Riptide Dominate Louisville 68-27
Keith Antigiovanni
Tuesday May 7, 2002
Last week Morris predicted that San Diego would have a break-out game. Maybe it was the fact that the team needed a win to keep pace with Bakersfield or maybe it was the signing of a new kicker or just maybe it was because of the hiring of Arena League great George LaFrance as the teams’ General Manager. Whatever the reason all last week the Riptide were upbeat despite the fact they were routed by Tulsa and Arkansas in consecutive games. San Diego may not be at the same level as the top teams in the af2 but they`re not an expansion patsy either.
Late in the second quarter with the game tied at 20 Marty Graham’s electrifying 58-yard kickoff return put the Riptide up and seemed to energize the entire team as well as the home crowd. San Diego had jumped out to a 14-0 lead then allowed Louisville to tie at 14, the Riptide got the lead back but missed the extra point. A few plays later the Fire tied the game at 20. Riptide fans were having flashbacks of opening night against Bakersfield when San Diego blew a huge lead right before half-time but Graham’s kickoff return ignited a 48-7 run for the Riptide. “It feels good, we know they had some new players on their team. We would have to come out here and show the crowd what we could do if we were hitting on all cylinders, and tonight we were hitting on all cylinders.” Graham said. In addition to his kick-off return Graham, the MVP of the game, also scored a touchdown rushing and receiving.
The offensive explosion was not a surprise because of the Riptide’s talented offense but the defense played its finest game so far recording four sacks, three interceptions and a fumble. WR/DB Ryan Smith had another outstanding game and was named ADT Defensive Player. He snagged two interceptions and scored on receiving touchdown and an interception return. On the second interception Smith shut the door on Louisville as the Fire attempted to get back in then game down 48-27 early in the fourth quarter. “We got a couple of guys back. We got A.Z.( Aazaar Abdul-Rahim) and Marty( Graham) back. On the second interception, “I read three steps and turned around and it was right there, it was kind of like an embarrassing throw,” Smith said. Earlier that drive Smith got called for unsportsmanlike conduct penalty placing the ball at the one. Three plays later he was running down the sidelines waving at Louisville QB Dan English as he sprinted past him.
WR/LB Rico Curtis and OT/DT Brad Greetis also had big games. Both scored on a pair of touchdowns each on offense and defense. Greetis’ blocked field goal for a safety helped turned the game around for San Diego in the 21-0 third quarter run.
Riptide kicker Ryan Giesler filled in well making 7 of 10 PAT’s. “He did a good job. He made more than he missed so that’s good,” Morris said.
Backup quarterback Wesley Phillips also saw some action in an early fourth-quarter series. “Kane wasn’t hurt. We just wanted to get Wesley some reps. He’s done a great job in practice,” Morris added.
The Riptide will try to even its record next week against the Hawaiian Islanders on the road.
Keith Antigiovanni is a free-lance writer in San Diego, California. He has worked for several local newspapers covering sports, government and business. Keith started writing in 1995 after graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Mass Media Communications from the University of San Diego. Aside from working as a sportswriter he has a side business of providing marketing assistance/research for small businesses and also directs,produces and hosts a regular public access television show on Time-Warner Cable named "San Diego Yesterday". Antigiovanni is also a member of the San Diego Sportswriter Association.
