Game Recap!!

Venom Get Ready For Play-offs
And Cut Down Marauders 27 - 14!!

Excitement filled the air as these two Milwaukee franchises took the field in the First Annual Battle for Brew City! Oddly enough, the game was held in Waukesha @ Carroll College. With both teams already locked into the playoffs, we saw some players out, but no one on either side wanted to go home with a loss... not before the play offs... and definitely because both teams started the game with the exact same record of 5-3.

The Marauders got their chance first as The Venom kicked off, but were stifled quickly and forced to punt on a 3 and out. The Venom knew they must score quickly and often to keep pace with the high powered offense of the Marauders. After driving down field and into the red zone, the Marauders tightened up on "D" and The Venom attempted the field goal which was blocked! The Venom defense held tight, a trend that would be followed throughout the night. They could see the end zone not 7 yards behind the QB, they wanted a safety, but would have to settle for a punt on another 3 and out. The snap on the punt went wild! One the Marauders tried to pick it up and got hit from behind launching the ball forward, a Venom player tried to pick it up and it gets thrown out of his grasp forward again? Why didn't anyone just fall on it?! Making the correct decision and finally landing on the ball was DT #61 Rio Sutton, giving The Venom the ball all the way down on the 20 yard line! Ont the first play from scrimmage, QB #19 Brent Ferdinand, floats like a butterfly, a pass to WR #80 Mike Beckom who catches the ball in the end zone and after Danny split the uprights the score was good guys from Milwaukee 7 - Marauders 0.

The Marauders seemed to get fired up after the score, almost saying, "we know we're not playing at home, but not in our house!" After the Venom kick off, The Venom "D" stepped up again, forcing yet another 3 and out, when another fumbled snap on the punt, landed in MLB #56 Pete Henrikson's hands! The Venom offense got another close shot at an easy score and after 3 plays attempted another field goal which was missed. The Marauders then went 3 and out again, but The Venom offense had troubles with the muggy weather and slick ball, giving it right back to the Marauders on a fumble. With the change of possessions, somehow the Marauders ended up on our 12 yard line with the ball! Knowing that they couldn't just let The Venom walk around with points on the board without having some themselves, the MArauders went for it on 4th and short, but were denied entrance into the end zone! The Venom offense had another chance to score, but would punt just four plays later. With 9:00 left in the second quarter, the Marauders launch an air assault. On third down, they throw deep, (you know what happens next right?) INTERCEPTION!!! FS #7 Solomon Cabell, can you help me? I'd like 9 in 9 IFL games please, with a side of 49 yards this time! This sparked The Venom offense which ate mad clock and took their time getting down field before, what's this? Solomon Cabell lining up at WR again? Someone's in trouble! The quick pass Brent to Solomon goes the 11 yards they needed to put another score on the board bringing the end of the half and the game to
Venom 14 - Marauders 0.

It was Venom ball and rookie QB #14 Dave "The Kid" Davis to start the second half, where the "O" got a first down then suffered a fumble. The Venom defense was interested in getting the ball back to it's rookie QB for some much needed game time experience. The next three plays it would shut down the Marauders offense and give The Kid his due time. On second down, from The Venom 21 yard line, The Kid drops back and throws a pump fake left to pull the safety away from his deep threat WR #80 Mike Beckom who sees the safety squeeze down and also sees his chance to score. Switching gears and heading towards the sideline Mike looks for the ball. Dave, putting just enough touch on the ball, throws a strike, a strike that went for a 79 yard touchdown, Mike's second of the night!
Venom 21 - Marauders 0.

On the kick off, the Marauders fought hard and got a good return. Coupled with a dead ball foul and a facemask foul, put the ball on The Venom 20 yard line! Knowing they had to score to stay in the game mentally and physically, the Marauders did what it took to get into the end zone, before The Venom could run away with it. 10:09 left in the 3rd quarter.
Venom 21 - Marauders 7.

Directional kicks seem the way to go when facing FS #7 Solomon Cabell as kick returner, but when those kicks go just a little to far to one side or the other, you give the return team the ball on the 40 yard line! That good field positioning was lost quickly though, as on the second play we gave the Marauders the ball back on a fumble. The Marauders, still high off the TD they just scored, walked right down the field and scored again!
Venom 21 - Marauders 14.

The offense got another chance, but was forced to punt on fourth down. The Marauders, anxious to score again and tie the game up, incorrectly choose to throw the ball deep. Solomon once again picks the ball off and gains another 25 yards for himself on the way! This sparks The Good Guys in Orange offense, which take the ball the rest of the way on a pass from "The Kid" to WR #83 Brandon Taylor who showed his concentration skills as the DB batted the ball up and hit Brandon. Brandon stayed on his feet, barely keeping his balance, but keeping his eyes on the ball and closing his hands around it, as he high stepped into the end zone.
Venom 27 - Marauders 14.

After punts and trading possessions between both teams, the only item of significance was another deep pass that was taken in by Solomon for his 3rd INT of the game!!!

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