Post by DiamondThief on Apr 26, 2019 19:43:30 GMT -8
FINAL - Danger 66, River Kings 42
4/26/19 --
GRAND ISLAND, NE - They say defense wins championships, and special teams plays can dictate the outcome of a game.
The Nebraska Danger dished out some of both, along with determined offense play, as they turned back the Cedar Rapids River Kings, 66-42, tonight at the Heartland Events Center.
The Danger defense held the River Kings to just nine points and an even more impressive nine yards of total offense in the first half as they cruised out to a 31-9 lead at the break. Wide receiver and kick returner Eric Thomas returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. He also returned a missed field goal for a touchdown late in the second quarter.
Nebraska moved to 5-4 with the win, while the River Kings fell to 1-8 with the loss. This contest was the only meeting between the teams this season.
Cedar Rapids was without starting quarterback Kurt Palandech, who was tending to a family medical issue. Rookie Ben Wilkerson, who has been on the roster since training camp, made his first start and struggled in the first 30 minutes, but seemed to find a rhythm in the second half as the River Kings, essentially, kept pace with the Danger. The nine first half points came on three Phillip Nwosu field goals.
Thomas took the opening kickoff 52 yards to the house to put Nebraska on top 7-0. The Danger extended the lead on a 51-yard field goal from Diego Marquez, who was just signed after being released by the Tucson Sugar Skulls last week. Nwosu nailed a 49-yard field goal to pull Cedar Rapids to within a touchdown at the 5:50 mark of the first quarter. The River Kings drove deep into Nebraska territory with a chance to tie the game late in the first quarter, but had to settle for a 21-yard field goal from Nwosu. The Danger led 10-6 after one.
Nebraska scored 21 straight points during the second quarter. The first two were on a pair of Davontae Sapp-Lynch of one and four yards. With 1:33 left in the opening half, Nwosu lined up for a 52-yard field oal try, but is was just short and Thomas returned the kick 58 yards for the score. Cedar Rapids closed out the half with a 43-yard field goal, his third of the game.
Sapp-Lynch's 24-yard touchdown catch from Tommy Armstrong, Jr. gave the Danger a 38-9 lead four minutes into the third quarter. The River Kings found the end zone for the first time in the game on an 11-yard run from Nathaniel Chavious. After Quincy Walden recovered his own team's fumble in the end zone to put Nebraska up by 30, the River Kings came back with Wilkerson's four-yard pass to Drake White as time expired in the quarter. The Danger led 45-22 heading into the final quarter.
The teams traded scores in the fourth, but by then, the outcome was never quite in doubt. Armstrong hit Walden for a 25-yard touchdown, but Cedar Rapids answered on Wilkerson's 17-yard strike to Ezeli Ruffin with 11 minutes to go. Sapp-Lynch scored his fourth touchdown on the night a minute later and Nebraska's lead was back to 30 points. Wilkerson called his own number on the ensuing drive, scoring from two yards out. Once again, Armstrong found Walden, this time for 21 yards. Chavious provided for the final margin when he returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards for a touchdown.
Nebraska gained 201 yards in total offense to 111 for the River Kings. They held advantages of 112 to 45 in the passing game and 89 to 66 in the rushing game. Each team was penalized five times; the Danger for 30 yards and the River Kings for 33 yards.
Armstrong completed six of his eight attempts for 112 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 31 yards on seven carries. Sapp-Lynch rushed 10 times for 53 yards to go along with his three rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. Walden had three receptions for 52 yards and two touchdowns, as well as the fumble recovery for touchdown as noted above. Steffon Hurd recorded eight tackles and an interception, while D'Vonn Brown had seven tackles and a pair of sacks. Brandon Roe had an interception in the defensive effort. Syvon Lowry, Coutel Jenkins and Chris Martin each had a sack.
Wilkerson finished seven of 14 for 65 yards with two touchdowns and two intereptions. He rushed 14 times for 45 yards and a score. Marquel Wade led Cedar Rapids in receiving with three catches for 29 yards, while Ruffin and White each were on the receiving ends of touchdown tosses. Nick Brassell tallied five tackles and a pas break up, and Jeff Branch had a fumble recovery for the River Kings defense.
Cedar Rapids will head to Iowa's capital to face the Iowa Barnstormers on May 4 with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m. The Danger will visit the Arizona Rattlers in Phoenix, also May 4 at 5:05 p.m. All times mentioned are Pacific Standard time.
