Post by backupqb on Mar 23, 2008 11:32:29 GMT -5
Saturday, March 22, 2008
READING, PA. - The Arizona Adrenaline fell four points, three yards, 12 seconds and - depending on who you talk to - one timeout short Saturday afternoon in front of 3,141 fans at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pa.
The end result was a gut-wrenching 47-43 loss to last year's American Indoor Football Association runner-up Reading Express in a preseason game that included a little bit of everything as Arizona gets set for its season opener one week from today (4 p.m.) against New Mexico at Tim's Toyota Center.
The Adrenaline trailed 36-18 at halftime and 47-31 just 48 seconds into the fourth quarter. But Arizona held Reading's (1-1) high-octane offense to just 11 second half points and pulled to within 47-43 when quarterback Chad DeGrenier found Quincy Jackson on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 6:51 left in the game.
After keeping Reading out of the end zone on its next possession, the Adrenaline promptly marched from their own 10-yard line down to Reading's 10 on a drive that included hookups between DeGrenier and Ty Evans, Maurice Bryant and Kentrell Williams.
The Adrenaline then used what turned out to be their final timeout with 41 seconds remaining, which is where things got confusing. An Evans 7-yard carry took the ball down to Reading's 3 before Evans was then stuffed at the line of scrimmage with about 12 seconds on the clock. The Adrenaline thought they still had one timeout left and tried vehemently to get the clock stopped.
However, the officials ruled that Arizona had used its final timeout at the 41-second mark and the clock ran out, ending a slugfest between what could be two of the AIFA's top teams.
"We did have one (timeout) left," Adrenaline head coach Andrew Moore said. "I think what happened is that when the 1-minute warning was about to hit, Chad started walking toward me, and the refs thought it was a timeout instead of the 1-minute warning. But it really shouldn't have come down to that anyway. We should have won the game. But we're a brand new team and they went to the championship game last year. So it's definitely something to build on."
Reading head coach Bernie Nowotarski saw the timeout controversy differently.
"The refs told me at the time (41-second mark) that they were out of timeouts, and the scoreboard said they had none," Nowotarski said. "I'm really not sure why they thought they had one left. But overall I was very impressed with Arizona. They were down several times, but just kept bouncing back. I thought they had a lot of talent and their coaching staff made some good adjustments at halftime. They should do very well."
The Adrenaline, who never led, won virtually every statistical category, including a 19-8 margin in first downs, 248-143 in passing yards and 260-191 in total yards.
But they certainly didn't help themselves on more than a few occasions. Two of Reading's scores came as the result of fumbles, one by DeGrenier, which put the ball at the Arizona 3 and another after Adrenaline defensive back Andre Bishop jolted the ball out of Reading's Shawn Foxworth's hands, only to see Express receiver Tavis Laws scoop it up in the end zone. Adrenaline placekicker Drew Vezina also missed four extra points on the day.
DeGrenier had a big day passing, completing 23-of-36 for 264 yards and six touchdowns, four of them to the fleet-footed Maurice Bryant, who DeGrenier played with while both were members of the Arizona Rattlers. Bryant hauled in 10 passes for 145 yards on the day, while Kentrell Williams had 7 catches and Jackson 3. Bishop, Antar Brame, Sully Beard and Chris Whitaker were each credited with 3 tackles.
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My only comment on this game.....What the hell is wrong with the Adrenaline Coach....can he not count or see the scoreboard.
Awareness is important for players and coaches alike. He should have known whether he had time outs left or not. Real genius if you ask me.....lol
READING, PA. - The Arizona Adrenaline fell four points, three yards, 12 seconds and - depending on who you talk to - one timeout short Saturday afternoon in front of 3,141 fans at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pa.
The end result was a gut-wrenching 47-43 loss to last year's American Indoor Football Association runner-up Reading Express in a preseason game that included a little bit of everything as Arizona gets set for its season opener one week from today (4 p.m.) against New Mexico at Tim's Toyota Center.
The Adrenaline trailed 36-18 at halftime and 47-31 just 48 seconds into the fourth quarter. But Arizona held Reading's (1-1) high-octane offense to just 11 second half points and pulled to within 47-43 when quarterback Chad DeGrenier found Quincy Jackson on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 6:51 left in the game.
After keeping Reading out of the end zone on its next possession, the Adrenaline promptly marched from their own 10-yard line down to Reading's 10 on a drive that included hookups between DeGrenier and Ty Evans, Maurice Bryant and Kentrell Williams.
The Adrenaline then used what turned out to be their final timeout with 41 seconds remaining, which is where things got confusing. An Evans 7-yard carry took the ball down to Reading's 3 before Evans was then stuffed at the line of scrimmage with about 12 seconds on the clock. The Adrenaline thought they still had one timeout left and tried vehemently to get the clock stopped.
However, the officials ruled that Arizona had used its final timeout at the 41-second mark and the clock ran out, ending a slugfest between what could be two of the AIFA's top teams.
"We did have one (timeout) left," Adrenaline head coach Andrew Moore said. "I think what happened is that when the 1-minute warning was about to hit, Chad started walking toward me, and the refs thought it was a timeout instead of the 1-minute warning. But it really shouldn't have come down to that anyway. We should have won the game. But we're a brand new team and they went to the championship game last year. So it's definitely something to build on."
Reading head coach Bernie Nowotarski saw the timeout controversy differently.
"The refs told me at the time (41-second mark) that they were out of timeouts, and the scoreboard said they had none," Nowotarski said. "I'm really not sure why they thought they had one left. But overall I was very impressed with Arizona. They were down several times, but just kept bouncing back. I thought they had a lot of talent and their coaching staff made some good adjustments at halftime. They should do very well."
The Adrenaline, who never led, won virtually every statistical category, including a 19-8 margin in first downs, 248-143 in passing yards and 260-191 in total yards.
But they certainly didn't help themselves on more than a few occasions. Two of Reading's scores came as the result of fumbles, one by DeGrenier, which put the ball at the Arizona 3 and another after Adrenaline defensive back Andre Bishop jolted the ball out of Reading's Shawn Foxworth's hands, only to see Express receiver Tavis Laws scoop it up in the end zone. Adrenaline placekicker Drew Vezina also missed four extra points on the day.
DeGrenier had a big day passing, completing 23-of-36 for 264 yards and six touchdowns, four of them to the fleet-footed Maurice Bryant, who DeGrenier played with while both were members of the Arizona Rattlers. Bryant hauled in 10 passes for 145 yards on the day, while Kentrell Williams had 7 catches and Jackson 3. Bishop, Antar Brame, Sully Beard and Chris Whitaker were each credited with 3 tackles.
________________________________________
My only comment on this game.....What the hell is wrong with the Adrenaline Coach....can he not count or see the scoreboard.
Awareness is important for players and coaches alike. He should have known whether he had time outs left or not. Real genius if you ask me.....lol
. It is obvious that you don't like the Adrenaline - yet you seem to be a big fan as you post all the time. I am glad that you have time on Easter to follow this great team. Here's to next week's game - which will be a huge victory! 
