Post by AZ Adrenaline Junkie on Jun 29, 2008 3:07:59 GMT -5
Arizona shares division crown
Special to the Courier
Saturday, June 28, 2008
The Daily Courier/
Matt Hinshaw
PRESCOTT VALLEY - Depending on which sides of the fence you stand, Saturday's Adrenaline-Wyoming contest ranged from a statement game to a preview of this week's playoffs to a game that meant nothing on the overall playoff picture.
But no matter your pleasure, the Adrenaline are co-West Division champs with the once-mighty Cavalry after a resounding 48-30 win in front of about 4,000 fans at Tim's Toyota Center.
And they have mainly the defense to thank for it.
The Adrenaline, who finish the regular season with the same 11-3 mark as Wyoming, played terrific in all facets defensively, picking off four passes, two of them for touchdowns, and keeping constant pressure on inexperienced Cavalry quartertback Jamar Culver. The seldom used Culver was playing in place of starter Matt Strand, whose wife had a baby recently.
The end result was a game that wasn't as close as the final score indicated as the Adrenaline now take a two-game win streak vs. Wyoming into Casper this Friday in the opening week of the AIFA playoffs.
After Chad DeGrenier found Kentrell Williams on a short TD pass early to give the Adrenaline a quick 7-0 lead, the defense took charge.
First it was Sully Beard with a miraculous interception in which he stole the ball from A.J. Street and took it 50 yards for his third interception return of the season.
A Robert Jones 29-yard TD run gave Arizona a 27-8 lead at the half before the defense once again made a big play just seconds into the third quarter.
This time it was defensive back Paitaka Miyahira picking Culver off and scampering 20 yards for the score, as the BYU grad played perhaps his best game in an Adrenaline uniform.
On the night, Miyahira led the team in tackles with 7.5, had a forced fumble, an interception, a touchdown, two extra points and a one-point rougue.
But it was only fitting that the defense put the finishing touches on the big win. With Wyoming gaining some momentum by pulling to within 34-16 early in the fourth, Mr. Reliable, defensive end Fernandez Shaw, showed why he is one of the best players in the AIFA. Shaw, the league's sack leader, recovered a fumble in the end zone to put the finishing touches on the victory. Shaw turned in his 19th sack of the year, while linebacker Chris Whitaker also had seven tackles on the night, while Antar Brame had one interception and Beard two in the impressive victory.
Offensively, there wasn't much to this one as the Adrenaline were playing without star receiver Maurice Bryant (ankle).
In fact, the Adrenaline were outgained 153-130. Robert Jones did rush for 37 yards, seven more than Wyoming's James Jones, who leads the league in virtually every rushing category.
DeGrenier threw a pair of TD passes and Quincy Jackson hauled in 10 for 72 yards.
So now it's on to the playoffs July 4 as the Adrenaline take on a Wyoming team that looked invincible early in the year, but has now dropped three of its last five, two straight overall and two straight to Arizona.
The winner of the July 4 matchup then advances to the Divisional championship game against either Mississippi or Columbus two weeks after, with that winner heading east to meet the East champ in AIFA Championship Bowl II July 26.
Special to the Courier
Saturday, June 28, 2008
The Daily Courier/
Matt Hinshaw
PRESCOTT VALLEY - Depending on which sides of the fence you stand, Saturday's Adrenaline-Wyoming contest ranged from a statement game to a preview of this week's playoffs to a game that meant nothing on the overall playoff picture.
But no matter your pleasure, the Adrenaline are co-West Division champs with the once-mighty Cavalry after a resounding 48-30 win in front of about 4,000 fans at Tim's Toyota Center.
And they have mainly the defense to thank for it.
The Adrenaline, who finish the regular season with the same 11-3 mark as Wyoming, played terrific in all facets defensively, picking off four passes, two of them for touchdowns, and keeping constant pressure on inexperienced Cavalry quartertback Jamar Culver. The seldom used Culver was playing in place of starter Matt Strand, whose wife had a baby recently.
The end result was a game that wasn't as close as the final score indicated as the Adrenaline now take a two-game win streak vs. Wyoming into Casper this Friday in the opening week of the AIFA playoffs.
After Chad DeGrenier found Kentrell Williams on a short TD pass early to give the Adrenaline a quick 7-0 lead, the defense took charge.
First it was Sully Beard with a miraculous interception in which he stole the ball from A.J. Street and took it 50 yards for his third interception return of the season.
A Robert Jones 29-yard TD run gave Arizona a 27-8 lead at the half before the defense once again made a big play just seconds into the third quarter.
This time it was defensive back Paitaka Miyahira picking Culver off and scampering 20 yards for the score, as the BYU grad played perhaps his best game in an Adrenaline uniform.
On the night, Miyahira led the team in tackles with 7.5, had a forced fumble, an interception, a touchdown, two extra points and a one-point rougue.
But it was only fitting that the defense put the finishing touches on the big win. With Wyoming gaining some momentum by pulling to within 34-16 early in the fourth, Mr. Reliable, defensive end Fernandez Shaw, showed why he is one of the best players in the AIFA. Shaw, the league's sack leader, recovered a fumble in the end zone to put the finishing touches on the victory. Shaw turned in his 19th sack of the year, while linebacker Chris Whitaker also had seven tackles on the night, while Antar Brame had one interception and Beard two in the impressive victory.
Offensively, there wasn't much to this one as the Adrenaline were playing without star receiver Maurice Bryant (ankle).
In fact, the Adrenaline were outgained 153-130. Robert Jones did rush for 37 yards, seven more than Wyoming's James Jones, who leads the league in virtually every rushing category.
DeGrenier threw a pair of TD passes and Quincy Jackson hauled in 10 for 72 yards.
So now it's on to the playoffs July 4 as the Adrenaline take on a Wyoming team that looked invincible early in the year, but has now dropped three of its last five, two straight overall and two straight to Arizona.
The winner of the July 4 matchup then advances to the Divisional championship game against either Mississippi or Columbus two weeks after, with that winner heading east to meet the East champ in AIFA Championship Bowl II July 26.
