Post by 50yardfan on Apr 20, 2011 22:36:52 GMT -5
When the clock finally read :00, the Huntington Hammer were in shock. They were upset, they were disappointed, and they were stunned. Just seconds before, it looked as though the Hammer were going to pull out another close one on the road and get the first win for new Head Coach Michael Owens. As it ended, the Johnstown Generals had found a way to win, 33-32. With thirteen seconds to play, Johnstown lined up for a game winning field goal on fourth down. The air was heavy and the arena was quiet after the attempt was blocked by a leaping Jerett Sanderson for the Hammer… and then the yellow flag came floating to earth. After a lengthy discussion in the nearly silent arena, the officials announced that Huntington rushers had “roughed the holder” and that Johnstown would be allowed another attempt after the yardage was marked off. This time, there was no leaping defender that was able to get a hand on the kick, and it plunged into the net to push the Generals into the lead with just two seconds remaining.
The Hammer jumped out to a 14 point lead, and were moving the ball well most of the game against the Generals. The tide of momentum swung first with the interception and run-back of a Huntington 2-point conversion attempt by Johnstown defender, Matt Speed. The drives were settling into a pattern again and first downs were adding up and the scores were happening, then something totally unforeseen and unfortunate happened. The first ever draft pick in the UIFL, former University of Missouri star, and outstanding player Victor Sesay was injured for the Generals. The obvious pain that Sesay was in and the thought of another players future was enough to have both Huntington and Johnstown players circled around the fallen player in a moment of prayer as they waited for the stretcher to take him from the field. The game had a different feel from that moment on.
Huntington’s quarterback, Martevious Young, finished the night with almost 200 yards passing, going 18-36 with three touchdowns. Receiver Jeff Phillips had 93 yards and a touchdown, LaRoi Johnson added a touchdown catch, Dray Mason had a rushing and a receiving touchdown, and Josh Kaltsas added a score on the ground for the Hammer. Kaltsas also had 2 sacks and 6 tackles on the night and was joined in the sack department by Michael Robinson and Andre’ Portis.
In conversation with Michael Owens, you would see something that is seldom seen from the man that is now the Head Coach of the Huntington Hammer. The normally mild mannered and composed leadership style is still the same, but there is something in his eyes. “One thing about putting the talent together that we have is that these guys are all used to being the leaders on the teams they have played for,” commented Coach Owens. “They are some of the best of the best,” said Owens. “Our guys are great,” he continued, “they just need to trust in the Coaching Staff and the quarterback, and just execute. It was the little things that killed us in Johnstown and we have got to stop letting the little things we do turn the momentum of the game around.”
The Huntington Hammer is on the road this week at Canton to face the Cougars. The next home game for the Hammer is on Saturday, April 30th at 7:00pm at the Big Sandy Arena against the Northern Kentucky River Monsters.
The Hammer jumped out to a 14 point lead, and were moving the ball well most of the game against the Generals. The tide of momentum swung first with the interception and run-back of a Huntington 2-point conversion attempt by Johnstown defender, Matt Speed. The drives were settling into a pattern again and first downs were adding up and the scores were happening, then something totally unforeseen and unfortunate happened. The first ever draft pick in the UIFL, former University of Missouri star, and outstanding player Victor Sesay was injured for the Generals. The obvious pain that Sesay was in and the thought of another players future was enough to have both Huntington and Johnstown players circled around the fallen player in a moment of prayer as they waited for the stretcher to take him from the field. The game had a different feel from that moment on.
Huntington’s quarterback, Martevious Young, finished the night with almost 200 yards passing, going 18-36 with three touchdowns. Receiver Jeff Phillips had 93 yards and a touchdown, LaRoi Johnson added a touchdown catch, Dray Mason had a rushing and a receiving touchdown, and Josh Kaltsas added a score on the ground for the Hammer. Kaltsas also had 2 sacks and 6 tackles on the night and was joined in the sack department by Michael Robinson and Andre’ Portis.
In conversation with Michael Owens, you would see something that is seldom seen from the man that is now the Head Coach of the Huntington Hammer. The normally mild mannered and composed leadership style is still the same, but there is something in his eyes. “One thing about putting the talent together that we have is that these guys are all used to being the leaders on the teams they have played for,” commented Coach Owens. “They are some of the best of the best,” said Owens. “Our guys are great,” he continued, “they just need to trust in the Coaching Staff and the quarterback, and just execute. It was the little things that killed us in Johnstown and we have got to stop letting the little things we do turn the momentum of the game around.”
The Huntington Hammer is on the road this week at Canton to face the Cougars. The next home game for the Hammer is on Saturday, April 30th at 7:00pm at the Big Sandy Arena against the Northern Kentucky River Monsters.