Post by cavfan on Apr 25, 2010 21:55:38 GMT -5
WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee Valley Venom were looking for retribution against the undefeated Wyoming Cavalry Saturday night.
They didn’t get it.
A month removed from an overtime loss to the two-time defending Western Conference champions, Wenatchee Valley couldn’t get its offense on track or contain Wyoming’s air attack in a 68-28 loss at Town Toyota Center in front of a paid attendance of 2,696.
The loss drops the Venom to 2-3 in AIFA play.
“It’s disappointing,” Wenatchee Valley coach Keith Evans said. “With a team like Wyoming, you have to make it harder on them than this.”
“I think Wenatchee had an off-night, and we came out focused,” Wyoming coach Dan Maciejczak said.
The Venom stood up to the Cavalry early on, and trailed by just six points after the first quarter.
The second quarter was a different story, however.
Wyoming found the end zone four times in the second frame, including three times in the final two minutes of the half, to take a 34-0 lead and put the game nearly out of reach by halftime.
Wenatchee Valley did itself no favors, throwing three interceptions inside the red zone in the first half.
“We were shooting ourselves in the foot,” Evans said. “We’re in the red zone, and we’re giving them the ball. ... The quarterbacks have to read better.”
Venom quarterbacks Ronnie Simpson and Neal Sharma were pressured regularly by the Cavalry, who had little trouble pushing around Wenatchee Valley’s offensive line.
Starter Simpson was sacked four times, and passed just 12-for-31 for 157 yards against Wyoming’s defense.
“The O-line played pretty poorly,” Evans said. “They gotta be able to block for us.”
“Our D-line has been playing well since we played Wenatchee the first time,” Maciejczak said. “We weren’t necessarily getting sacks, but we were close.”
The same could not be said for the Venom’s defense.
Wyoming quarterback Matt Strand had time to work in the pocket, and as a result racked up 266 yards and six scores on 18-for-24 passing.
“If you let (Strand) sit back there with no pressure, it makes it a tough night,” Evans said. “The defense is still having problems getting (offenses) off the field.”
Wenatchee Valley, which was without leading receiver Maurice Bryant (pulled hamstring), didn’t get onto the board until midway through the third quarter when Jonathan Ligons hauled in a two-yard strike from Simpson.
Phil Goodman caught touchdown passes of 10 and 19 yards from Simpson later in the half, and Simpson added a rushing score.
Goodman led the team with 90 yards receiving on six catches.
Wenatchee Valley, which led the league in rushing yards per game entering Saturday’s contest, was limited to just nine yards on the ground.
Jasonus Tillery had 92 yards and three touchdowns receiving on six catches, and he also caught a pair of two-point conversions to lead the Cavalry.
B.J. Charlton caught five catches for 83 yards and two scores, and he added a two-point conversion reception for Wyoming.
Wenatchee Valley hits the road next Saturday to take on the San Jose Wolves (4-1), the second-place team in the Western Conference.
Brent Stecker: 661-5222
They didn’t get it.
A month removed from an overtime loss to the two-time defending Western Conference champions, Wenatchee Valley couldn’t get its offense on track or contain Wyoming’s air attack in a 68-28 loss at Town Toyota Center in front of a paid attendance of 2,696.
The loss drops the Venom to 2-3 in AIFA play.
“It’s disappointing,” Wenatchee Valley coach Keith Evans said. “With a team like Wyoming, you have to make it harder on them than this.”
“I think Wenatchee had an off-night, and we came out focused,” Wyoming coach Dan Maciejczak said.
The Venom stood up to the Cavalry early on, and trailed by just six points after the first quarter.
The second quarter was a different story, however.
Wyoming found the end zone four times in the second frame, including three times in the final two minutes of the half, to take a 34-0 lead and put the game nearly out of reach by halftime.
Wenatchee Valley did itself no favors, throwing three interceptions inside the red zone in the first half.
“We were shooting ourselves in the foot,” Evans said. “We’re in the red zone, and we’re giving them the ball. ... The quarterbacks have to read better.”
Venom quarterbacks Ronnie Simpson and Neal Sharma were pressured regularly by the Cavalry, who had little trouble pushing around Wenatchee Valley’s offensive line.
Starter Simpson was sacked four times, and passed just 12-for-31 for 157 yards against Wyoming’s defense.
“The O-line played pretty poorly,” Evans said. “They gotta be able to block for us.”
“Our D-line has been playing well since we played Wenatchee the first time,” Maciejczak said. “We weren’t necessarily getting sacks, but we were close.”
The same could not be said for the Venom’s defense.
Wyoming quarterback Matt Strand had time to work in the pocket, and as a result racked up 266 yards and six scores on 18-for-24 passing.
“If you let (Strand) sit back there with no pressure, it makes it a tough night,” Evans said. “The defense is still having problems getting (offenses) off the field.”
Wenatchee Valley, which was without leading receiver Maurice Bryant (pulled hamstring), didn’t get onto the board until midway through the third quarter when Jonathan Ligons hauled in a two-yard strike from Simpson.
Phil Goodman caught touchdown passes of 10 and 19 yards from Simpson later in the half, and Simpson added a rushing score.
Goodman led the team with 90 yards receiving on six catches.
Wenatchee Valley, which led the league in rushing yards per game entering Saturday’s contest, was limited to just nine yards on the ground.
Jasonus Tillery had 92 yards and three touchdowns receiving on six catches, and he also caught a pair of two-point conversions to lead the Cavalry.
B.J. Charlton caught five catches for 83 yards and two scores, and he added a two-point conversion reception for Wyoming.
Wenatchee Valley hits the road next Saturday to take on the San Jose Wolves (4-1), the second-place team in the Western Conference.
Brent Stecker: 661-5222