Fusion Lose Heartbreaking, Controversial Game
Alex Painter
Sunday May 13, 2007
The most difficult games to watch are those decided by the last play of the game. The opposing sides line up, the offense thinking “you can’t stop us on this play”, the defense, “you’re not gaining an inch on us.” However, when the Louisville Fire came to town Friday night, this was one of those games. The Fusion failed to stop Louisville wide receiver Tony Stallings as he plunged into the end zone from four yards out as time expired, propelling the Fire to a 48-42 win in front of 4,423 rowdy Fusion fans. The Fusion’s record fell to 2-5, while Louisville improved to 3-3.
The Fusion offense started slowly, failing to fall into a groove, and the Fusion trailed 14-0 after one quarter of play. With 10:09 left in the second quarter, the Fusion finally got on the board as quarterback Cody Hodges scored on a five-yard run, cutting the Louisville lead to seven. On the ensuing Louisville drive, linebacker Derek Brown intercepted an errant Joel Steele pass and returned it 36 yards weaving in and out of pursuing Louisville players for another score, tying the game at 14.
“I thought, we had better win this game.” Brown said, recapping the play.
The play, in essence, earned Brown the ADT Defensive Player of the Game, as he also contributed seven tackles and a forced fumble.
The defense failed to stop the Louisville offense on the next drive, as Steele completed a nine-yard touchdown pass to Stallings to take the lead once again, 21-14, going into halftime.
The Fusion received the ball at half and promptly scored, another Hodges run, his ninth of the year. On the play, two players were ejected from the game, including Fusion lineman Stephanol Santos, who appeared to defending Hodges from a Louisville late-hit on the scoring play.
A defensive stand caused a Louisville turnover on downs, and fueled another Fusion score, a four-yard pass to Jonathan Graham, and the Fusion took their first lead of the game, 28-21 with 5:27 left in the third quarter.
Louisville quickly scored, tying the game at 28 going into the fourth quarter of play.
The teams went back and forth in the fourth quarter, culminating with a nine-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mario Pratcher with 2:54 remaining in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 42.
Louisville quarterback Joel Steele moved the ball to the Fusion 21-yard line with 34 seconds left in the contest. After a converted fourth down, Louisville was on the Fusion seven-yard line with 16 seconds left. The following play, cornerback Blake Sanders delivered a bone crushing hit to Steele, but a penalty flag negated the play, saying Sanders’ blitz was illegal.
With only five seconds left in the game, Stallings took a handoff on a stretch play, and appeared to be hit in the boards before crossing the plane. The play was ruled a touchdown as time expired, giving Louisville the victory, 48-42.
“I don’t think it was a good call at all, I was playing corner on that side, and he didn’t make it in (the end zone),” defensive back Nathan Williams said, “he hit the wall long before he got into the end zone.”
“They made a call, and now we have to deal with it.” said Derek Brown.
Hodges finished the night 12 of 25 passing for 131 yards and two touchdowns, and also scrambled for 32 yards with two rushing touchdowns. He earned Offensive Player of the Game honors.
“Sunshine” Stays Consistent
Fusion kicker Kyle “Sunshine” Hooper was ranked eighth in the af2 by converting 85% of his extra-points going into the game. Hooper converted all six of his PAT attempts against Louisville.
“I just trust my holder and snapper, and the lineman to get the blocks for me, then I just try to do the same thing every time.”
“Sunshine” is now connecting on 88% of his extra-points.
Williams A-OK
After a fierce collision with the wall against Albany two weeks ago, defensive back Nathan Williams says he’s feeling fine, despite being taken off the field on a stretcher after the hit.
“I don’t really think it was that bad, I have been hit harder than that (laughs), but I think it was more of a precautionary thing,” Williams said.
Williams chipped in 7.5 tackles and was happy to be back on the field.
“Once you step on the football field, it’s game time.”
New Fullback
With Sunungura Rusununguko seeing more time on the defensive line, fullback Joe Johnsonbaugh was acquired from Cincinnati. Johnsonbaugh had a two-yard rushing touchdown in the game. Learning offenses on-the-fly is nothing new to Johnsonbaugh, this is his third team this year.
“I just have to listen to the coaches, and see what they want to do, and they (the coaches) have done an excellent job,” Johnsonbaugh said.
Next Game
The Fusion (2-5) have a bye week, but look to get back on track on May 26 against the Tennessee Valley Vipers (3-2).
