Vipers win 64-48 over Lexington

Friday June 6, 2008

An announced crowd of 3,538 serenaded the streaking Tennessee Valley Vipers before Friday night's game against the Lexington Horsemen.

And the Vipers responded by beating Lexington 64-48 in the Von Braun Center. Tennessee Valley improved to 7-3 with its seventh straight win in arenafootball2.

"It was a team effort. It was a sloppy game for us," Vipers coach Dean Cokinos said. "When the game was on the line, we stepped up and made plays. It's a good victory. There's no such thing as a bad victory. But it was a sloppy victory tonight."

Vipers quarterback Kevin Eakin completed 25-of-44 passes for six touchdowns and 256 yards. Maurice Brown caught 11 passes for four touchdowns and 139 yards.

"I made a few mistakes in the second half," Eakin said. "But the bottom line is we found a way to win."

Eric Scott had four tackles, two sacks for 9 yards loss, three tackles for loss, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, a pass breakup, blocked a field goal attempt, and had a quarterback hurry.

"I just try to go out and play hard and make plays," Scott said. "And as long as you go out and keep doing that, plays are going to come."

Tennessee Valley opened the scoring when Terrance Ford sacked Lexington quarterback Ryan Mitch in the end zone for a safety. Brown caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from Eakin capped by Nick Hayes' kick for a 9-0 lead.

The Horsemen (6-4) answered with Mitch's 14-yard scoring pass to Jonathan Hawks. Eakin connected with Brown from the 2 for a 16-6 Vipers lead.

Lexington's William Mulder returned the ensuiing kickoff 56 yards to get within 16-12.

Eakin threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jawarski Pollack for a 23-12 Vipers advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Scott blocked a Lexington field goal attempt, giving the Vipers another safety and a 25-12 cushion. Eakin and Brown then struck again from the 15.

Scott's second sack of the night tied the Vipers' single season record with 14. But the Horsemen climbed within 31-27 by late in the second quarter. Eakin and Brown from the 6 made it 38-27 at halftime.

Lexington got within 38-35 after taking the kickoff to start the second half. Mitch threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to John Cooper and ran for two points.

The Vipers answered with Eakin's 5-yard pass to Alonzo Nix. But Lexington struck back on Hawks' 57-yard kickoff return.

Tennessee Valley led 54-41 after three quarters on Lance Ancar's 28-yard run and Ford's second sack for a safety.

Scott recovered a Lexington fumble to give the Vipers a first down at the Horsemen 14 with 5:26 left in the game. Hayes' 23-yard field goal made it 57-48 with 3:08 left. Matt Webber added a 3-yard touchdown run.

The Vipers travel June 13 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.