Post by Free Agent Fan on Mar 5, 2007 13:56:52 GMT -5
Freeze seek hot QB
Whitfield could take over as Erie starter after nearly leading comeback
BY BOB JARZOMSKI
bob.jarzomski@timesnews.com
Published: March 05. 2007 6:00AM
The Erie Freeze’s Shea D’Ambrosio tries to break free from the grasp of the Johnstown Riverhawks’ Chad Kuzemchak during the second quarter Sunday at Tullio Arena. (Janet B. Campbell / Erie Times-News)
Dave Arnold thought two Erie Freeze teams showed up Sunday evening at Tullio Arena. Unfortunately for him, the first team that the coach called an "embarrassment" proved to be too much for the inspired second team to overcome.
The Freeze, presented the chance for a last-minute victory in a game they trailed from the start, fell to the Johnstown Riverhawks 44-42 in an AIFA game in front of 2,700 fans.
The Riverhawks, routed in their last visit to Erie late last season that eliminated them from the playoffs, improved to 2-2, while the Freeze dropped to 1-3.
Rookie quarterback Jarrod Highberger threw six touchdown passes, three to Quenteen Robinson and a pair to Terrance Hudson, with four of those touchdowns coming on runs after the catch mainly because of missed tackles.
On the other side, Erie's rookie QB Randall Secky had a disastrous evening. In the first half. The former University at Buffalo quarterback completed just 7-of-21 throws - however, there were a few drops.
His outing came to a close late in the third quarter when Shawn Williams forced a fumble and ran it 9 yards for a score, and a 37-19 Johnstown lead. Arnold inserted wide receiver Darmel Whitfield, the versatile former Gannon star quarterback, who almost engineered a comeback.
Almost.
Whitfield, who threw three touchdown passes, two to veteran Manny Johnson, was intercepted by Ronnie Montgomery on the Johnstown 7 with 12 seconds remaining.
"I think I'm going to make that switch," Arnold said of Whitfield taking over for the struggling Secky. "He's a playmaker, and can make things happen. Unfortunately at the end, he made a bad decision and tried to force it, and we had timeouts left. But Mel is probably going to be the guy."
Highberger, who played at Division III Carnegie Mellon, took over early in the season and is enjoying the benefits of his elusive receivers.
"I'm a happy guy at quarterback, with receivers that can run and an offensive line that can block," Highberger said. "They're making my transition from the outdoor game to the indoors much easier."
In the first half, the Freeze trailed only 18-12 despite mistakes, penalties, and the ejection of running back Kevin Scott for unsportsmanlike conduct.
"It was embarrassing, especially in the first half," Arnold said. "There were stupid penalties, atrocious tackling, selfish players doing their own thing. In the second half, a different team showed up. If there's a lesson to be learned, it should be by the way we played the second half, with emotion, determination, and guys playing faster."
"It was one of those speeches where, you got to get in shape, get it together, or go home," said rookie linebacker Donald Germany, who forced a safety and recovered a fumble with a minute to go to give the Freeze one last, but missed, opportunity.
BOB JARZOMSKI can be reached at 870-1678 or by e-mail.
Whitfield could take over as Erie starter after nearly leading comeback
BY BOB JARZOMSKI
bob.jarzomski@timesnews.com
Published: March 05. 2007 6:00AM
The Erie Freeze’s Shea D’Ambrosio tries to break free from the grasp of the Johnstown Riverhawks’ Chad Kuzemchak during the second quarter Sunday at Tullio Arena. (Janet B. Campbell / Erie Times-News)
Dave Arnold thought two Erie Freeze teams showed up Sunday evening at Tullio Arena. Unfortunately for him, the first team that the coach called an "embarrassment" proved to be too much for the inspired second team to overcome.
The Freeze, presented the chance for a last-minute victory in a game they trailed from the start, fell to the Johnstown Riverhawks 44-42 in an AIFA game in front of 2,700 fans.
The Riverhawks, routed in their last visit to Erie late last season that eliminated them from the playoffs, improved to 2-2, while the Freeze dropped to 1-3.
Rookie quarterback Jarrod Highberger threw six touchdown passes, three to Quenteen Robinson and a pair to Terrance Hudson, with four of those touchdowns coming on runs after the catch mainly because of missed tackles.
On the other side, Erie's rookie QB Randall Secky had a disastrous evening. In the first half. The former University at Buffalo quarterback completed just 7-of-21 throws - however, there were a few drops.
His outing came to a close late in the third quarter when Shawn Williams forced a fumble and ran it 9 yards for a score, and a 37-19 Johnstown lead. Arnold inserted wide receiver Darmel Whitfield, the versatile former Gannon star quarterback, who almost engineered a comeback.
Almost.
Whitfield, who threw three touchdown passes, two to veteran Manny Johnson, was intercepted by Ronnie Montgomery on the Johnstown 7 with 12 seconds remaining.
"I think I'm going to make that switch," Arnold said of Whitfield taking over for the struggling Secky. "He's a playmaker, and can make things happen. Unfortunately at the end, he made a bad decision and tried to force it, and we had timeouts left. But Mel is probably going to be the guy."
Highberger, who played at Division III Carnegie Mellon, took over early in the season and is enjoying the benefits of his elusive receivers.
"I'm a happy guy at quarterback, with receivers that can run and an offensive line that can block," Highberger said. "They're making my transition from the outdoor game to the indoors much easier."
In the first half, the Freeze trailed only 18-12 despite mistakes, penalties, and the ejection of running back Kevin Scott for unsportsmanlike conduct.
"It was embarrassing, especially in the first half," Arnold said. "There were stupid penalties, atrocious tackling, selfish players doing their own thing. In the second half, a different team showed up. If there's a lesson to be learned, it should be by the way we played the second half, with emotion, determination, and guys playing faster."
"It was one of those speeches where, you got to get in shape, get it together, or go home," said rookie linebacker Donald Germany, who forced a safety and recovered a fumble with a minute to go to give the Freeze one last, but missed, opportunity.
BOB JARZOMSKI can be reached at 870-1678 or by e-mail.