Post by Gene on Jul 26, 2008 7:59:04 GMT -5
ANGELA E. KERSHNER/MORNING NEWS
The Florence Phantoms celebrate with the trophy Friday night after winning the AIFA championship 48-12 over Wyoming at the Florence Civic Center.
By Shawn Singleton
Published: July 26, 2008
FLORENCE — More than 4,500 fans flocked to the Florence Civic Center Friday night to witness something that seemed unfathomable nine months ago.
Once a team in total disarray, the Florence Phantoms faced Wyoming with not only an American Indoor Football Association title on the line —- but a shot at history as well.
No way were they going to let the fans, or themselves, down with so much on the line. After a season of proving the critics wrong, there was no way were the Phantoms going to lose the one game they worked so hard to get to.
Omar Jacobs threw four touchdown passes and rushed for two more en route to MVP honors as Florence turned AIFA Championship Bowl II into a 48-12 laugher.
“It’s the most awesome feeling in the world,” Florence coach Tavares Bowens said. “The defense played great, the offense played awesome. I am proud of this team.”
“I don’t know what to say. It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Phantoms defensive lineman and former Hannah-Pamplico standout Cory Groover said. “We won the title and we’re finally being recognized for all our hard work.”
After a short kickoff, the Phantoms took the ball near midfield. One play later, Jacobs connected with Reggie Glover on a 25-yard touchdown strike to make it 7-0.
The Cavalry attempted to strike back on their first offensive play. But Larry Thompson intercepted Matt Strand’s pass at the Florence 3-yard line.
Wyoming tried to tie the contest once again on their second possession. Otheese Wells, however, stopped B.J. Charlton short of a first down on a fourth-down gamble to turn the ball over to the Phantoms at the Florence 2.
Florence’s offense took full advantage of the defense’s hard work. Jacobs’ 32-yard pass to Glover gave the Phantoms a first down on the Wyoming 8.
Then, Jacobs called his own number, bowling over Brian Anderson on the way to an 8-yard TD run that gave his team a 14-0 advantage at the 7:29 mark of the first quarter.
“We won nine straight games to get here, but we had to finish,” said Jacobs, who threw for 180 yards and rushed for 66 in the win. “I have to thank my offensive line. They protected me and kept me healthy all season.”
“Omar has those kinds of games week to week, so we knew he could win the MVP trophy,” Florence receiver A.J. Bennett said. “It was nothing new to us.”
Wyoming cracked the scoreboard with an eight-play drive. Strand found Dante Dudley in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard scoring pass. The two-point conversion attempt failed, but the deficit was sliced to 14-6 at 2:32 of the first.
Any momentum Wyoming obtained was quickly erased as C.J. Washington’s 42-yard kickoff return set up Jonathan Wedlock’s 2-yard scoring run to make it 21-6 with 38 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Phantoms utilized some trickery on the ensuing kickoff, surprising the Cavalry with an onside kick that Scott easily fell on at the 11-yard line.
“Coach (Bowens) said if we were up two scores, we were going to run (the onside kick),” said Scott, who hit six of his seven PAT’s in the win. “He said he wanted a backbreaker. We wanted to put the final nail in the coffin.”
But Tanner Tetrault snuffed out Florence’s scoring opportunity five plays later with an interception at the Wyoming 12.
More bad luck plagued Wyoming in the second quarter. Thompson’s second interception of the contest set up Jacobs’ second TD run of the contest. Florence led 28-6 at halftime.
Strand finished 13-of-32 for 83 yards, one TD pass and four interceptions. Thompson snagged three of those picks, and Otheese Wells had the other.
“We knew (Strand) liked to keep drifting back in the pocket,” Wells said. “If we stayed in front of the receivers, we knew we could get a good break on the ball.”
“We have excellent defensive backs that have taught me the game,” defensive backs coach Lamont Ransby said. “Most of the quarterbacks in this league can’t read defenses. They hadn’t had a chance to read our zones.”
The Phantoms built a commanding lead in the third quarter on its way to making history. Jacobs threw scoring passes to Glover and Bennett, and Washington added a TD run to give Florence a 48-6 advantage after three quarters.
www.scnow.com/scp/sports/minors/minors_football/article/phantoms_claim_aifa_championship/11552/
