Mudcats Win Thriller!

[mississippimudcat1]

The Mudcats made a field goal with 4 seconds left to win the Mississippi-Florence game 40-39. The offense was shaky at first but pulled in out in the second half.

My only complaint is the fight after the game. I would think the Phantoms started it considering they lost a heartbreaker. But from my view (I was on the field about 20 feet from it) I saw players going at it and crutches flying. It was crazy. Everyone had to sprint away from the fight and security guards promtly ran on the field yelling to the fans to get off the field. Many other teams have been very friendly after the game even when they lost. Many of the Pantom players were nice as well, talkin to Mudcat fans. But it looked like to me a few were not so kind and started this mess. I will see if there is anything about it in the paper to see what exactly happened. I dont want them to stop allowing fans on the field. Just tell players to respect the fact that little kids are out there with them.

Great win for the Mudcats.
:smileymudcats: :smileymudcats: :smileymudcats:

[Catfish]

Man, this must be the night for close games! I still can't believe we won. We played as badly as I have ever seen, just enough plays at the right time. I have to give it to Florence, they have a good team, just not good enough.

Go Cats!

[mississippimudcat1]

May 3, 2008 22:43:04 GMT -5 Catfish said:

Man, this must be the night for close games! I still can't believe we won. We played as badly as I have ever seen, just enough plays at the right time. I have to give it to Florence, they have a good team, just not good enough.

Go Cats!

Yeah, and in the second half the crowd really got into the game. Very loud and fun!!!
:smileymudcats: :smileymudcats: :smileymudcats:

[rkb]

www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=272803&pub=1&div=Sports

Another escape for MudCats
5/4/2008 6:50:10 AM
Daily Journal




BY JOHN WILBERT
Daily Journal

TUPELO - The Mississippi MudCats finally met their match on Saturday night in the American Indoor Football Association.

The Florence (S.C). Phantoms gave the MudCats everything they had - and then some after the game - but came out on the losing end of Saturday's contest.

The MudCats remained unbeaten in 14 games at home thanks to a 40-39 victory over the Phantoms (3-4) before an announced crowd of 2,587 at the BancorpSouth Arena.

Trey Crum's leg delivered the winning field goal from 32 yards out as time expired, keeping the MudCats (7-0) undefeated this season.

"It was huge kick," MudCats head coach Briant Brent said. "Trey struggled all night long. He had his head down all night long, but I just kept telling him, Keep your head up, you're going to get a chance to win the ball game'. And tonight he came in here and won it for us."

Shortly afterwards, the MudCats went from celebrating to defending themselves as a little trash talking and taunting all game long erupted into a scuffle at midfield.

"I don't know what was going on," said MudCat receiver Maurice Avery. "I try to stay out of trouble. They (Florence) played a good game and they lost, so they're probably mad."

Florence offensive specialist AJ Bennett, who emerged from the post-game fracas, was heard saying, "I hate cheaters."

Fortunately for the fans, players' and coaches' family, the Phantoms and MudCat players took off to their respective locker rooms, putting an end to the disturbance.

Florence quarterback Omar Jacobs introduced himself to the MudCats by throwing for three touchdowns and rushing for two other scores.

The former Bowling Green State University quarterback who was a 2005 semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, which is given to the best quarterback in college football, burst 21-yards up the middle, untouched, for a touchdown during the game's opening possession.

Jacobs got in a groove throwing the ball in the second quarter, connecting on three touchdown passes, with one being a 40-yard bomb to his former Florida high school teammate, Tres Moses, with 3:02 left in the first half.

Jones couldn't sneak it in from a yard out in two tries with time running out in the first half.

Jones, however, hooked up with roommate Maurice Avery for a 21-yard gain to start the second half. A couple of plays later, the former Indiana University quarterback finally snuck it in for a touchdown on a fourth and one.

Avery, who graduated earlier in the day then returned a missed field goal from five yards deep in his end zone all the way to the Phantoms' 2-yard line.

Jones then found Avery in the end zone for a five-yard touchdown reception. That score brought the MudCats to within three points of the Phantoms, 27-24, with 5:46 left in the third quarter.

"We started off kind of slow," Avery said. "When we were in the locker room at halftime, coach (Brents) and everyone was saying,'Keep your head together,' and we did.

"We came together as a family, as one, and we brought it back out on the field."

The MudCats travel to Columbus, Ga., to play the Lions on Friday night beginning at 6:30.

The Lions and MudCats will resume their home-and-away series on May 17 at the BancorpSouth Arena.

Appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 5/4/2008, section B , page 1