Week 3 Wrap-up

03/31/03 Randy Schad

Sherman Jones is a Diesel Tank. Circle your wagons for 60 minutes when the Bandits are in town. Evansville is just two kickers away from being an undefeated expansion team. In Week 3 of the NIFL, even the boards get into the action. (And by the way… Records are made to be broken.)

Beaumont 49 @ Evansville 39
After failing to convert 3 PATs and a field goal last week in their 1-point loss to the Freedom, Evansville's Tony Garcia was replaced in the lineup by kicker Charlie Hebert, who this week was 0-5 on field goal attempts and 1-3 on extra points. Even the boards in Evansville's Roberts Stadium were working against the Bluecats. With 8:10 left in the second quarter, Beaumont QB Derrick Taite aimed a 39-yard pass to Pat Palmer which bounced off the boards in the back of the end zone and landed in the hands of T.J. Sutherland for a touchdown. Taite threw for 2 additional (less spectacular) TDs, and RB Troy Sumrall rushed for 4 to secure the Drillers 3-0 record.

La Crosse 28 @ Tri-City 38
Tri-City's Sherman Jones carried the Diesel to their second straight win, rushing 23 times for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Night Train, bringing his totals to 175 yards and 6 TDs in only two games. Anthony Parker opened up the lead for the Diesel with a 30 yard interception return early in the fourth quarter. La Crosse (1-1), who in their second season has yet to win on the road, welcomes the Believers (1-1) next week.

Rapid City 35 @ Sioux City 38
The Red Dogs were undefeated -- for 59 minutes and 45 seconds, at least. With 15 seconds left in regulation, Jarrod DeGeorgia found WR Johnnie Ostermeyer at the goal line to lift the Bandits to a 38-35 victory and a 1-1 record. Ostermeyer caught 7 passes for 71 of DeGeorgia's 120 yards. DeGoergia, who went the entire game without an interception, threw 2 TDs and ran once into the end zone. Rapid City's Terrance Bryant went 17 of 30 for 195 yards, 4 TDs, and 1 pick.

Tupelo 22 @ Fort Wayne 57
After trading field goals and touchdowns in the opening period, QB Antoine Taylor gave Fort Wayne a 17-10 lead halfway through the second quarter off a 13-yard scamper into the end zone. Thus began the onslaught. Taylor added four TD passes and two more TD runs in the second half to complete the demolition of the Fire Ants defense, finishing the night 13 of 21 for 170 yards and one pick. Freedom DB Lamont White contributed to Tupelo's stagnancy with an interception and a fumble recovery.

Lake Charles 50 @ Lexington 41
The fans in Lexington, Kentucky did their part, tumbling the week-old attendance record set in Fort Wayne last Saturday. 10,004 people showed up to watch the Horsemen stumble in their NIFL home debut. After trailing 35-20 at halftime, the Horsemen closed the gap to 4 points mid-way through the fourth quarter before a Land Sharks field goal and a Warren St. Junious interception dashed any hopes of a come from behind win.

Oklahoma 18 @ Houma 29
Roger Green's safety with 42 seconds left in the third quarter gave the Bucks a 22-18 lead and helped set up the 5-yard touchdown run by Surhaver Fair less than a minute later to seal Houma's second win of the season. The Bayou Bucks stingy defense, in addition to the safety, also recorded 4 interceptions and held the Crude to just 143 yards of total offense.

Omaha 58 @ Show Me 55
Omaha scored twice after the two-minute warning in the first half to open up a 31-20 halftime lead. The Believers were able to pull to within 3 points late in the game, outscoring the Beef 35-27 in the second half, before Omaha's Lamar O'Neal picked off a tipped Rick Little pass with 1:07 remaining. Omaha hosts the Roughriders after their season opening win, and the Believers (1-1) travel to La Crosse (1-1).

Utah 50 @ Billings 40
In a repeat of last week's upset, the Warriors again came away with the victory, this time holding Billings scoreless in the fourth quarter to overcome a 40-38 deficit. Undefeated Utah gets the chance to further prove themselves against 2-0 Houma next week, while the Outlaws, now 1-2, will enjoy a much needed week off.

Bismarck 47 @ Wyoming 61
Roughriders QB Chris Schwab completed 14 of 25 passes for 198 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. But even that wasn't enough to overcome the Cavalry, who posted 19 first quarter points to start their 60-minute rally, which included a 50-yard interception return by Greg Ortberg with just 7 seconds remaining in the first half.

Sioux Falls 31 @ Lincoln 21
With 1:16 remaining and a 24-21 lead following a Lincoln touchdown, the Storm secured their first win of the season when Shannon Poppinga recovered a Capitols onside kick at the 7-yard line. The Lincoln offense was held to 179 total yards and 9 first downs.

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