Post by 50yardfan on May 1, 2011 15:18:35 GMT -5
HARRISBURG, PA (May 1, 2011) - With the Harrisburg Stampede trailing 40-16 with just over ten minutes remaining in their match-up against the Erie Explosion Saturday night, the Harrisburg faithful would not have been blamed for thinking the Stampede were about to see their seventh loss in a row. New Head Coach Josh Resignalo had a different outcome in mind, however.
"When it was 40-16 I told the guys we have to find a way. The rest of the season is about building this family and getting our pride back. I can lead the family, but it is up to them to follow and restore the pride. We just started chipping away and momentum was building and before you knew it, the 9th man was rocking, the guys were pumped up, and most of all, we believed. I am excited for another great week of practice and to go into battle with this team again next weekend. In indoor football, it's not how you start, but how you finish! ," commented Resignalo.
And finish they did, with a staggering 41-40 comeback win that featured big plays from the offense, defense and special teams.
Defensive back Jamaal Stokes set the tone early for a solid defensive performance under new Defensive Coordinator Archie Smith, with an interception of Erie Quarterback Adam DiMichelle on the Explosion's first drive of the game.
The Stampede then matched three J.R. Cipra field goals against three DiMichelle to Kevin Concepcion touchdown passes for an Erie lead of 20-9 midway through the second period. An Andre' Coles touchdown run followed by a Cipra field goal and uno pulled the Stampede to within 20-16 margin at the half.
Erie then dominated the third period and early in the fourth quarter with a DiMichelle touchdown run and two more touchdown passes, one to Ernest Jackson and one more to Concepcion. With 10:23 left in the game the Explosion held a 40-16 lead. And then the fun started.
After entering the game at quarterback with just seconds to go in the third period, Richard Johnson started his second drive at the helm of the offense following DiMichelle's fourth touchdown pass of the night to Concepcion. This provided Erie with a seemingly insurmountable 24-point lead.
Johnson quickly led the Stampede on a scoring drive capped off with a Johnson to LaRoi Johnson three-yard touchdown pass. Following a failed two point conversion, Cipra connected on the uno to decrease the Erie lead to 40-23.
On Erie's next offensive possession, facing a second and ten from their 22, DiMichelle was sacked and stripped of the ball by Stampede Defensive Lineman Alfred Dubose. Linebacker Jermaine Thaxton then recovered the fumble and rumbled 19 yards to the end zone.
Richard Johnson then lunged to the end zone to add a two-point conversion and another Cipra uno pulled Harrisburg within 40-32 with 4:56 remaining in the game.
Pinned back on their own five following the uno, on a third and ten Dubose again came up big and sacked DiMichelle by pinning him against the end zone wall. Suddenly Harrisburg was within 40-34.
With the Erie kickoff following the safety, Richard Johnson and the Stampede offense took over at their own 20.
After a couple of short gains and a penalty, the Stampede offense remained at their own 20 and faced their biggest play and largest challenge of the season. However, on a fourth and ten Johnson found a wide open Collis Martin on a 30-yard touchdown reception and following the Cipra extra point Harrisburg held its first lead of the game at 41-40 with just 53 seconds remaining in the game.
The Erie offense, which entered the game scoring over 64 points a game, still had one more opportunity to hand the Stampede a defeat. DiMichelle took the field with the Explosion at their own 20. He quickly worked Erie to the Stampede 16 and on first in ten dove to the 14. The Stampede defense then held forcing two straight incompletions.
After Erie called on kicker Carlos Ojeda to attempt the game winner with just five seconds remaining Coach Resignalo called two straight timeouts. With no timeouts left Ojeda then lined up for a 26-yard attempt which sailed wide left, sealing the Stampede's first win of the season and pushing Resignalo to 1-0 as the Stampede leader.
Resignalo noted, "This win was over due for the guys and this organization. I was excited to have shared the moment with them. These players are fighters and I just helped bring that to their attention. They lost the will to fight and now they believe in each other and our family is back. We will enjoy this and then put this W behind us as we prepare for our road trip to Trenton. We still have a few moves to make personnel wise fix a few of the mistakes, but like I said, the Harrisburg Stampede is back!"
Stampede Founder, Co-Owner, and General Manager John Morris commented after a tumultuous week which started with the naming of Resignalo as Head Coach and Smith as Defensive Coordinator and ended with the first Stampede win of the season, "Tonight I'm real proud to see the effort these players put forth, the tremendous leadership of Coach Resignalo, the excellent defensive game called by Archie Smith, and most importantly the absolutely electric environment our great Stampede fans brought to the Equine Arena tonight."
Richard Johnson totaled 76 yards and two touchdowns tosses on seven of ten passing. Coles was six of 24 passing for 43 yards. He also led the Stampede in rushing yards, along with Eugene Goodman, with 13 and added a rushing touchdown.
Collis Martin led all Stampede receivers with six receptions and 66 yards and had the go ahead touchdown reception. In his first game with the Stampede LaRoi Johnson totaled two receptions for 15 yards and a score. Eugene Goodman totaled 57 all-purpose yards.
In addition to leading the Stampede offense to two fourth quarter scoring drives, Richard Johnson also topped the defense with five tackles. Jermaine Thaxton tallied four tackles and had the key fumble recovery and touchdown. Cory Groover had one sack and one forced fumble.
Jamaal Stokes and Derek Patterson also played lockdown defense throughout the fourth quarter from their defensive back positions.
Alfred Dubose had perhaps his finest game in a Harrisburg uniform with two tackles, two tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two sacks, and the safety which netted the two key points late in the game.
