Post by MOnarchsRule on May 29, 2006 12:03:59 GMT -5
Coach Henderson addresses the media on MondayKansas City, MO - They say the first one is the hardest to get. If that's true, then the Monarchs should have a fine season as they defeated the Detroit Mustangs in their 2006 home opener 42 -14. The hero of the game wasn't LenDale White who had 2 yards on 2 carries in limited action, but his ex-Trojan teammate Mike Williams who caught five passes for 140 yards and two scores. Leo Barnes ran back two interceptions for touchdowns as the Monarchs Defense recorded 5 sacks and 5 interceptions in total. Kansas City won their first season opener in three years, crushing the Detroit Mustangs at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday and making a winner of first-year head coach Donnie Henderson in his debut.
White may have had a quiet debut, but the Monarchs as a team rushed for 133 yards. Garrett Mills led the way as he rushed for 59 yards on 8 carries and Darren Sproles had a 40-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. He finished with 13 carries for 57 yards. Also on offense, newly acquired WR Thyron Anderson hooked up with his old CFL teammate Anthony Calvillo for 4 catches, 50 yards and a score, TE Teyo Johnson also had 4 catches for 58 yards.
" It's always nice to get the first one, and now we've got to build on it," Coach Henderson said as he addressed the media on Monday. "Turnovers win football games, and the D stepped up to the plate. AC is a good quarterback, and we expect great things from him. Mills, Anderson, Johnson - all the guys on both sides of the ball came to play, and that's great. We've only just begun guys. It's one win, but now we get ready for Dallas this weekend. This one's more important 'cause it's a division rival."
Cedric Houston, who missed the entire preseason after sustaining minor injuries, had both Mustangs' touchdowns: a one-yard reception from Ryan Clement with 2:30 left in the third quarter, and a five-yard run midway through the fourth.
The Monarchs' front 4 even have a nickname now: Bringin' the HEAT which stands for:
H eyward
E llison
A dams
T homas
The revamped secondary came through as well. Much was said about Bullocks taking over at SS and he did well (13 tkls), but along with Barnes' 2 picks for scores, Bobby Scippio had 2 as well and Fred Vinson came off the bench for the last one.
The Vipers play the Monarchs this Sunday at Arrowhead. Kick-off is at 1 pm.