Post by marinersmedia on Jun 14, 2010 16:37:39 GMT -5
Veteran Kickers 47-Yard Field Goal as Time Expires Run Mariners Record to 12-0
ERIE, PA (June 13, 2010) – There are pressure kicks and then there are PRESSURE KICKS. With just four seconds left on the clock, the Baltimore Mariners facing their first loss of the season, and kicking against his former team, the Mariners J.R. Cipra kicked a 47-yard field goal as time expired to provide the Mariners with a 39-37 win over the Erie Storm and extend the Mariners record to 12-0.
“It was amazing. Once I kicked that ball I knew it was good. I was honored to be the last person to touch the ball to give our team ‘family’ the win,” said Cipra.
When the Storm’s Darmel Whitfield caught a touchdown pass from quarterback A.J. Rogue on a fourth and goal from the nine with just four seconds remaining to give Erie a 37-36 lead; it looked like the Mariners’ unbeaten string would finally come to an end.
On the ensuing kickoff Storm kicker Shon Rowser booted the ball out of the back of the end zone giving the Mariners a first and ten at their own 20 with four seconds remaining. A kick into the field of play would have forced a Baltimore return, and quite possibly, ran the clock out.
Given another opportunity, Mariners’ Head Coach Chris Simpson then called on the veteran kicker Cipra. Now in his seventh professional season, Cipra spent three seasons kicking for Erie. In two of those seasons he led the league’s kickers in scoring and in one season (2005) he led all league players in scoring.
Taunted by chants of “Cipra” by the Erie “9th Man” Cipra calmly took his mark, waited for the snap from Melik Brown, the hold and spot by quarterback E.J. Nemeth, and split the uprights from 47 yards out to give the Mariners the win and continue their record win streak. The Mariners also completed their road schedule with a 7-0 record.
At many times during the contest it looked like the Baltimore streak could come to an end, but each time the Mariners battled back. Erie posted the first points of the board on a Rowser field goal to take a 3-0 lead. Nemeth responded with a touchdown pass to Scorpio Brown for a 7-3 Baltimore lead.
Erie then came back with the first of three touchdown runs from their “Wildcat” formation by Denayne Dixon to take another lead at 10-7. It looked like Erie might continue to widen their edge, but Rogue fumbled a snap, which was quickly pounced on and returned by Baltimore linebacker Adam Goloboski for a score and Baltimore once again regained the lead at 14-10.
Dixon again scored to give Erie their third lead of the game at 17-14, but before the half Cipra kicked his first field goal of the game and then the Mariners earned a safety. Facing pressure from Melik Brown, Rogue tossed the ball out of the back of the end zone for a Baltimore safety and a Mariners 19-17 halftime advantage.
The Mariners were quickly on the board in the second half when Isaiah Grier ran for his league-leading 24th rushing touchdown of the season. Rowser then kicked his second field goal of the day and the Mariners’ advantage stood at 26-20.
Nemeth found Scorpio Brown for their second touchdown connection of the game and it appeared momentum may finally be shifting the Mariners’ way with a 33-20 lead; the largest of the game.
Dixon subsequently scored his third and final touchdown of the night to cut the Baltimore advantage to 33-27. After Cipra and Rowser exchanged field goals the score stood at 36-30 Baltimore.
It appeared the game may end with both defenses in control, but on fourth down Rogue found Whitfield in the middle of the end zone to tie the score at 36-36 and following Rowser’s PAT, Erie held the lead with just four seconds left and appeared ready to become the first American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) team to defeat the Mariners all season.
Following Erie’s out of bounds kick Baltimore took over and provided Cipra with the opportunity to win the game. After the game winner the Mariners sought out their 5’9” kicker for a spontaneous celebration. “I didn't want to stop running around because I knew the team was chasing me down and we have some big boys out here,” said Cipra, “It felt like I said ‘take that Erie’ with one swift kick of my left leg!” in response to the many taunts he received before taking the kick including the unusual move by the Erie Game Day Staff to taunt the former Erie kicker by microphone.
Now with their 12-0 record intact the Mariners return to Baltimore to finish the regular season at home. Baltimore takes on the New Jersey Revolution on Saturday, June 19th at 7:00 PM and the Reading Express on Saturday, June 26th at 7:00 PM. Both games are at 1st Mariner Arena.
The Mariners will then host the AIFA Eastern Conference Championship game on Saturday, July 10th at 7:00 PM after securing a first round bye last weekend.
