.
KENT -- The drought is but a distant memory.
The Tri-Cities Fever ended a 16-game road losing streak Friday night with down-to-the-wire 57-50 win over the Kent Predators at the ShoWare Center.
It is the Fever's first victory on the road since May 24, 2008 when Tri-Cities beat the Stockton Lightning 44-21 when both teams played in the arenafootball2 league.
The end of one streak helped prolong the Fever's season past the regular season. With the win, Tri-Cities (6-6) clinches an Indoor Football League playoff spot in its inaugural season.
The Fever has now won five of its last six games and return home for its final regular season home game next Saturday against the Alaska Wild.
The Fever trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half before a furious second-half rally that ended with a last-second touchdown catch by Thyron Lewis.
Lewis, who had three touchdown catches on the night, caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Houston Lillard with 9 seconds left in the game to give the Fever a 57-50 lead. The clock expired on the ensuing kickoff.
Early on, it appeared that Kent quarterback Charles McCullum and the Predators would add to the Fever's road woes. Kent (4-8) led 37-20 late in the first half and seemingly had complete control of the game.
But on the final play of the first half, Lillard scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to cut the margin to 37-27. The Fever then scored on the opening possession of the second half on a 40-yard TD catch by Joey Hew Len to get Tri-Cities to within 37-34. The Fever defense that allowed Kent to score a touchdown on all five of its first half possessions, got its first stop on the Predators first drive of the third quarter. The drive ended when Ameer Ismael blocked a field goal out of the end zone resulting in a safety getting the within one at 37-36.
But as soon as the Fever appeared to seize the momentum, Kent recovered the ensuing onside kick and returned it for a touchdown to lead 43-36. The Predators gambled again with an onside kick and again recovered the ball. Four plays later, Ismael intercepted McCullum to keep the Fever within one touchdown.
Hew Len and the Fever got back to 43-42 after a 3-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. After a third straight stop by the Fever defense, Lionell Singleton returned a missed field 56 yards for a touchdown to give the Fever its first lead at 48-43. After the 2-point conversion the Fever led 50-43.
Kent would eventually tie the game with 35 seconds remaining, before the Fever orchestrated its game-winning drive that ended with Lewis' TD grab.
The Fever allowed just 13 second-half points, and only one offensive touchdown.
Lillard had his most efficient game of the season, completing 14 of 18 passes for 183 yards and five touchdowns.
Ismael, in addition to an interception and a blocked field goal, had four tackles-for-loss.