Fire’s Big Second Half Puts Halt to Losing Streak
Kevin Sedelmeier
Wednesday July 14, 2004
So what did Head Coach Tommy Johnson tell his team at halftime? “I said ‘Look guys. They’re doing everything that we knew they would do,’” Johnson said, “We’re allowing them to take our technique away from us.” So, the former defensive back had to make a point to his defensive secondary to get better position, to not get beaten on post routes, to force Columbus QB Kyle Rowley – who had 250 yards passing in the first half – to throw to the short side of the field, and to stop the easy touchdowns. His defense responded. Early in the second half, Jabir Walker, who was beaten for a couple touchdowns in the first half, made an impressive interception after blanketing the receiver with step for step coverage.
Lineman Derrick Shepard thought the defense got off to a slow start. “We were kind of timid the first half,” he admitted. “In the locker room everybody got together and said that we can stop everybody. All we had to do is play our game and that’s what we did in the second half.” It sounds easy, inspirational, almost like turning on a switch. But the truth is, this is a team that for the past month has battled disappointing second halves, halves in which they seemed to be running out of gas. It was unlike the beginning of the season when the Fire outscored opponents by embarrassing margins in the second half.
Perhaps having healthy teammates is all it took. QB Matt Sauk was the beneficiary of the return of receiver Tony Stallings and offensive specialist James Scott, who was 100% healthy for the first time in well over a month. “He’s my go-to guy,” Sauk said of Scott, “When he’s back healthy it makes such a difference.”
Sauk is exactly right, but even with the big numbers for the game, it was a rocky start. “We weren’t in synch in the first half. We were still a little rusty,” Johnson said about his offense. “I’m sure that once we work together for another week our guys will be clicking on all cylinders.”
Stallings returned for only his sixth game of the season, missing one for injury and five for the filming of Animal Planet’s King of the Jungle 2. This return trip to the jungle was only for two weeks. “This time I was running a little bit more,” he said. Physically, he hasn’t lost any moves or speed. He ran one kickoff back for a touchdown, almost busted another after some exciting broken tackles and east-west running, took a screen thirty-six yards, and scored a seven-yard rushing touchdown. But the ever modest Stallings admitted to having some problems during his return game. “I was having a little trouble just remembering where I lined up,” he said. “I cost us a few penalties.” Having Stallings back gives the offense a one-two punch with Scott, giving a potent short and long game.
Stallings made an impact on the play that sealed the game, and he never even touched the ball. Sauk faked a hand-off to Stallings coming off high motion but instead handed off to fullback Demetrius Forney for a rumble that began inside and found the huge back busting it to the outside, showing good speed and strength as he fought off a defender for the last ten yards. Forney continues to be a solid, reliable contributor as blocker and defender, but he also has big play ability as his 12 touchdowns show that.
So the Fire pulled out another close victory – something they were able to do with consistency before the three-game losing streak. Their inspired second half suggests that they have put the streak behind them. Still, they know they have some issues to address. The special teams defensive coverage broke down more than once. They committed fifteen penalties for 115 yards. After one unsportsmanlike penalty that resulted in some trash talking and tough guy posing, the yell of “I didn’t know this was the Tyson fight” came cascading from the second deck, referring to the impending Mike Tyson fight set for Freedom Hall. But some of those penalties are either bad calls or silly mistakes teams probably shouldn’t be making in week 13, i.e. illegal defense. The secondary was vulnerable in the first half, but if they play like they did in the second half – with better coverage and the ability to create turnovers - they should be fine.
It wasn’t a perfect game, but it was a Fire game – a scrappy, never give-up sort of effort. This week the Fire travel to Hawaii to take on the 7-6 Islanders. It’s always a tough trip. “Whatever,” you, the disbelieving readers says, “it must be real rough to go to Hawaii.” As Coach Johnson always reiterates, “It’s a business trip.” I’ll mercifully refrain from quoting that overused, similarly named B.T.O. song. In fact, Matt Sauk said it best. “Down the stretch as long as we’re healthy, we’re going to be good.”