J.R. Cipra also has his best effort as a member of the Harrisburg Herd accounting for 13 points with three field goals, three unos, and one PAT.
For more information on the Harrisburg Stampede, their remaining schedule, and tickets please visit www.HarrisburgStampede.com.
"When it was 40-16 I told the guys we have to find a way. The rest of the season is about building this family and getting our pride back. I can lead the family, but it is up to them to follow and restore the pride. We just started chipping away and momentum was building and before you knew it, the 9th man was rocking, the guys were pumped up, and most of all, we believed. I am excited for another great week of practice and to go into battle with this team again next weekend. In indoor football, it's not how you start, but how you finish! ," commented Resignalo.
And finish they did, with a staggering 41-40 comeback win that featured big plays from the offense, defense and special teams.
Defensive back Jamaal Stokes set the tone early for a solid defensive performance under new Defensive Coordinator Archie Smith, with an interception of Erie Quarterback Adam DiMichelle on the Explosion's first drive of the game.
The Stampede then matched three J.R. Cipra field goals against three DiMichelle to Kevin Concepcion touchdown passes for an Erie lead of 20-9 midway through the second period. An Andre' Coles touchdown run followed by a Cipra field goal and uno pulled the Stampede to within 20-16 margin at the half.
Erie then dominated the third period and early in the fourth quarter with a DiMichelle touchdown run and two more touchdown passes, one to Ernest Jackson and one more to Concepcion. With 10:23 left in the game the Explosion held a 40-16 lead. And then the fun started.
After entering the game at quarterback with just seconds to go in the third period, Richard Johnson started his second drive at the helm of the offense following DiMichelle's fourth touchdown pass of the night to Concepcion. This provided Erie with a seemingly insurmountable 24-point lead.
Johnson quickly led the Stampede on a scoring drive capped off with a Johnson to LaRoi Johnson three-yard touchdown pass. Following a failed two point conversion, Cipra connected on the uno to decrease the Erie lead to 40-23.
On Erie's next offensive possession, facing a second and ten from their 22, DiMichelle was sacked and stripped of the ball by Stampede Defensive Lineman Alfred Dubose. Linebacker Jermaine Thaxton then recovered the fumble and rumbled 19 yards to the end zone.
Richard Johnson then lunged to the end zone to add a two-point conversion and another Cipra uno pulled Harrisburg within 40-32 with 4:56 remaining in the game.
Pinned back on their own five following the uno, on a third and ten Dubose again came up big and sacked DiMichelle by pinning him against the end zone wall. Suddenly Harrisburg was within 40-34.
With the Erie kickoff following the safety, Richard Johnson and the Stampede offense took over at their own 20.
After a couple of short gains and a penalty, the Stampede offense remained at their own 20 and faced their biggest play and largest challenge of the season. However, on a fourth and ten Johnson found a wide open Collis Martin on a 30-yard touchdown reception and following the Cipra extra point Harrisburg held its first lead of the game at 41-40 with just 53 seconds remaining in the game.
The Erie offense, which entered the game scoring over 64 points a game, still had one more opportunity to hand the Stampede a defeat. DiMichelle took the field with the Explosion at their own 20. He quickly worked Erie to the Stampede 16 and on first in ten dove to the 14. The Stampede defense then held forcing two straight incompletions.
After Erie called on kicker Carlos Ojeda to attempt the game winner with just five seconds remaining Coach Resignalo called two straight timeouts. With no timeouts left Ojeda then lined up for a 26-yard attempt which sailed wide left, sealing the Stampede's first win of the season and pushing Resignalo to 1-0 as the Stampede leader.
Resignalo noted, "This win was over due for the guys and this organization. I was excited to have shared the moment with them. These players are fighters and I just helped bring that to their attention. They lost the will to fight and now they believe in each other and our family is back. We will enjoy this and then put this W behind us as we prepare for our road trip to Trenton. We still have a few moves to make personnel wise fix a few of the mistakes, but like I said, the Harrisburg Stampede is back!"
Stampede Founder, Co-Owner, and General Manager John Morris commented after a tumultuous week which started with the naming of Resignalo as Head Coach and Smith as Defensive Coordinator and ended with the first Stampede win of the season, "Tonight I'm real proud to see the effort these players put forth, the tremendous leadership of Coach Resignalo, the excellent defensive game called by Archie Smith, and most importantly the absolutely electric environment our great Stampede fans brought to the Equine Arena tonight."
Richard Johnson totaled 76 yards and two touchdowns tosses on seven of ten passing. Coles was six of 24 passing for 43 yards. He also led the Stampede in rushing yards, along with Eugene Goodman, with 13 and added a rushing touchdown.
Collis Martin led all Stampede receivers with six receptions and 66 yards and had the go ahead touchdown reception. In his first game with the Stampede LaRoi Johnson totaled two receptions for 15 yards and a score. Eugene Goodman totaled 57 all-purpose yards.
In addition to leading the Stampede offense to two fourth quarter scoring drives, Richard Johnson also topped the defense with five tackles. Jermaine Thaxton tallied four tackles and had the key fumble recovery and touchdown. Cory Groover had one sack and one forced fumble.
Jamaal Stokes and Derek Patterson also played lockdown defense throughout the fourth quarter from their defensive back positions.
Alfred Dubose had perhaps his finest game in a Harrisburg uniform with two tackles, two tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two sacks, and the safety which netted the two key points late in the game.
J.R. Cipra also has his best effort as a member of the Harrisburg Herd accounting for 13 points with three field goals, three unos, and one PAT.
For more information on the Harrisburg Stampede, their remaining schedule, and tickets please visit www.HarrisburgStampede.com.