Post by lionsroar on Apr 26, 2009 6:45:44 GMT -5
www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090426/SPORTS07/904260317/1002/SPORTS
Force hold on to deliver 1st home triumph
Home is where the heart is, and the South Carolina Force showed its heart on Saturday night at the Bi-Lo Center.
The Force held off the Carolina Speed 37-27 to earn the franchise's first home victory.
The Force defense protected its home, making two fourth quarter defensive stands inside their own five-yard line.
On the first of those stands, the Force slowed the Speed on two runs from the one-yard line.
That set up a 49-yard touchdown pass from Force quarterback Andrew Webb to Willie Idette.
The second stand came with less than one minute to play.
Holding on to the 10-point lead, the Force allowed the Speed to drive to the five-yard line, but the Force swatted away two passes from former Clemson quarterback Tribble Reese. The possession ended in a missed field goal, allowed the Force to burn the clock.
"This is so great, especially for the fans that came back and supported us after two home losses in a row," Force linebacker Roy Ravenell said of the 2,240 fans who were at the Bi-Lo Center on Saturday. "We had to come out and fight hard for the fans. We gave up 63 points at home last time. We couldn't let that happen again."
The Speed's 27 points are the fewest the Force have allowed this season.
The Force improved its record to 3-3.
The Speed opened the game with an uno, but the Force answered with a touchdown drive, which Webb capped with a 16-yard stripe to Isaac West.
The Speed chipped away at the margin with a field goal three possessions later, but the Force added another quick touchdown to extend the lead to 14-4 by the end of the first quarter.
However, the Force squandered that lead in the second, as Reese led a pair of touchdown drives.
He rushed for a four-yard touchdown with 9:04 left in the half.
The Speed intercepted Webb on the next play from scrimmage. Two plays later, Reese fired a 31-yard touchdown pass, giving the Speed its first lead at 17-14.
Webb reclaimed the lead with an 11-yard TD pass to Idette, and the Force held a 20-17 advantage at halftime.
Webb's first pass of the second half was a 45-yard touchdown to Octavius Love.
The teams traded field goals, yielding a 31-21 Force lead after three.
On the first play of the fourth, Reese connected with Josh Smith for a 23-yard touchdown.
Webb threw his second interception on the next possession, but that set up the defense's first stand.
Webb finished 13-of-25 with 209 yards, four touchdowns and a big thank you to his defense.
"They bailed us out so many times," Webb said. "I made some bad decisions and put the defense in some tough situations, but they came to play. They just made play after play. They are the reason we won this game no doubt."
:smileyforce:
Force hold on to deliver 1st home triumph
Home is where the heart is, and the South Carolina Force showed its heart on Saturday night at the Bi-Lo Center.
The Force held off the Carolina Speed 37-27 to earn the franchise's first home victory.
The Force defense protected its home, making two fourth quarter defensive stands inside their own five-yard line.
On the first of those stands, the Force slowed the Speed on two runs from the one-yard line.
That set up a 49-yard touchdown pass from Force quarterback Andrew Webb to Willie Idette.
The second stand came with less than one minute to play.
Holding on to the 10-point lead, the Force allowed the Speed to drive to the five-yard line, but the Force swatted away two passes from former Clemson quarterback Tribble Reese. The possession ended in a missed field goal, allowed the Force to burn the clock.
"This is so great, especially for the fans that came back and supported us after two home losses in a row," Force linebacker Roy Ravenell said of the 2,240 fans who were at the Bi-Lo Center on Saturday. "We had to come out and fight hard for the fans. We gave up 63 points at home last time. We couldn't let that happen again."
The Speed's 27 points are the fewest the Force have allowed this season.
The Force improved its record to 3-3.
The Speed opened the game with an uno, but the Force answered with a touchdown drive, which Webb capped with a 16-yard stripe to Isaac West.
The Speed chipped away at the margin with a field goal three possessions later, but the Force added another quick touchdown to extend the lead to 14-4 by the end of the first quarter.
However, the Force squandered that lead in the second, as Reese led a pair of touchdown drives.
He rushed for a four-yard touchdown with 9:04 left in the half.
The Speed intercepted Webb on the next play from scrimmage. Two plays later, Reese fired a 31-yard touchdown pass, giving the Speed its first lead at 17-14.
Webb reclaimed the lead with an 11-yard TD pass to Idette, and the Force held a 20-17 advantage at halftime.
Webb's first pass of the second half was a 45-yard touchdown to Octavius Love.
The teams traded field goals, yielding a 31-21 Force lead after three.
On the first play of the fourth, Reese connected with Josh Smith for a 23-yard touchdown.
Webb threw his second interception on the next possession, but that set up the defense's first stand.
Webb finished 13-of-25 with 209 yards, four touchdowns and a big thank you to his defense.
"They bailed us out so many times," Webb said. "I made some bad decisions and put the defense in some tough situations, but they came to play. They just made play after play. They are the reason we won this game no doubt."
:smileyforce:
