Fire Prove to Be Hungry and Like the Wolves
Kevin Sedelmeier
Monday July 25, 2005
Big plays were plentiful for the Fire’s juggernaut offense and its vastly improved defense. The Fire never trailed in the game, and led by as much as 26 against the conference’s #2 team. Ja’Dae McGuire, Justin Ard, Brian Kmitta, the versatile Demitrius Forney, and the rest of the offensive line gave QB Matt Sauk plenty of time all game, and when they do that, Sauk can pick a defense apart. He did just that, completing all of his attempts in the first quarter en route to 237 total yards. After going deep in the last few games, Sauk settled back into the short passes he perfected early in the season. When you have receivers like the Fire have, the type that constantly seem to move forward, you can get big yards after the catch.
While Sauk spreads the ball around, Rob Mager has emerged as his top target. A rookie of the year candidate, Mager has already generated a lot of talk from AFL teams, and it’s no surprise. Mager had another big game with three touchdowns, 10 catches, and 111 yards. Iron man Dennis Fryzel was not too shabby, either, hauling in 10 catches, for 77 yards, and four for scores. Cesare Manning added a touchdown grab to start the scoring.
The defense played its best football of the season, pressuring Manchester’s Jake Eaton and causing five turnovers. The defensive accolades were numerous. Lawrence Matthews scored on a fumble caused by Marvin Constant and Andrew Tippens, and he also intercepted a pass when Eaton was pressured by Paul White and Derrick Shepard. Nate Green scored on a 19-yard interception return after Eaton’s pass was tipped by Fryzel. The powerful and speedy Tippens had another big game, blocking an extra point, causing a fumble, and recording three sacks.
Any player on this team would have been a good interview after such an outstanding game. Everyone is clicking and playing well together. There was so much to ask about such a complete game, but when your three-year old says, "I just want to go home," late in the game, making him wait even longer past his bedtime to leave is a bit cruel, sort of like putting an infant to sleep with Celine Dion music. Lukas did enjoy the game, even if he was slightly oblivious to what was happening on the field. If you take away him holding his ears and saying, "It’s too noisy," he seemed to really enjoy himself.
While Lukas was decorating his pink cotton candy with popcorn – think ornaments on a Christmas tree – the Fire started the second half with a tone-setting defensive touchdown. The popcorn motif came after tentative licking of the sugary fluff left red freckles on the cotton candy that resembled a turf rash. One fan walked by us on his way to his seat, looking at the mess of butter and sucrose Lukas had created, he asked a friend, "What’s that?" as if it was a new item available at the concession stand. Lukas described his unlikely concoction, "It was delicious," the 42-pound bundle of energy said, "I tried to put popcorn on it and it got sticky."
Treats aside, when asked what his favorite part of the game was, a tiring Lukas said, "Going out of the game." Obviously, he missed the fireworks and fun on the field including Matt Sauk’s emphatic but ultimately unfulfilled waving off of kicker Danny Kight from coming on the field after a third down pass fell incomplete. Coach Tommy Johnson sent Kight in anyway, and Kight connected on a field goal to make it 51-32 at that point. It is Sauk’s competitive spirit that defines this team. Now that the defense is playing well, they can continue to get turnovers and give the ball back to the offense, and the Fire offense usually doesn’t fail to score. In fact, their turnovers are even way down this year.
After the game, in place of player interviews, I asked a sleepy Lukas for some commentary. What about how the Fire defense has really stepped up lately? "It was great," he said.
The Fire offense continues to break team records What do you think about them? "Yeah, he went like this," Lukas said lifting his arm up dramatically, "Like an elephant." I’m not sure who he was referring to – Sauk, Fryzel, Mager, Manning? But he meant it as a compliment.
The cheerleaders? "They were good," he said.
And how did Lukas summarize his evening? "I danced on the popcorn with my shoes," he said, referring to the third quarter spill that left a fourth of the box on the ground in front of our seats (sorry Freedom Hall maintenance). "It was funny."
What’s not funny is how well the Fire are playing as the regular season ends. In fact, to opposing teams, it’s downright scary.
Into the Fire
This week’s P.A. oddity… The song Saturday Night by The Bay City Rollers was played. I suppose I should make a confession that has been weighing heavily on me since I was six. Yes, I owned that 45. OK, but I was just a kid, I didn’t know any better. If I was featured in a Family Circus cartoon and Thel asked, "Who bought this Bay City Rollers record?" that darling little Not Me ghost would appear out of nowhere.
The Fire’s Mr. Do-Everything Adam Luken really takes care of the media as well as the fans. When the team ran out of footballs during a giveaway at the last home game, Luken made amends by letting fans redeem the season ticket holder voucher for replica footballs at the Manchester game. That’s good customer service, and it’s much appreciated.
This week’s mascot race was marred by confusion as some youngsters ran all the way to the other end zone and others just ran to midfield. Of course, Axe was there. Missing, however, from the mascot race was a moose who lingered around the end zone all night. He wore overalls and green shoes that resembled Burt Ward’s Robin booties. The moose looked friendly and pleasant enough, but his appearance was not explained. If the gentle mammal needs a name, there could be a contest. Murray or Morey seem like decent options.
Denny Crum and Joe B. Hall were on hand to sign their joint boblehead during the first half of the game. It was an effort to raise money for their favorite charities. In this basketball rabid part of the country, they signed hundreds of dolls and made friendly small talk. If you ever listen to their radio show weekday mornings on AM 790, you know how entertaining they can be with old hardwood war stories and homespun humor.
Former Fire player Nick Myers now plays for Manchester. He’s a good player, but unfortunately, he may be remembered for the oddest flag ever thrown in Freedom Hall. In the third quarter Saturday, Myers was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for spitting.
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.