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!!!
Now read about the biggest game the IFL will see to date! CLICK
HERE!