Post by 50yardfan on Jul 11, 2010 9:12:12 GMT -5
blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2010/07/stampede_runs_into_a_baltimore.html
BALTIMORE -- Jermaine Thaxton had that look in his eyes before Saturday night's AIFA Eastern Conference championship game at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore.
Focused. Confident. Hungry.
His Mariner teammates mirrored that intensity as Baltimore treated its passionate and loud fans with a 63-15 beatdown of the Harrisburg Stampede. The 15-0 Mariners will host the AIFA Championship Bowl at 4 p.m. July 25 against Wyoming or San Jose. The Western Conference title game is scheduled for today.
Baltimore, which is 8-0 at home this season and 17-2 the past two years, dominated the contest from start to finish. The defense knocked Harrisburg starting quarterback Aries Nelson out in the first half. The team had to use receiver Silas Daniels and cornerback Travis Johnson at the spot in the second half.
It really didn't matter.
"We expect to play a whole lot better than we did at the beginning of the season against them," Thaxton, a Harrisburg native, said. "This is the Eastern Conference championship, we're ready. There is going to be a lot of talking and pushing, but we're focused on what we have to do."
His teammates backed his words as they attacked Harrisburg into submission.
The first half couldn't have been more of a disaster for the Stampede (12-4). After Baltimore kicker J.R. Cipra booted a 21-yard field goal, the Stampeded gave it right back -- and then some. Eugene Goodman fumbled the ensuing kickoff into the end zone, and Scorpio Brown recovered for the touchdown and Baltimore led 10-1 with 8:56 left in the opening quarter.
Harrisburg cut the lead to 10-7 when Nelson hit Stokes with a 42-yard bomb. After that, however, Baltimore showed why it has the best record in the league.
Nemeth hit Aaron Yarbough from 12 yards out, came back and connected with a wide-open Jamaal Stokes on a 40-yard strike for a 24-7 advantage with 11:55 left in the first half. Nememth tacked on a 3-yard sneak, and Brown hauled in a 23-yard scoring pass from Nemeth to up the count to 40-7.
The half fittingly ended for Harrisburg when Baltimore defensive back Richard Johnson picked off Nelson in the end zone and ran the interception back to the Stampede 2 as the first half expired.
Nelson, who was injured on the play, was seen on crutches early in the third quarter. He completed just 8-of-18 passes for 73 yards, one score and two interceptions.
Nemeth, on the other hand, went 11-of-15 for 162 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
"E.J. has been doing a great job taking care of the ball all season," Baltimore coach Chris Simpson said. "He is a competitor, and he does what he has to do to help the team win."
Nemeth replaced by backup quarterback Matt Folke midway through the fourth quarter.
"Forcing turnovers has been big for us all season, and we take pride in the way our defense is playing," Simpson said. "We realize it's tougher when you're undefeated, but we just focus on getting better every week. I know in indoor football the offenses are featured, but just like in outdoor football, defense wins championships."
BALTIMORE -- Jermaine Thaxton had that look in his eyes before Saturday night's AIFA Eastern Conference championship game at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore.
Focused. Confident. Hungry.
His Mariner teammates mirrored that intensity as Baltimore treated its passionate and loud fans with a 63-15 beatdown of the Harrisburg Stampede. The 15-0 Mariners will host the AIFA Championship Bowl at 4 p.m. July 25 against Wyoming or San Jose. The Western Conference title game is scheduled for today.
Baltimore, which is 8-0 at home this season and 17-2 the past two years, dominated the contest from start to finish. The defense knocked Harrisburg starting quarterback Aries Nelson out in the first half. The team had to use receiver Silas Daniels and cornerback Travis Johnson at the spot in the second half.
It really didn't matter.
"We expect to play a whole lot better than we did at the beginning of the season against them," Thaxton, a Harrisburg native, said. "This is the Eastern Conference championship, we're ready. There is going to be a lot of talking and pushing, but we're focused on what we have to do."
His teammates backed his words as they attacked Harrisburg into submission.
The first half couldn't have been more of a disaster for the Stampede (12-4). After Baltimore kicker J.R. Cipra booted a 21-yard field goal, the Stampeded gave it right back -- and then some. Eugene Goodman fumbled the ensuing kickoff into the end zone, and Scorpio Brown recovered for the touchdown and Baltimore led 10-1 with 8:56 left in the opening quarter.
Harrisburg cut the lead to 10-7 when Nelson hit Stokes with a 42-yard bomb. After that, however, Baltimore showed why it has the best record in the league.
Nemeth hit Aaron Yarbough from 12 yards out, came back and connected with a wide-open Jamaal Stokes on a 40-yard strike for a 24-7 advantage with 11:55 left in the first half. Nememth tacked on a 3-yard sneak, and Brown hauled in a 23-yard scoring pass from Nemeth to up the count to 40-7.
The half fittingly ended for Harrisburg when Baltimore defensive back Richard Johnson picked off Nelson in the end zone and ran the interception back to the Stampede 2 as the first half expired.
Nelson, who was injured on the play, was seen on crutches early in the third quarter. He completed just 8-of-18 passes for 73 yards, one score and two interceptions.
Nemeth, on the other hand, went 11-of-15 for 162 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
"E.J. has been doing a great job taking care of the ball all season," Baltimore coach Chris Simpson said. "He is a competitor, and he does what he has to do to help the team win."
Nemeth replaced by backup quarterback Matt Folke midway through the fourth quarter.
"Forcing turnovers has been big for us all season, and we take pride in the way our defense is playing," Simpson said. "We realize it's tougher when you're undefeated, but we just focus on getting better every week. I know in indoor football the offenses are featured, but just like in outdoor football, defense wins championships."