Post by Gene on Feb 10, 2007 10:11:32 GMT -5
Heroes Break Into Win Column :smileyheroes:
02/10/07 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) Huntington Heroes
Johnstown, PA - The Huntington Heroes went on the road for the first time this season searching for its first win of the 2007 season. After a disappointing defensive showing last week against Carolina, the Huntington defense stepped up. The Heroes defense put pressure on the Johnstown QB, forced turnovers and made big plays to lead the way to a 35-24 win over the Riverhawks.
On the offensive side the Heroes can best be described as effective. While they didn't score the 57 points like they did in the season opener, they made the big plays when they needed to. Jimmy Skinner passed for 169 yards on 18 of 32 passing and 2 TD's. Skinner was not picked off on this night. Running back Donte Newsome had a big night, scoring 3 TD's. Newsome carried the ball 13 times for 67 yards and 2 TD's and he caught two passes for 15 yards and a TD.
The game started like any indoor football game with the Heroes and Riverhawks trading scores. Huntington would open the scoring on only the second play from scrimmage when Jimmy Skinner hit Leonard Moore for a 10 yard TD grab. This score was setup by Brad Bates opening kickoff return to the Johnstown 20. The Riverhawks would fire right back, except they went on a long 8 play 30 yard drive, that included a big fourth down conversion that was aided by a Hero defensive penalty. Quenteen Robinson grabbed a 16 TD pass, but the Riverhawks could not convert the extra point.
The Heroes would answer right back with a 5 play scoring drive. This drive would belong to Donte Newsome, who ran two times for 16 yards and capped off the 5 play 28 yard drive with a 4 yard TD catch. Nick Kelly's PAT would sail wide left, but the Heroes held a 13-6 lead.
On the Riverhawks next possession the defense made it's first big play of the night. With the Heroes holding on to that 13-6 lead, Johnstown QB Waylon Davis scrambled and was stripped by Heroes defensive tackle Lamont Moore. Jamus Martin scooped up the fumble and scored the Heroes first defensive touchdown of the season to extend the lead to 19-6. This was the first of many big plays by the Heroes defense on the night.
The Riverhawks closed the gap to 19-13 with a one yard TD run in the second quarter by Michael Feeney to close out 9 play 23 yard drive. Then the Heroes would make one of the biggest plays of the night. Facing a 3rd and long situation inside their own 2 yard line, Jimmy Skinner hit Shane Holsinger on a long 33 yard pass play to keep the drive alive. On the very next play Donte Newsome would rumble for 13 yards to extend the lead to 25-13.
On Johnstown's next drive the Heroes defense would step up again. With the Riverhawks driving inside the Hero 10 the defense would stiffen up. The Riverhawks had a first and goal, but the Huntington defensive pressure forced Johnstown to throw away two straight passes. On third down Connie Brown picked off Davis and returned it to the Johnstown 10 to stop the threat.
For the first time all night the Heroes offense wasn't able to score on a possession, giving the ball right to the Riverhawks after a failed 30 yard field goal attempt by Nick Kelly. The Heroes defense would step up again. With under 1:00 left in the half, Riverhawk receiver Quenteen Robinson would fumble a pass and the Heroes pounced. This time the Heroes would convert on a 20 yard field goal by Nick Kelly and extend the lead to 28-13, the score at the half.
The second half was a defensive battle. The Heroes didn't capitalize on a Johnstown fumble of the the opening kickoff. Huntington was setup in great field position at the Johnstown 11, but penalties and a fumble pushed the Heroes all the way back to their own 15. Nick Kelly was forced to try a long field goal attempt that was not successful, giving the ball to the Riverhawks.
Johnstown was able to break through in the third with a 38 yard field goal by Jason Cherry to make it 28-16. the Heroes added another Donte Newsome TD run to extend its lead to 35-16. Johnstown made it interesting late in the game, scoring a TD with just over a minute to go. A successful two point conversion made it 35-24. The Heroes recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to secure its first win of the 2007 season.
The Heroes now stand at 1-1 and will face the defending AIFL champs, and undefeated Canton Legends next Saturday at Big Sandy Superstore arena. Kickoff is at 7:00pm.
