By: Mike McMurran
Sports Editor
The RiverCity Rage could do nothing but pray as they watched the Cincinnati place kicker, Jesse Obert line up for a 17-yard field goal in the second overtime Sunday evening at Saviis Center. Their prayers went unanswered as the kick was good giving the Marshals a 67-64 victory in the first round of the National Indoor Football League.
The Rage looked like they were on their way to a second round game as they held a 16-point lead with 7:45 remaining in the game. Then as the old saying goes: The bottom dropped out! The Marshals scored 23 unanswered points to take a 57-50 lead with just under three minutes remaining in regulation play.
Facing elimination the Rage took over on their own 8-yard line with 2:58 remaining. On the 11th play of the drive, Rage quarterback Clay Groefsema scored on a 1 yard bootleg capping off the 42 yard drive. Kicker Mike Matheney added the point after with no time on the clock as the two teams headed for the first overtime period.
The Rage won the toss and selected to send their defense on the field first. The Marshals scored on their first possession as Brett Dietz powered in from the 1 to give the Marshals a 64-57 lead. The Rage kept the small but loud crowd on the edge of their seats as they took all four of their allotted downs before Groefsema hit Scott Pingel with a 22 yard laser; Matheny’s PAT made it 64-64.
The beginning of the end for the Rage began as a Groefsema play action pass was picked off at the 3 yard line. The Marshals then only had to score a field goal on their possession, which they did, to end the Rage’s season at 10-5 overall. At one point the Rage boasted a 10-2 record.
The Rage seemed to run more than usual, as indicated by Sha=Ron Edwards 129 yards rushing on 20 carries. “We are never happy to end on a losing note, especially a heart breaker such as this, but when we have a chance to look back we will still consider this a successful season. Two years ago, the best this franchise could manage was 4 wins. Since that time we have had two consecutive playoff teams and won a division championship. Right now, the wound is too fresh to consider the accomplishments of this team, but when we have a chance to look back, there are a lot of things that it can be proud of,” said Rage Head Coach Mike Wyatt.
Groefsema accounted for 9 TD’s on the evening, passing for 6 and rushing for 3. Pingel led Rage receivers with 12 receptions for 97 yards and 3 TD’s. Hurtis Chinn added 3 TD receptions.
The Rage went undefeated in regular season home games played at Family Arena. Yes, the Rage have made the playoffs the past two seasons, but they have yet to play a “real” home game in the post season. One can only wonder what might have been had they played in the Arena where they were undefeated this season.
