Post by Free Agent Fan on Mar 17, 2007 11:42:44 GMT -5
Whitfield can't snap Freeze out of funk
BY VICTOR FERNANDES
victor.fernandes@timesnews.com
Published: March 17. 2007 6:00AM
Darmel Whitfield moved his team down the field with ease, just as he did during his playing days at Gannon.
But he never had this much trouble finding the end zone with the Knights.
"We do all the hard work. We've just got to finish it off," Whitfield said, as he recalled the squandered opportunities that cost the Erie Freeze dearly in a 50-35 loss to Reading on Friday night at Tullio Arena.
Whitfield passed for 249 yards and four touchdowns, all to Manny Johnson, and added a 1-yard touchdown run in his first start at quarterback since his Gannon career ended in 2004. He began the game by tossing a 37-yard scoring pass to Johnson on Erie's first play from scrimmage.
But after the game, Whitfield thought only of the five drives inside Reading's 15-yard line that produced no points. Three of those drives stalled inside the 5-yard line.
"I take that on my shoulders," said Whitfield, who completed 17-of-36 passes with three interceptions. "We should have punched it in every time. It should have been an easy game."
Instead, the Express (4-1) tied Canton atop the AIFA's North Division standings. Meanwhile, Freeze coach Dave Arnold said his 1-4 club likely needs to win its final eight games for a realistic chance to make the playoffs.
"We have to try to run the table," Arnold said, "or we'll have a long season."
But first, Arnold said, "We've got to score in the red zone."
The most critical red-zone failure occurred with 3½ minutes left in the game and the Freeze trailing 37-29. The Freeze stood 14 yards away from a chance to complete a comeback from a 34-14 third-quarter deficit. But pressure forced Whitfield into an incomplete pass on fourth-and-5.
On the next play, Reading quarterback Tom Stetzer threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Shawn Foxworth to regain a 14-point lead. Stetzer finished 25-of-41 for 287 yards and five touchdowns. Reading's Eric Rockhold kicked three field goals, giving him seven in two games against the Freeze this season.
Reading's defense also stopped Whitfield on fourth-and-goal from the 1 with 3:04 left in the second quarter. A touchdown would have tied the score at 21. The Freeze failed on a first-and-goal situation from the 1 in the final minute of the opening half. Defensive lineman Mike Schwebel tripped Freeze running back Shea D'Ambrosio at the 1 on fourth down.
VICTOR FERNANDES can be reached at 870-1716 or by e-mail.
"We have to come away with points in the red zone," Arnold said. "We have to try to make things happen."
BY VICTOR FERNANDES
victor.fernandes@timesnews.com
Published: March 17. 2007 6:00AM
Darmel Whitfield moved his team down the field with ease, just as he did during his playing days at Gannon.
But he never had this much trouble finding the end zone with the Knights.
"We do all the hard work. We've just got to finish it off," Whitfield said, as he recalled the squandered opportunities that cost the Erie Freeze dearly in a 50-35 loss to Reading on Friday night at Tullio Arena.
Whitfield passed for 249 yards and four touchdowns, all to Manny Johnson, and added a 1-yard touchdown run in his first start at quarterback since his Gannon career ended in 2004. He began the game by tossing a 37-yard scoring pass to Johnson on Erie's first play from scrimmage.
But after the game, Whitfield thought only of the five drives inside Reading's 15-yard line that produced no points. Three of those drives stalled inside the 5-yard line.
"I take that on my shoulders," said Whitfield, who completed 17-of-36 passes with three interceptions. "We should have punched it in every time. It should have been an easy game."
Instead, the Express (4-1) tied Canton atop the AIFA's North Division standings. Meanwhile, Freeze coach Dave Arnold said his 1-4 club likely needs to win its final eight games for a realistic chance to make the playoffs.
"We have to try to run the table," Arnold said, "or we'll have a long season."
But first, Arnold said, "We've got to score in the red zone."
The most critical red-zone failure occurred with 3½ minutes left in the game and the Freeze trailing 37-29. The Freeze stood 14 yards away from a chance to complete a comeback from a 34-14 third-quarter deficit. But pressure forced Whitfield into an incomplete pass on fourth-and-5.
On the next play, Reading quarterback Tom Stetzer threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Shawn Foxworth to regain a 14-point lead. Stetzer finished 25-of-41 for 287 yards and five touchdowns. Reading's Eric Rockhold kicked three field goals, giving him seven in two games against the Freeze this season.
Reading's defense also stopped Whitfield on fourth-and-goal from the 1 with 3:04 left in the second quarter. A touchdown would have tied the score at 21. The Freeze failed on a first-and-goal situation from the 1 in the final minute of the opening half. Defensive lineman Mike Schwebel tripped Freeze running back Shea D'Ambrosio at the 1 on fourth down.
VICTOR FERNANDES can be reached at 870-1716 or by e-mail.
"We have to come away with points in the red zone," Arnold said. "We have to try to make things happen."
