Post by Free Agent Fan on Apr 8, 2007 16:23:29 GMT -5
Missed kick, penalty haunt Freeze
Huntington hands Erie 6th consecutive loss
BY MIKE COPPER
mike.copper@timesnews.com
Published: April 08. 2007 6:00AM
J.R. Cipra looked like he’d rejoice in his return to the Erie Freeze.
Cipra, the team’s original kicker, was traded back to the Freeze last week in a deal that sent disgruntled linebacker Roosevelt Benjamin to Canton. In his first game for Erie since May, he made three field goals, a rouge and 4-of-5 extra points against the Huntington Heroes on Saturday night.
But Cipra’s only missed kick ruined the homecoming. That and a penalty to Erie’s defense in the fourth quarter were the critical reasons the Heroes won 45-44 before 3,100 at Tullio Arena.
It was the sixth straight loss for the Freeze (1-7), who were all but eliminated from making the American Indoor Football Association playoffs for the first time.
“Little things make a big difference,” Freeze coach Dave Arnold said, “and the little things cost us. I’m very disappointed and I told that to them in the locker room.”
Huntington (4-4) has yet to win or lose twice in a row all season, but the Heroes remained in contention for a playoff berth in the AIFA’s Northern Division. The Heroes will host the Freeze on Friday, a day later than originally scheduled.
Erie trailed most of the game but looked like it would tie the score at 38-all when Josh Liddell caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Randall Secky with 8 minutes, 58 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Cipra, though, hit the right upright on the extra point.
“This one’s on me,” he said. “The guys told me to keep my head up that it wasn’t my fault we lost, but there’s no reason to miss like that.”
The Heroes answered when wide receiver James Hawkins caught a pass from quarterback Dane Damron along the boards and scored from 13 yards for a 45-37 Huntington lead.
Erie pulled back within a point at 45-44. Manny Johnson made a juggling catch of a Secky pass and scored from 23 yards with 3:44 left.
The Freeze looked like they’d get one more possession and a chance to win.
Huntington had the ball on a fourth down-and-5 play at midfield with 1 minute left. A defensive stop would have given Erie the ball and Cipra a chance to atone for his miss.
Neither happened.
Freeze defensive back Chris Blackshear was called for offsides at the line of scrimmage. The penalty gave Huntington a first down and the Heroes ran out the clock.
“So close, yet so far away,” Arnold said. “It was a lack of concentration and focus and it cost us the game. It’s frustrating because if we’d been able to get the ball back, I think J.R. would have made the difference.”
“We played hard the whole game,” linebacker Dajuan Smith said. “It’s just another mental mistake that cost us the game. It seems like it’s been that way the whole season.”
Arnold praised his linemen and linebackers in their first game minus Benjamin. He felt there was only a minimal drop off in the Freeze’s pass rush of Damron.
“It’s the secondary that has some work to do,” Arnold said.
Erie reached the title game of the former American Indoor Football League during its inaugural season in 2005. Last year, the Freeze lost to Canton in the first round.
Now, Erie must win its last six games just to finish at .500.
“I think I can keep them going,” Arnold said. “I’m very disappointed right now, but we have to find a way to get some wins.”
Huntington hands Erie 6th consecutive loss
BY MIKE COPPER
mike.copper@timesnews.com
Published: April 08. 2007 6:00AM
J.R. Cipra looked like he’d rejoice in his return to the Erie Freeze.
Cipra, the team’s original kicker, was traded back to the Freeze last week in a deal that sent disgruntled linebacker Roosevelt Benjamin to Canton. In his first game for Erie since May, he made three field goals, a rouge and 4-of-5 extra points against the Huntington Heroes on Saturday night.
But Cipra’s only missed kick ruined the homecoming. That and a penalty to Erie’s defense in the fourth quarter were the critical reasons the Heroes won 45-44 before 3,100 at Tullio Arena.
It was the sixth straight loss for the Freeze (1-7), who were all but eliminated from making the American Indoor Football Association playoffs for the first time.
“Little things make a big difference,” Freeze coach Dave Arnold said, “and the little things cost us. I’m very disappointed and I told that to them in the locker room.”
Huntington (4-4) has yet to win or lose twice in a row all season, but the Heroes remained in contention for a playoff berth in the AIFA’s Northern Division. The Heroes will host the Freeze on Friday, a day later than originally scheduled.
Erie trailed most of the game but looked like it would tie the score at 38-all when Josh Liddell caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Randall Secky with 8 minutes, 58 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Cipra, though, hit the right upright on the extra point.
“This one’s on me,” he said. “The guys told me to keep my head up that it wasn’t my fault we lost, but there’s no reason to miss like that.”
The Heroes answered when wide receiver James Hawkins caught a pass from quarterback Dane Damron along the boards and scored from 13 yards for a 45-37 Huntington lead.
Erie pulled back within a point at 45-44. Manny Johnson made a juggling catch of a Secky pass and scored from 23 yards with 3:44 left.
The Freeze looked like they’d get one more possession and a chance to win.
Huntington had the ball on a fourth down-and-5 play at midfield with 1 minute left. A defensive stop would have given Erie the ball and Cipra a chance to atone for his miss.
Neither happened.
Freeze defensive back Chris Blackshear was called for offsides at the line of scrimmage. The penalty gave Huntington a first down and the Heroes ran out the clock.
“So close, yet so far away,” Arnold said. “It was a lack of concentration and focus and it cost us the game. It’s frustrating because if we’d been able to get the ball back, I think J.R. would have made the difference.”
“We played hard the whole game,” linebacker Dajuan Smith said. “It’s just another mental mistake that cost us the game. It seems like it’s been that way the whole season.”
Arnold praised his linemen and linebackers in their first game minus Benjamin. He felt there was only a minimal drop off in the Freeze’s pass rush of Damron.
“It’s the secondary that has some work to do,” Arnold said.
Erie reached the title game of the former American Indoor Football League during its inaugural season in 2005. Last year, the Freeze lost to Canton in the first round.
Now, Erie must win its last six games just to finish at .500.
“I think I can keep them going,” Arnold said. “I’m very disappointed right now, but we have to find a way to get some wins.”