And that means they will play like they did during the first half of the season. So, in a way, the Fire may be changing back into the team they were a month ago.
Smoke Signals
Fire kicker Marc Samuel proudly held up his arms as he left the field after making a tackle on a kickoff return. His back was turned, and he didn’t see the yellow flag flutter to the turf.. He was called with a face mask personal foul penalty. “But I didn’t face mask him,” said Samuel, pleading his case after the game. “I just hit the top of his helmet.” Since the penalty didn’t wind up hurting the team, Samuel was able to put it in perspective. “I don’t care,” he added. “I usually don’t make the tackle.” Although it was a fine play, it’s not nearly as impressive as what Samuel will have to do to get to Hawaii. He will leave New York’s JFK airport fly to the island play a game and fly back all in under 60 hours. Oh, and he’s also preparing the take the New York Bar Exam in two weeks.
Although Columbus’ Adrian Cockfield came into the game as the Wardogs’ top receiver, it was Troy Bergeron who was the unstoppable juggernaut for the Wardogs. He had seven touchdowns, including a kick returned for a TD to go along with his 14 receptions and 216 yards.
Before the game and during halftime the Kentucky Karma and Cincinnati Sizzle participated in an exhibition game. Both teams are set to join the National Women’s Football Association in 2005. Yes, woman’s football. The Sizzle is coached by former Cincinnati Bengals running back Ickey Woods. The NWFA’s championship game will take place in Louisville at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium on July 31 at 7:00 p.m. One of the members of the Kentucky Karma is Donna Sachleben (formerly Habig). She’s a marathon-running wide receiver and more importantly we graduated grade school together, the class of 1984 St. Barnanbas, to be exact. If memory serves, she was a member of the Math Bowl Team in eighth grade, a coveted academic position only granted to four people. So, again here’s proof that good athletes can also be good students.
Just a thought but aren’t those Radio Disney people really loud? Like louder than Goofy yelping while getting a rabies shot-sort of loud? Sorry for the lame simile.
During a time out, the Chic-Fil-A cows participated in the infamous Duck Dance. Yes, the same one you feel really uncomfortable doing at weddings – unless you’ve already had too much to drink and then could pretty much care less. While people in the crowd were dancing along, only one player on the field joined in … the Fire’s Derrick Shepard. “I was just trying to have fun and get the crowd into it,” he said. Indeed, Shepard is an extremely likable guy who has child-like fun on the field. The bonus is he’s an excellent lineman on both sides of the ball.
In the front row near the corner of one of the end zones, five guys were making noise with cowbells. So, in honor of the opening of Will Ferrell’s Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, I must insist on “More cowbell!”
During one of their timeout routines, the Fire cheerleaders, the Wild Fires, donned 1980s-esque clothing. Thankfully none of them wore any shirts that said “Frankie Says Relax.” Still, they danced to a hip-hop song. That’s fine but I was expecting some new eurhythmic takes on Kajagoogoo, Flock of Seagulls, or Rockwell.
Oddly enough, the angriest person in the arena was not on the field during the game. It was a guy in stands. He was in the front row at the 15-yard-line. Donning a sleeveless shirt and wearing his cap backwards, the unidentified fan became irate after a late hit by a Columbus player. Although the penalty looked to be on the Wardogs’ Terrell Sutton, it was fellow DB Terence Samuel who took the most heat from the fan. It looked like they exchanges some words. But long after Samuel forgot about it, the sleeveless wonder wouldn’t let it go. When a female sitting next to him tried to settle him down, he merely flailed his arms; he would have not of that. Frankly, he looked ready to brawl despite having on no pads or helmet like his perspective opponent. Eventually he cooled down and emphatically ended his verbal fisticuffs with both arms extended firmly and his hands offering a universally inflammatory gesture. Look on the bright side, at least the guy cares about his Louisville Fire.
Kevin Sedelmeier is a native Louisvillian. A graduate of the University of Louisville with a B.A. in Communication and M.A. in English, he works as a technical writer and has written fifteen screenplays and numerous short
stories. He lives with his wife Elizabeth, son Lukas, and their dog Springsteen.