Phoenix Season Ends with Another Hard Fought Loss
The Phoenix lost 34-13 to the Lake County Cowboys, in a game where the score does not dictate how the game was played. The Phoenix took the field with 14 players (in actuality 13, Chris Bella was unable to play untill the second half due to his pads not being at the field with him), against the blitz happy undefeated Cowboys squad who are hungry for thier first title. The game looked like an outright mismatch, yet it didnt descend into that untill a nasty turn of events in the second half.
It was clear the Cowboys didnt expect much of a fight, ecspecially when it was clear from the begining that they wanted to put the game away quickly. Throwing deep very often, the Phoenix corners did everything they could to dispell the arial attack. The Cowboys also found it very difficult to run the ball as the Phoenix defenders swarmed to the carrier and dropped them for mostly minimal gains. Big plays did indeed happen however, and thats how the Cowboys scored thier first TD just past the mid-way point in the first half. However, it was clear by that point the Cowboys were in for much more of a fight than what was anticipated earlier on.
The area the Phoenix did have problems with however, was the blitzing linebackers of the Cowboys. The Cowboys are a pressure team, they try to make you make mistakes. And while the Phoenix did everything they could with a thinned out offensive line, the Cowboys got through early and often to break up plays. The Phoenix offense did move the ball on a few drives, yet it was nothing close to normal. Going into this game the Phoenix averaged 297.8 yds per game, yet in the first half it would be surprising if we made it to 80. The Phoenix ground game was non-existant, the Cowboys know how to run blitz and get outside. The only big yardage Wilmot was able to gain was over the middle while the Cowboys emptied out the area to blitz. There are only so many times you can go to the well, however, and that route closed up pretty fast. A promising drive late in the first half died out with offensive line problems, and an integral first down catch by Kyle Ritter was negated due to a hold in a later drive. In reality, the Phoenix never came close to scoring in the first half.
With 57.9 seconds left in the first half, I'm sure most people were stunned to see the score at 7-0 still. On 4th and 11, the Cowboys pulled out a nice play which led to a coverage breakdown, and thier second score. At the half, the Phoenix were down 14-0, and the season only had 45 minutes left in it.
The Phoenix came out for the second half looking to score quickly and make the game close again...what happened was the exact opposite. The Cowboys overran the offensive line on three straight plays to drop Wilmot behind thier own 20. The Phoenix were forced to punt, and the Cowyboys went down the field to score again. The next Phoenix drive, and subsequent Cowboys drive ended in punts, yet the Cowboys were effectively killing clock. Seeking desperation, the Phoenix took a more down the field approach and got a pass interference called on a Cowboys defener. The momentum however was momentary as a horrible snap led to a turnover on the very next play. The Cowboys would benifit from a pass interference call as well, this one in the endzone to put them at the one yard line. After a stuffed run and a sack, the Cowboys found thier way to pay dirt, and suddenly the score was 27-0, and every bit of the blowout people were expecting.
On the next drive, the Phoenix did indeed make strides towards pulling the game closer. Ricky Martinez, in for his scrambling ability, hit Ryne Johnsen on a beautiful pass down the left sideline as the Phoenix found themselves on the Cowboys 20 yard line. However, the blitzing scheme hurt the Phoenix again, as the drive ultimately ended up with a turnover on downs. Sensing the game was in hand, the Cowboys decided to have a little fun. On a hook and ladder play, the Cowboys 'hook' player lateralled the ball into the ground, which was picked up by Jeff Thorpe for a touchdown. the Phoenix were on the board and the was still some game to play. The Cowboys responded with a TD a few minutes later, effectively ending any sort of comeback. However, the Phoenix, in thier final drive of the season, marched the field to score just before the game was called for darkness. Nick weiss set up the score with a beautiful run to the outside in which he ran over a tackler to make it to the 2 yard line. On the next play, he busted his way through the line for the Phoenix's second score, and last points of the season. After all was said and done, the Phoenix played another game all the way through, and gained respect for who they are, and how they play.
The season did not end where we wanted it t be, yet I'm sure we gained a few fans along the way, both on the field, and off.
| Top Offense:
Kyle Ritter: 4
Andrew Menard - 2
Ricky Martinez - 2
Ryne Johnsen - 1
Tim Thornton - 1
Top Defense:
Cody Sisk: 4
Jeff Thorpe: 2
Dan Lowes: 2
Shane Willis: 2
Chris Bella - 1
Andrew Menard - 1
Top Reserve:
Nick Weiss - 4
Ricky Martinez - 3
Ryne Johnsen - 2
Top Play:
Jeff Thorpe - 8
Ricky Martinez - 1
Shane Willis- 1
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