4/26/19 --
GRAND ISLAND, NE - They say defense wins championships, and special teams plays can dictate the outcome of a game.
The Nebraska Danger dished out some of both, along with determined offense play, as they turned back the Cedar Rapids River Kings, 66-42, tonight at the Heartland Events Center.
The Danger defense held the River Kings to just nine points and an even more impressive nine yards of total offense in the first half as they cruised out to a 31-9 lead at the break. Wide receiver and kick returner Eric Thomas returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. He also returned a missed field goal for a touchdown late in the second quarter.
Nebraska moved to 5-4 with the win, while the River Kings fell to 1-8 with the loss. This contest was the only meeting between the teams this season.
Cedar Rapids was without starting quarterback Kurt Palandech, who was tending to a family medical issue. Rookie Ben Wilkerson, who has been on the roster since training camp, made his first start and struggled in the first 30 minutes, but seemed to find a rhythm in the second half as the River Kings, essentially, kept pace with the Danger. The nine first half points came on three Phillip Nwosu field goals.
Thomas took the opening kickoff 52 yards to the house to put Nebraska on top 7-0. The Danger extended the lead on a 51-yard field goal from Diego Marquez, who was just signed after being released by the Tucson Sugar Skulls last week. Nwosu nailed a 49-yard field goal to pull Cedar Rapids to within a touchdown at the 5:50 mark of the first quarter. The River Kings drove deep into Nebraska territory with a chance to tie the game late in the first quarter, but had to settle for a 21-yard field goal from Nwosu. The Danger led 10-6 after one.
Nebraska scored 21 straight points during the second quarter. The first two were on a pair of Davontae Sapp-Lynch of one and four yards. With 1:33 left in the opening half, Nwosu lined up for a 52-yard field oal try, but is was just short and Thomas returned the kick 58 yards for the score. Cedar Rapids closed out the half with a 43-yard field goal, his third of the game.
Sapp-Lynch's 24-yard touchdown catch from Tommy Armstrong, Jr. gave the Danger a 38-9 lead four minutes into the third quarter. The River Kings found the end zone for the first time in the game on an 11-yard run from Nathaniel Chavious. After Quincy Walden recovered his own team's fumble in the end zone to put Nebraska up by 30, the River Kings came back with Wilkerson's four-yard pass to Drake White as time expired in the quarter. The Danger led 45-22 heading into the final quarter.
The teams traded scores in the fourth, but by then, the outcome was never quite in doubt. Armstrong hit Walden for a 25-yard touchdown, but Cedar Rapids answered on Wilkerson's 17-yard strike to Ezeli Ruffin with 11 minutes to go. Sapp-Lynch scored his fourth touchdown on the night a minute later and Nebraska's lead was back to 30 points. Wilkerson called his own number on the ensuing drive, scoring from two yards out. Once again, Armstrong found Walden, this time for 21 yards. Chavious provided for the final margin when he returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards for a touchdown.
Nebraska gained 201 yards in total offense to 111 for the River Kings. They held advantages of 112 to 45 in the passing game and 89 to 66 in the rushing game. Each team was penalized five times; the Danger for 30 yards and the River Kings for 33 yards.
Armstrong completed six of his eight attempts for 112 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 31 yards on seven carries. Sapp-Lynch rushed 10 times for 53 yards to go along with his three rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. Walden had three receptions for 52 yards and two touchdowns, as well as the fumble recovery for touchdown as noted above. Steffon Hurd recorded eight tackles and an interception, while D'Vonn Brown had seven tackles and a pair of sacks. Brandon Roe had an interception in the defensive effort. Syvon Lowry, Coutel Jenkins and Chris Martin each had a sack.
Wilkerson finished seven of 14 for 65 yards with two touchdowns and two intereptions. He rushed 14 times for 45 yards and a score. Marquel Wade led Cedar Rapids in receiving with three catches for 29 yards, while Ruffin and White each were on the receiving ends of touchdown tosses. Nick Brassell tallied five tackles and a pas break up, and Jeff Branch had a fumble recovery for the River Kings defense.
Cedar Rapids will head to Iowa's capital to face the Iowa Barnstormers on May 4 with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m. The Danger will visit the Arizona Rattlers in Phoenix, also May 4 at 5:05 p.m. All times mentioned are Pacific Standard time.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL's Official YouTube Channel. SCtoC will present previews of those, and all, games this season. Those previews will be posted on the board of the home team in each game.
- ANM
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