Post by MGB01 on Jun 22, 2005 20:16:08 GMT -5
PITTSBURGH--For the first time since 2002, John Avery didn't start for the Chicago Enforcers, but he found a way to get involved, scoring the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard dive twith just 34 seconds left as the Enforcers gritted out another comeback win, this time over the Pittsburgh Ironmen at Heinz Field 30-29 Sunday.
Ricky Ray, off to a decent start for most other quarterbacks in the league but below his own standards, had his best game of the year so far going 19 of 28 for 216 yards and two touchdowns. His first, an eight-yard touchdown pass to Kelley Washington gave the Enforcers a 14-6 lead with 11:13 left in the second quarter. His second, a 13-yard touchdown toss to David Boston, gave the Enforcers their largest lead at 24-9 with 6:21 left in the third quarter. But that nearly got away from them.
Marcus Crandell, who had his best game of the year going 31 of 45 for 341 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, led a furious fourth-quarter rally, hooking up with Johnnie Morant for two big plays that put the Ironmen down at the goal line, where Crandell threw a slant over the middle to Morant in the back of the endzone for the touchdown, to close to within 24-15. Then after Crandell appeared to turn his ankle and had to come out for a few plays, former Enforcer Tony Fisher hit Matthew Hatchette for 14 yards on third-and-6 from the Enforcers 41 to keep a drive going. Three plays later he was on the recieving end of a 15-yard touchdown pass from Dave Dickenson, who engineered a 32-17 upset of the Enforcers last year, to pull the Ironmen to within 24-22 at the halfway point.
Crandell's two-yard touchdown toss to Cam Cleeland capped an 11-play 65-yard drive and put the Ironmen up 29-24 with 1:26 left.
Ray hit Washington on a short slant and he completed a 48-yard play to put the Enforcers down at the Ironmen 27. Two plays later, Washington tiptoed inside the sidelines to catch a high pass from Ray down at the 1. Two plays later, Avery, who only got two carries, ran for his third touchdown of the year.
Bryce Fisher sacked Crandell at the Ironmen 26 to end the game.
Washington, who missed the season opener against New York with a sprained ankle, has come on like gangbusters in the last three games, catching six passes for 100 yards and a touchdown to give himself 420 yards and four touchdowns on 17 catches, on pace to shatter his combined total in his first two seasons.
Tellis Redmon, the Ironmen's second-round pick in 2002, carried 16 times for 92 yards in getting the start for the Enforcers. Interestingly enough, Tony Fisher, who started three games in Avery's place as a rookie, carried nine times for 25 yards for the Ironmen. Fisher also caught nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.
Ricky Ray, off to a decent start for most other quarterbacks in the league but below his own standards, had his best game of the year so far going 19 of 28 for 216 yards and two touchdowns. His first, an eight-yard touchdown pass to Kelley Washington gave the Enforcers a 14-6 lead with 11:13 left in the second quarter. His second, a 13-yard touchdown toss to David Boston, gave the Enforcers their largest lead at 24-9 with 6:21 left in the third quarter. But that nearly got away from them.
Marcus Crandell, who had his best game of the year going 31 of 45 for 341 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, led a furious fourth-quarter rally, hooking up with Johnnie Morant for two big plays that put the Ironmen down at the goal line, where Crandell threw a slant over the middle to Morant in the back of the endzone for the touchdown, to close to within 24-15. Then after Crandell appeared to turn his ankle and had to come out for a few plays, former Enforcer Tony Fisher hit Matthew Hatchette for 14 yards on third-and-6 from the Enforcers 41 to keep a drive going. Three plays later he was on the recieving end of a 15-yard touchdown pass from Dave Dickenson, who engineered a 32-17 upset of the Enforcers last year, to pull the Ironmen to within 24-22 at the halfway point.
Crandell's two-yard touchdown toss to Cam Cleeland capped an 11-play 65-yard drive and put the Ironmen up 29-24 with 1:26 left.
Ray hit Washington on a short slant and he completed a 48-yard play to put the Enforcers down at the Ironmen 27. Two plays later, Washington tiptoed inside the sidelines to catch a high pass from Ray down at the 1. Two plays later, Avery, who only got two carries, ran for his third touchdown of the year.
Bryce Fisher sacked Crandell at the Ironmen 26 to end the game.
Washington, who missed the season opener against New York with a sprained ankle, has come on like gangbusters in the last three games, catching six passes for 100 yards and a touchdown to give himself 420 yards and four touchdowns on 17 catches, on pace to shatter his combined total in his first two seasons.
Tellis Redmon, the Ironmen's second-round pick in 2002, carried 16 times for 92 yards in getting the start for the Enforcers. Interestingly enough, Tony Fisher, who started three games in Avery's place as a rookie, carried nine times for 25 yards for the Ironmen. Fisher also caught nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.