Post by rkb on Mar 23, 2008 9:39:22 GMT -5
www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=270239&pub=1&div=Sports
MudCats roll in opener
3/23/2008 6:51:54 AM
Daily Journal
BY JOHN L. PITTS
Daily Journal
TUPELO - The Fayetteville Guard was rudely welcomed to its new indoor pro football league Saturday night.
The second-year Mississippi MudCats remained unbeaten on their home turf with a 82-34 victory before a crowd of 2,400-plus at the BancorpSouth Arena.
The MudCats went 12-4, including nine home wins, to reach the American Indoor Football Association's semifinals a year ago.
MudCats quarterback Tommy Jones, an indoor football veteran who has thrown 100 touchdowns in each of the past two seasons, threw seven touchdown passes against a Fayetteville defense that returned several players from last season. Three (46, 4, 5 yards) went to indoor football veteran Darryl Carter and three (15, 7, 10) to a former ICC player, Lemans Casimier.
The MudCats registered three safeties in the win, two on quarterback sacks. And new kicker Trey Crum kicked two field goals, three one-point Uno kicks and even made a touchdown-saving tackle on special teams.
"It's a good start," said MudCats head coach Brian Brents. "I was impressed with the way we came out of the gate and made some big plays. We almost had a shutout in the first half, and Josh Smith and the return game put us in great field position all night."
The Guard's offense sputtered until scoring on a 35-yard pass on the final play of the first half.
"This will be a wakeup call for us," said Guard quarterback Jasun Thompson, who was able to guide the Guard to four second-half touchdowns after the team fell behind 39-8 at halftime.
"It's been a long time since them has lost. We'll be able to go home and evaluate what we need to do to get better."
Late in the game, 40-year-old Guard backup quarterback Earl Harvey got into the game, throwing three incompletions and getting sacked on the final play.
The loss was the first for Fayetteville since a 59-44 defeat against Billings in the July 2006 Indoor Bowl VI.
The MudCats are home again next Saturday night against the Florida Stingrays. The MudCats will visit Fayetteville on June 28 in the regular-season finale for both teams.
MudCats roll in opener
3/23/2008 6:51:54 AM
Daily Journal
BY JOHN L. PITTS
Daily Journal
TUPELO - The Fayetteville Guard was rudely welcomed to its new indoor pro football league Saturday night.
The second-year Mississippi MudCats remained unbeaten on their home turf with a 82-34 victory before a crowd of 2,400-plus at the BancorpSouth Arena.
The MudCats went 12-4, including nine home wins, to reach the American Indoor Football Association's semifinals a year ago.
MudCats quarterback Tommy Jones, an indoor football veteran who has thrown 100 touchdowns in each of the past two seasons, threw seven touchdown passes against a Fayetteville defense that returned several players from last season. Three (46, 4, 5 yards) went to indoor football veteran Darryl Carter and three (15, 7, 10) to a former ICC player, Lemans Casimier.
The MudCats registered three safeties in the win, two on quarterback sacks. And new kicker Trey Crum kicked two field goals, three one-point Uno kicks and even made a touchdown-saving tackle on special teams.
"It's a good start," said MudCats head coach Brian Brents. "I was impressed with the way we came out of the gate and made some big plays. We almost had a shutout in the first half, and Josh Smith and the return game put us in great field position all night."
The Guard's offense sputtered until scoring on a 35-yard pass on the final play of the first half.
"This will be a wakeup call for us," said Guard quarterback Jasun Thompson, who was able to guide the Guard to four second-half touchdowns after the team fell behind 39-8 at halftime.
"It's been a long time since them has lost. We'll be able to go home and evaluate what we need to do to get better."
Late in the game, 40-year-old Guard backup quarterback Earl Harvey got into the game, throwing three incompletions and getting sacked on the final play.
The loss was the first for Fayetteville since a 59-44 defeat against Billings in the July 2006 Indoor Bowl VI.
The MudCats are home again next Saturday night against the Florida Stingrays. The MudCats will visit Fayetteville on June 28 in the regular-season finale for both teams.
