Post by 50yardfan on Apr 25, 2011 17:52:13 GMT -5
HARRISBURG, PA (April 25, 2011) - Faraway, so close. The gap between the Harrisburg Stampede and their first win appears to be getting closer, but despite four touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown from quarterback Andre Coles the Stampede fell to the Trenton Steel 61-45 Saturday night at the Equine Arena in Harrisburg.
In an effort to spark a struggling offense Stampede General Manager and Head Coach Bernie Nowotarski injected defensive back Richard Johnson into the starting line-up at quarterback.
Johnson had early success as he led the Stampede to a scoring drive on their first possession of the game; capped off with a Eugene Goodman 11-yard touchdown run. Following a J.R. Cipra extra point and uno on the ensuing kickoff the Stampede led 8-7; their first lead in ten quarters of play.
The Harrisburg Stampede lead was short lived, however, as the Steel reeled off three straight scores as E.J. Nemeth connected with Oderick Turner on a 19-yards pass, Craig Camay booted a 32-yard field goal, and then Nemeth hit Dan Huff for a 14-yard touchdown. After the scoring burst Trenton held a 23-8 lead.
Nowotarski then turned to Coles, who on his second drive of the day found Collis Martin open on a pattern across the middle of the field for a 26-yard point producer. Following a Cipra PAT the score stood at 23-15 with just 24 seconds left in the second quarter.
Harrisburg received the kickoff to start the second half and promptly marched down the field. Coles again found Martin and watched the team's leading receiver score his tenth touchdown of the year. The Stampede appeared to have renewed enthusiasm as the Trenton lead was cut to one, 23-22, following Cipra's extra point.
A Nemeth one-yard touchdown run boosted Trenton's lead to eight and following a kickoff recovery by the Trenton special teams Nemeth again found Turner for a score and Trenton's margin was extended to 37-22.
The Stampede continued to hang touch as Coles finished off the next drive with a one-yard touchdown run and a Cipra extra point/uno combo pulled the Stampede to within 37-30 with 4:16 left in the third. Cipra's uno pinned the Steel back on their own five, but on their first play from scrimmage Nemeth provided some breathing room for Trenton as he zipped a pass over the Stampede defense for a 26-yard gain to Turner.
After a Harrisburg personal foul gave the Steel a first and goal the Stampede defense held off Nemeth and the Trenton offense and the Steel were forced into a field goal attempt, which Camay proved good on, and the Steel held a 40-30 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Both offenses saved their best for last as they combined for 36 fourth quarter points. Trenton struck first as Nemeth notched his fourth TD pass of the game, a 16-yarder to Najah Pruden and the Steel lead grew to 17 at 47-30.
The Stampede then scored quickly finishing off a four-play 31-drive with a Coles to Takory Burkett scoring strike and the Stampede was within ten at 47-37.
The game of cat and mouse continued as Nemeth again found Turner for seven points and the Steel now held a 54-37 margin with just five minutes left to play.
With the clock now its enemy the Stampede did post a score as Coles teamed with Terry Jackson on a touchdown reception and Coles rumbled in for a two-point conversion, but the drive took 3:54 for Harrisburg to pull within 54-45.
Only 1:06 showed on the clock as Nemeth began the Steel's final scoring drive of the game. Nemeth for the third time on the night cashed in with a one-yard touchdown run and with just three seconds remaining in the contest the Steel recorded the final points in their 61-45 victory.
Coles led the Stampede with 219 yards of total offense on 204 yards of passing and 15 rushing yards. He totaled four touchdown passes and one touchdown run and was 17 of 30 passing with no interceptions.
Coles hit five targets as Collis Martin had nine receptions, including two for scores, and 87 receiving yards. Takory Burkett pulled in three passes for 43 yards and a score, while John Sharbaugh had three receptions for 15 yards, Eugene Goodman had two receptions for 36 yards, and Terry Jackson added two grabs for 35 yards in a score. Goodman also had one rushing touchdown.
Defensively, Jermaine Thaxton (5), Fearon Wright (4.5), Jamaal Stokes (3), and Nick Watkins (3) led the Stampede in tackles. Alfred Dubose recorded the only Stampede sack of Nemeth. For the first time all season the Stampede did not commit a turnover.
The Stampede now continues its two game home stand with a game against the Erie Explosion (5-1) on Saturday, April 30th at 7:30 PM at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex Equine Arena.
