Post by Catfish on Mar 18, 2007 7:59:05 GMT -5
UPDATE: MudCats improve to 6-0 with rout of Florence
3/18/2007 3:16:53 AM
Daily Journal
By John L. Pitts
Daily Journal
TUPELO – The Mississippi MudCats improved to 6-0 in easy fashion with Saturday night’s 63-14 victory against the Florence (S.C.) Phantoms.
It’s the most lopsided win for the first-year squad, which has played five of its games at home.
Mississippi quarterback Tommy Jones passed for five touchdowns, three to new acquisition Joel Babb, and former Ole Miss standout Travis Johnson of Shannon intercepted three passes, returning one for a touchdown.
The game was the first of a two-game homestand for the MudCats, who’ll be home next Saturday night against Baltimore.
Florence (1-3), which changed head coaches at midweek, actually led 6-0 after the game’s first play from scrimmage, a 15-yard pass from Oscar Davenport to David Smith.
Then, the BancorpSouth Arena roof fell in on the visitors, who would find themselves trailing 42-6 by halftime.
Jones and Babb – teammates last year for the Odessa Roughnecks of the Intense Football League – hooked up for a 9-yard scoring play on the MudCats’ first possession.
Florence misfired on a fourth-down conversion try on its next series and the rout was on.
Jones flipped a short pass to Rico McDonald that turned into a 15-yard touchdown, then followed with scoring passes to Darryl Carter (5) and Babb (12) to make it 28-6 early in the second quarter.
Any thoughts of a Florence comeback evaporated on the next series. The Phantoms drove to the home team’s 11 but faced a fourth-and-6 play.
Davenport tested the end zone – but instead found MudCats’ defensive back Johnson, who streaked 49 yards for a touchdown and gave the home team a 35-6 advantage.
Jones found Babb again just before halftime with a 4-yard TD pass to extend the home team’s lead to 36 points.
Jones completed 10-of-12 passes for 125 yards and five touchdowns in the first half, then got to watch the second half from the bench.
With the victory assured at intermission, MudCats coach Brian Brents turned to backup quarterback Bart Gloyd, who saw his first significant action of the season. Gloyd’s first pass was a 30-yard touchdown strike to Carter that made it 48-6.
Those in the estimated crowd of 4,000 who struck around saw MudCats linebacker Stephen Hotle pick off his team’s fifth interception of the night, then score on a 5-yard run from fullback two plays later to make it 55-8.
Gloyd connected late with Howard Gilmore for the game’s final score.
Gilmore led the winners with six catches for 95 yards. Gloyd went 5-for-9 for 66 yards and two TDs.
MudCats kicker John Michael Marlin (Tupelo, Mississippi State) made all eight of his point-after attempts. Gloyd made the night's final PAT.
Former Oakland Raiders receiver Mike Siani lost in his coaching debut for Florence. He replaced Charlie Brown, the former Washington Redskins receiver, who quit at midweek in a dispute about his pay.
3/18/2007 3:16:53 AM
Daily Journal
By John L. Pitts
Daily Journal
TUPELO – The Mississippi MudCats improved to 6-0 in easy fashion with Saturday night’s 63-14 victory against the Florence (S.C.) Phantoms.
It’s the most lopsided win for the first-year squad, which has played five of its games at home.
Mississippi quarterback Tommy Jones passed for five touchdowns, three to new acquisition Joel Babb, and former Ole Miss standout Travis Johnson of Shannon intercepted three passes, returning one for a touchdown.
The game was the first of a two-game homestand for the MudCats, who’ll be home next Saturday night against Baltimore.
Florence (1-3), which changed head coaches at midweek, actually led 6-0 after the game’s first play from scrimmage, a 15-yard pass from Oscar Davenport to David Smith.
Then, the BancorpSouth Arena roof fell in on the visitors, who would find themselves trailing 42-6 by halftime.
Jones and Babb – teammates last year for the Odessa Roughnecks of the Intense Football League – hooked up for a 9-yard scoring play on the MudCats’ first possession.
Florence misfired on a fourth-down conversion try on its next series and the rout was on.
Jones flipped a short pass to Rico McDonald that turned into a 15-yard touchdown, then followed with scoring passes to Darryl Carter (5) and Babb (12) to make it 28-6 early in the second quarter.
Any thoughts of a Florence comeback evaporated on the next series. The Phantoms drove to the home team’s 11 but faced a fourth-and-6 play.
Davenport tested the end zone – but instead found MudCats’ defensive back Johnson, who streaked 49 yards for a touchdown and gave the home team a 35-6 advantage.
Jones found Babb again just before halftime with a 4-yard TD pass to extend the home team’s lead to 36 points.
Jones completed 10-of-12 passes for 125 yards and five touchdowns in the first half, then got to watch the second half from the bench.
With the victory assured at intermission, MudCats coach Brian Brents turned to backup quarterback Bart Gloyd, who saw his first significant action of the season. Gloyd’s first pass was a 30-yard touchdown strike to Carter that made it 48-6.
Those in the estimated crowd of 4,000 who struck around saw MudCats linebacker Stephen Hotle pick off his team’s fifth interception of the night, then score on a 5-yard run from fullback two plays later to make it 55-8.
Gloyd connected late with Howard Gilmore for the game’s final score.
Gilmore led the winners with six catches for 95 yards. Gloyd went 5-for-9 for 66 yards and two TDs.
MudCats kicker John Michael Marlin (Tupelo, Mississippi State) made all eight of his point-after attempts. Gloyd made the night's final PAT.
Former Oakland Raiders receiver Mike Siani lost in his coaching debut for Florence. He replaced Charlie Brown, the former Washington Redskins receiver, who quit at midweek in a dispute about his pay.
