Flexing muscle; Law pulverizes Omaha
Final Highlights: DC Law vs. Omaha Beef
Dodge City, Kan (westernkansasnews.com)-Rarely does five minutes in the second quarter define a football game. But for 300 seconds on Saturday night, a tie game was turned into a demolition.
Josh Floyd threw for three touchdowns; ran for two more, and the defense forced four turnovers en route to a 60-20 victory over the Omaha Beef at United Wireless Arena.
“We were thinking too much early,” defensive coordinator Todd Middleton said after the game. “After that, we just simplified things, and the guys really responded.”
Most would tell you they expected a high scoring affair, and when Beef quarterback Chris Coffin hit Jared Elmore for a 30-yard touchdown that tied the game at 20 with 5:52 to play in first half, no one blinked. Dan Thurin’s team was very much in the game, at least they thought they were. Then the tidal wave hit.
“The defense played absolutely lights out,” Head Coach Sean Ponder said. “We’ve given up 32 points in the last two games. That’s incredible.”
Dominique Carson’s 26-yard kickoff return following the game-evening score, set the Law (6-3) up at the nine-yard line. On the next play, the man who scored more touchdowns than anyone in college football in 2011, took the hand off and strolled into the end zone-giving the Law a 27-20 advantage.
Omaha seem poised to drive down the field and draw even on their next possession, but Coffin fumbled the ball, Walner Leandre picked it up and raced 15 yards for a touchdown. Alex Fambrough booted through the extra point and Dodge City had a 14-point lead with 4:50 to go in the second quarter.
“They (the defense) was absolutely phenomenal,” Ponder said. “No doubt about it.”
They were at it again the next time the Beef (3-5) had the football. On third-and-two from their own 20, Coffin forced a pass into triple coverage that was intercepted in the end zone by Mark Sterling. On the ensuing play, Floyd stepped back and cocked a 45-yard missile to Maurice Young for a touchdown. The PAT was good, and the opposing sideline could only watch as the Law scored 21 points in a matter of three minutes. They weren’t finished.
Trailing 41-20 with just over two minutes to play in the second, Coffin marched the Beef to the Dodge City 12. But his third-down pass intended for Elmore was picked off by Cashmin Thomas, who returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. As the veteran corner did his dance in the back of the end zone, the Law lead ballooned to 48-20.
The final straw of the half came on the back of two, massive defensive plays. First on second-and-20 at his own 18, Coffin was sandwiched by Marquis George and Jamar Seard back at the 12-yard line . Then on third down, with everyone in the building expecting the Beef to keep it on the ground and try to run out the clock, Coffin audibled; took a deep drop and rolled to his right. But as he maneuvered back to the left, Seard grabbed him around the waist and spun him to the ground in his own end zone for a safety.
“We needed a big play,” Seard said. “I just happened to make it. We’ll take it all day.”
The sack not only put the Law in front 50-20, it capped off one of the most incredible five minutes of football the indoor league has seen this season.
In the second half-a Fambrough 41-yard field goal and Floyd to Kendrick Ings 20-yard touchdown pass capped off a stretch where the Law scored the final 40 points of the game.
Dodge City scored the game’s first points on their opening drive when Floyd scampered six yards to pay dirt. Omaha responded quickly with a Coffin to Anthony Parks one-yard touchdown pass. Marcus Williams missed the extra point, and the Beef trailed 7-6.
Later in the first, Floyd hit Brandon Venson for a 34-yard touchdown extending the Law lead to 14-6.
After Alex Fambrough missed a field goal, the Beef drove it 45 yards in four plays-capping it off with Coffin’s second touchdown pass of the night: A 15-yard strike to Elmore.
Dodge City bounced right back with a four-play, 22 yard drive that pushed the ball inside the Beef five. On third-and-goal, Floyd kept it himself and tumbled into the end zone for a 20-13 advantage. He finished the night with eight carries for -3 yards and two scores. He also was 7-of-14 through the air for 137 yards and three touchdowns.
Carson ran the ball nine times for 54 yards and a touchdown. Omaha’s Preston Brown rushed for 75 yards on 17 carries.
Next up: Dodge City at Oklahoma Defenders-Saturday, May 10-6:30 p.m. pregame; 7:05 kick on 98.1 FM; z98mobile.com and the all-new Z 98 mobile app
Notes: With the victory, the Law took a two-game lead over Oklahoma for the fourth and final playoff spot in the CPIFL…It was Dodge City’s third straight victory (franchise best)
Final Stats: final stats pack dc law vs. omaha