02/10/07 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) Huntington Heroes
Johnstown, PA - The Huntington Heroes went on the road for the first time this season searching for its first win of the 2007 season. After a disappointing defensive showing last week against Carolina, the Huntington defense stepped up. The Heroes defense put pressure on the Johnstown QB, forced turnovers and made big plays to lead the way to a 35-24 win over the Riverhawks.
On the offensive side the Heroes can best be described as effective. While they didn't score the 57 points like they did in the season opener, they made the big plays when they needed to. Jimmy Skinner passed for 169 yards on 18 of 32 passing and 2 TD's. Skinner was not picked off on this night. Running back Donte Newsome had a big night, scoring 3 TD's. Newsome carried the ball 13 times for 67 yards and 2 TD's and he caught two passes for 15 yards and a TD.
The game started like any indoor football game with the Heroes and Riverhawks trading scores. Huntington would open the scoring on only the second play from scrimmage when Jimmy Skinner hit Leonard Moore for a 10 yard TD grab. This score was setup by Brad Bates opening kickoff return to the Johnstown 20. The Riverhawks would fire right back, except they went on a long 8 play 30 yard drive, that included a big fourth down conversion that was aided by a Hero defensive penalty. Quenteen Robinson grabbed a 16 TD pass, but the Riverhawks could not convert the extra point.
The Heroes would answer right back with a 5 play scoring drive. This drive would belong to Donte Newsome, who ran two times for 16 yards and capped off the 5 play 28 yard drive with a 4 yard TD catch. Nick Kelly's PAT would sail wide left, but the Heroes held a 13-6 lead.
On the Riverhawks next possession the defense made it's first big play of the night. With the Heroes holding on to that 13-6 lead, Johnstown QB Waylon Davis scrambled and was stripped by Heroes defensive tackle Lamont Moore. Jamus Martin scooped up the fumble and scored the Heroes first defensive touchdown of the season to extend the lead to 19-6. This was the first of many big plays by the Heroes defense on the night.
The Riverhawks closed the gap to 19-13 with a one yard TD run in the second quarter by Michael Feeney to close out 9 play 23 yard drive. Then the Heroes would make one of the biggest plays of the night. Facing a 3rd and long situation inside their own 2 yard line, Jimmy Skinner hit Shane Holsinger on a long 33 yard pass play to keep the drive alive. On the very next play Donte Newsome would rumble for 13 yards to extend the lead to 25-13.
On Johnstown's next drive the Heroes defense would step up again. With the Riverhawks driving inside the Hero 10 the defense would stiffen up. The Riverhawks had a first and goal, but the Huntington defensive pressure forced Johnstown to throw away two straight passes. On third down Connie Brown picked off Davis and returned it to the Johnstown 10 to stop the threat.
For the first time all night the Heroes offense wasn't able to score on a possession, giving the ball right to the Riverhawks after a failed 30 yard field goal attempt by Nick Kelly. The Heroes defense would step up again. With under 1:00 left in the half, Riverhawk receiver Quenteen Robinson would fumble a pass and the Heroes pounced. This time the Heroes would convert on a 20 yard field goal by Nick Kelly and extend the lead to 28-13, the score at the half.
The second half was a defensive battle. The Heroes didn't capitalize on a Johnstown fumble of the the opening kickoff. Huntington was setup in great field position at the Johnstown 11, but penalties and a fumble pushed the Heroes all the way back to their own 15. Nick Kelly was forced to try a long field goal attempt that was not successful, giving the ball to the Riverhawks.
Johnstown was able to break through in the third with a 38 yard field goal by Jason Cherry to make it 28-16. the Heroes added another Donte Newsome TD run to extend its lead to 35-16. Johnstown made it interesting late in the game, scoring a TD with just over a minute to go. A successful two point conversion made it 35-24. The Heroes recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to secure its first win of the 2007 season.
The Heroes now stand at 1-1 and will face the defending AIFL champs, and undefeated Canton Legends next Saturday at Big Sandy Superstore arena. Kickoff is at 7:00pm.
come to town