Cowdrey, Pirates Get First Home Win
Steve Robinson
Sunday April 21, 2002
First, expressing relief that his team got their first home victory in Carver Arena for the 2002 season – a 55-12 dismantling of the Fresno Frenzy, -- but also concern for two key offensive starters who were injured and left the game during the second half.
“I’m happy we won,” the second season af2 coach said. “I’m really happy we won. That was a good win. Anytime you can win at home against a good team like that, then you’re in good shape.”
Peoria (2-1) sprinted out to a fast 13-0 lead early in the first quarter, first, by using a fake field goal as a rouse to give backup quarterback Ronnie Gordon a 2-yard run to lead 6-0 with 9:20 left in the first quarter. Kicker Todd Kurz’s extra point was no good.
Fresno’s first possession ended in a missed field goal, and Peoria going 45 yards in two plays to take a 12-0 lead on a 20 yard pass from lead quarterback Walter Church to wide receiver Jermaine Sheffield, with 4:27 left. Kurz’s extra point was good, increasing Peoria’s lead to 13-0.
Fresno’s first points came just seven seconds later when offensive specialist Lamont Webb dodged Peoria defenders, starting from six yards deep in his own end zone, to cut the lead to 13-6. Fresno kicker Bryan McCabe missed the point after.
An 8-yard pass from Church to offensive specialist Cornell Craig led to another Pirates score with 14:50 left in the second quarter, but Kurz would miss his second extra point on the night, giving Peoria a 19-6 lead.
Fresno (0-3) would score again with 40 seconds left in the second quarter as Frenzy quarterback Ricky Ray would dash in from 9 yards out for his team’s last score on the night. Fresno’s McCabe missed the extra point. The Pirates would enter the locker room at halftime owning a 26-12 lead.
The Carver Arena crowd of 6,511 would roar as they watched their team during a second half in which the Pirates would rack up 29 unanswered points. But, the half was marred by injuries to two key Peoria players. Fullback Robert Meyer and lineman Robert Guynes were each helped off the field during the second half and will require further examination by doctors to determine the extent of their injuries.
“I lost possibly two good football players against (Fresno),” Cowdrey said. “It just makes you want to say, ‘no, not during a game like this.’”
Gordon was 12-for-21 passing for 167 yards and five touchdowns, while Church was 12-for-19 for 148 yards and two scores and one interception.
Craig led all players with 13 catches for 195 yards and 5 touchdowns, including his longest run of 39 yards.
Ray was 8-for-24 passing for Fresno for 109 yards, with no scores and three interceptions. His backup, Robert Dougherty, was 2-for-5 for 16 yards and no touchdowns.
The Pirates travel south to take on the 1-2 Bossier City Battle Wings Friday.
Steve Robinson, a freelance writer since 1984, has written about the Peoria Pirates since the Pirates were members of Indoor Football League, beginning in 1999. He covers the Pirates currently for the Bloomington IL Pantagraph.
