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Date Posted: 00:11:02 12/12/03 Fri
Author: Josh (Steel Valley)
Author Host/IP: 130.101.77.105
Subject: SMASH PULL OFF SHOCKER

Any time a team gets outgained 331-144, goes 2/16 on third downs, and can't even get 50% passing, you'd think a win would be a shocker.

If that team was 3-25 in the past two seasons, you'd think something higher was in power.

Well, no one knows how it happened, but the Steel Valley Smash pulled off an amazing upset over the Wichita Warlords, 24-14, in a game where the outcome was almost never in doubt. The Smash took a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter and let their abysmal defense win the game for them.

DE Dan Tarabella had a pair of sacks, both of which crippled Warlord drives. Four other Smash players recorded a sack, and DB Brian Gardner even picked off a Johnny Johnson pass late in the fourth quarter.

The most important player, however, might have been punter Bryan Savell. He was called on 13 times (he touched the ball 3 times less than starting HB David Ruter) and had marvelous booming kicks all night long.

After the win, Smash head coach Dan Jackson, for once, was smiling. "I know we played like crap, but it's hard to be angry about anything. We've busted our asses for quite some time, and it's starting to pay dividends."

The Smash recorded their first full sellout since the 1999 season, and it's easy to see that the fans were the deciding factor. Jackson agreed. "Goodness yes. When we needed a spark, and there were times, the fans were always there. Finally, the fans have something TO cheer about. It's such a great feeling for us to have done something for these guys. And it feels good to have a loud, raucous home floor for the first time in a long time."

Wichita QB Johnny Johnson begrudgingly agreed. "We got our asses kicked by those fans all night long. Sure, we had good numbers, but we were puzzled all night, this is the loudest I have ever heard an FIFL arena. If they keep it up, I don't want to be here in the playoffs."

The Smash try to start a true cinderella season in Week 2 at the Dayton Skyhawks. Coach Jackson did note that "if we're going to beat the two-time champs, we've gotta play quite a bit better on offense."

It's good to finally see the Smash win a game easily in the Valley again.

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