Post by Free Agent Fan on Mar 12, 2007 19:41:06 GMT -5
T'Bolts Put Finish to 12-Game Streak
By MIKE AKINS
Ledger Correspondent
LAKELAND - The Lakeland Thunderbolts halted the defending champion Canton Legends' 12-game winning streak with a come-from-behind 39-36 victory before a crowd of about 1,000 fans at The Lakeland Center on Sunday evening.
The win came from the right foot of kicker Steve Kratz, who nailed a 30-yard field goal as time expired. He made up for two missed field goals in the second quarter.
"This was one of the most exciting games I have ever been a part of ," Bolts coach Teddy Keaton said. "You cannot lose on that kick. If he makes it, you win; if he misses, we go into overtime."
The Legends (3-1) jumped out to a 14-0 lead as Maurice Lee scored on a 6-yard run. He also scored on two two-point conversions, running the same play. Chris Archie also caught a scoring pass.
The Bolts (2-1) finally got on the board when quarterback Aso Pogi hit leading receiver AJ Bennett on a slant in from 20 yards out. It was the first of three scoring tosses between the two. Bennett leads Lakeland in touchdown catches with eight.
Kratz cut the lead to 14-8 as he hit the kickoff between the goal posts for a point. On Canton's next play from scrimmage, quarterback Kevin Mason, who had thrown a league high 16 touchdown passes coming into the game, was intercepted by Lakeland's Larry Thompson at the goal line. He leads Lakeland with five interceptions.
Canton took a double blow on the play as Mason was knocked out of the game with a knee injury, which forced the Legends to go with their backup quarterback, Scott McMullen for the second half.
On the final drive of the contest, quarterback Pogi hit Bennett and Octavious Day with key completions to set up Kratz's winning kick.
By MIKE AKINS
Ledger Correspondent
LAKELAND - The Lakeland Thunderbolts halted the defending champion Canton Legends' 12-game winning streak with a come-from-behind 39-36 victory before a crowd of about 1,000 fans at The Lakeland Center on Sunday evening.
The win came from the right foot of kicker Steve Kratz, who nailed a 30-yard field goal as time expired. He made up for two missed field goals in the second quarter.
"This was one of the most exciting games I have ever been a part of ," Bolts coach Teddy Keaton said. "You cannot lose on that kick. If he makes it, you win; if he misses, we go into overtime."
The Legends (3-1) jumped out to a 14-0 lead as Maurice Lee scored on a 6-yard run. He also scored on two two-point conversions, running the same play. Chris Archie also caught a scoring pass.
The Bolts (2-1) finally got on the board when quarterback Aso Pogi hit leading receiver AJ Bennett on a slant in from 20 yards out. It was the first of three scoring tosses between the two. Bennett leads Lakeland in touchdown catches with eight.
Kratz cut the lead to 14-8 as he hit the kickoff between the goal posts for a point. On Canton's next play from scrimmage, quarterback Kevin Mason, who had thrown a league high 16 touchdown passes coming into the game, was intercepted by Lakeland's Larry Thompson at the goal line. He leads Lakeland with five interceptions.
Canton took a double blow on the play as Mason was knocked out of the game with a knee injury, which forced the Legends to go with their backup quarterback, Scott McMullen for the second half.
On the final drive of the contest, quarterback Pogi hit Bennett and Octavious Day with key completions to set up Kratz's winning kick.