For more information on the Harrisburg Stampede, their remaining schedule, and tickets please visit www.HarrisburgStampede.com.
In an effort to spark a struggling offense Stampede General Manager and Head Coach Bernie Nowotarski injected defensive back Richard Johnson into the starting line-up at quarterback.
Johnson had early success as he led the Stampede to a scoring drive on their first possession of the game; capped off with a Eugene Goodman 11-yard touchdown run. Following a J.R. Cipra extra point and uno on the ensuing kickoff the Stampede led 8-7; their first lead in ten quarters of play.
The Harrisburg Stampede lead was short lived, however, as the Steel reeled off three straight scores as E.J. Nemeth connected with Oderick Turner on a 19-yards pass, Craig Camay booted a 32-yard field goal, and then Nemeth hit Dan Huff for a 14-yard touchdown. After the scoring burst Trenton held a 23-8 lead.
Nowotarski then turned to Coles, who on his second drive of the day found Collis Martin open on a pattern across the middle of the field for a 26-yard point producer. Following a Cipra PAT the score stood at 23-15 with just 24 seconds left in the second quarter.
Harrisburg received the kickoff to start the second half and promptly marched down the field. Coles again found Martin and watched the team's leading receiver score his tenth touchdown of the year. The Stampede appeared to have renewed enthusiasm as the Trenton lead was cut to one, 23-22, following Cipra's extra point.
A Nemeth one-yard touchdown run boosted Trenton's lead to eight and following a kickoff recovery by the Trenton special teams Nemeth again found Turner for a score and Trenton's margin was extended to 37-22.
The Stampede continued to hang touch as Coles finished off the next drive with a one-yard touchdown run and a Cipra extra point/uno combo pulled the Stampede to within 37-30 with 4:16 left in the third. Cipra's uno pinned the Steel back on their own five, but on their first play from scrimmage Nemeth provided some breathing room for Trenton as he zipped a pass over the Stampede defense for a 26-yard gain to Turner.
After a Harrisburg personal foul gave the Steel a first and goal the Stampede defense held off Nemeth and the Trenton offense and the Steel were forced into a field goal attempt, which Camay proved good on, and the Steel held a 40-30 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Both offenses saved their best for last as they combined for 36 fourth quarter points. Trenton struck first as Nemeth notched his fourth TD pass of the game, a 16-yarder to Najah Pruden and the Steel lead grew to 17 at 47-30.
The Stampede then scored quickly finishing off a four-play 31-drive with a Coles to Takory Burkett scoring strike and the Stampede was within ten at 47-37.
The game of cat and mouse continued as Nemeth again found Turner for seven points and the Steel now held a 54-37 margin with just five minutes left to play.
With the clock now its enemy the Stampede did post a score as Coles teamed with Terry Jackson on a touchdown reception and Coles rumbled in for a two-point conversion, but the drive took 3:54 for Harrisburg to pull within 54-45.
Only 1:06 showed on the clock as Nemeth began the Steel's final scoring drive of the game. Nemeth for the third time on the night cashed in with a one-yard touchdown run and with just three seconds remaining in the contest the Steel recorded the final points in their 61-45 victory.
Coles led the Stampede with 219 yards of total offense on 204 yards of passing and 15 rushing yards. He totaled four touchdown passes and one touchdown run and was 17 of 30 passing with no interceptions.
Coles hit five targets as Collis Martin had nine receptions, including two for scores, and 87 receiving yards. Takory Burkett pulled in three passes for 43 yards and a score, while John Sharbaugh had three receptions for 15 yards, Eugene Goodman had two receptions for 36 yards, and Terry Jackson added two grabs for 35 yards in a score. Goodman also had one rushing touchdown.
Defensively, Jermaine Thaxton (5), Fearon Wright (4.5), Jamaal Stokes (3), and Nick Watkins (3) led the Stampede in tackles. Alfred Dubose recorded the only Stampede sack of Nemeth. For the first time all season the Stampede did not commit a turnover.
The Stampede now continues its two game home stand with a game against the Erie Explosion (5-1) on Saturday, April 30th at 7:30 PM at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex Equine Arena.
For more information on the Harrisburg Stampede, their remaining schedule, and tickets please visit www.HarrisburgStampede.com.