Note: Complete game stats were not available at time of publication.
– John Wolfe
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.
ERIE, PA (June 13, 2010) – There are pressure kicks and then there are PRESSURE KICKS. With just four seconds left on the clock, the Baltimore Mariners facing their first loss of the season, and kicking against his former team, the Mariners J.R. Cipra kicked a 47-yard field goal as time expired to provide the Mariners with a 39-37 win over the Erie Storm and extend the Mariners record to 12-0.
“It was amazing. Once I kicked that ball I knew it was good. I was honored to be the last person to touch the ball to give our team ‘family’ the win,” said Cipra.
When the Storm’s Darmel Whitfield caught a touchdown pass from quarterback A.J. Rogue on a fourth and goal from the nine with just four seconds remaining to give Erie a 37-36 lead; it looked like the Mariners’ unbeaten string would finally come to an end.
On the ensuing kickoff Storm kicker Shon Rowser booted the ball out of the back of the end zone giving the Mariners a first and ten at their own 20 with four seconds remaining. A kick into the field of play would have forced a Baltimore return, and quite possibly, ran the clock out.
Given another opportunity, Mariners’ Head Coach Chris Simpson then called on the veteran kicker Cipra. Now in his seventh professional season, Cipra spent three seasons kicking for Erie. In two of those seasons he led the league’s kickers in scoring and in one season (2005) he led all league players in scoring.
Taunted by chants of “Cipra” by the Erie “9th Man” Cipra calmly took his mark, waited for the snap from Melik Brown, the hold and spot by quarterback E.J. Nemeth, and split the uprights from 47 yards out to give the Mariners the win and continue their record win streak. The Mariners also completed their road schedule with a 7-0 record.
At many times during the contest it looked like the Baltimore streak could come to an end, but each time the Mariners battled back. Erie posted the first points of the board on a Rowser field goal to take a 3-0 lead. Nemeth responded with a touchdown pass to Scorpio Brown for a 7-3 Baltimore lead.
Erie then came back with the first of three touchdown runs from their “Wildcat” formation by Denayne Dixon to take another lead at 10-7. It looked like Erie might continue to widen their edge, but Rogue fumbled a snap, which was quickly pounced on and returned by Baltimore linebacker Adam Goloboski for a score and Baltimore once again regained the lead at 14-10.
Dixon again scored to give Erie their third lead of the game at 17-14, but before the half Cipra kicked his first field goal of the game and then the Mariners earned a safety. Facing pressure from Melik Brown, Rogue tossed the ball out of the back of the end zone for a Baltimore safety and a Mariners 19-17 halftime advantage.
The Mariners were quickly on the board in the second half when Isaiah Grier ran for his league-leading 24th rushing touchdown of the season. Rowser then kicked his second field goal of the day and the Mariners’ advantage stood at 26-20.
Nemeth found Scorpio Brown for their second touchdown connection of the game and it appeared momentum may finally be shifting the Mariners’ way with a 33-20 lead; the largest of the game.
Dixon subsequently scored his third and final touchdown of the night to cut the Baltimore advantage to 33-27. After Cipra and Rowser exchanged field goals the score stood at 36-30 Baltimore.
It appeared the game may end with both defenses in control, but on fourth down Rogue found Whitfield in the middle of the end zone to tie the score at 36-36 and following Rowser’s PAT, Erie held the lead with just four seconds left and appeared ready to become the first American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) team to defeat the Mariners all season.
Following Erie’s out of bounds kick Baltimore took over and provided Cipra with the opportunity to win the game. After the game winner the Mariners sought out their 5’9” kicker for a spontaneous celebration. “I didn't want to stop running around because I knew the team was chasing me down and we have some big boys out here,” said Cipra, “It felt like I said ‘take that Erie’ with one swift kick of my left leg!” in response to the many taunts he received before taking the kick including the unusual move by the Erie Game Day Staff to taunt the former Erie kicker by microphone.
Now with their 12-0 record intact the Mariners return to Baltimore to finish the regular season at home. Baltimore takes on the New Jersey Revolution on Saturday, June 19th at 7:00 PM and the Reading Express on Saturday, June 26th at 7:00 PM. Both games are at 1st Mariner Arena.
The Mariners will then host the AIFA Eastern Conference Championship game on Saturday, July 10th at 7:00 PM after securing a first round bye last weekend.
Note: Complete game stats were not available at time of publication.
– John Wolfe
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.
