Oxnard Falls Just Short - skidsboroff's Blog

skidsboroff's Blog

Oxnard Falls Just Short

Posted on February 16, 2009 at 01:38 AM.

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'Hogs Lose Thriller, Playoff Hopes

With a playoff birth on the line, the Charlotte Savages came to town with MVP Candidate Barry Sanders on an absolute roll. Today would prove to be business as usual for Sanders, but the outcome would be as close as any game this season.

The Warthogs knew coming in that Sanders would be the focal point of Charlotte's offense all afternoon, and had gameplanned to try and slow him down. Despite this, Sanders ripped off touchdown runs of 47 and 60 yards in the first quarter, putting the Savages out in front and giving the game a hint of a blowout.

But the 'Hogs showed their newfound resilience under skidsboroff, charging back in the second quarter on the laurels of one Roger Craig. He led two long drives and brought the game to a 14-14 tie at the half with two rushing TD's.

In the second half, Oxnard began to slow down the rushing of Barry Sanders, but also found difficulty on the offensive side of the ball. That is until, with 57 seconds left in the third quarter, from their own 8, the 'Hogs ripped off their longest play of the year. A stretch to the weak side with Roger Craig, who initially looked to be tackled for a loss. But with a signature spin move Craig burst up the left side before breaking two more tackles, en route to a huge 92 yard TD run.

This helped the hometown crowd forget the 44 yard field goal miss on the previous possesion, which would prove to be crucial.

The fourth quarter would then be the undoing of the 'Hogs playoff hopes. The Savages drove hard into the Oxnard red zone, before a Sanders was nailed for a loss and the subsequent incompletion led to a 28 yard field goal to put Charlotte within four.

Needing a couple first downs to salt away the game, Craig could not find any running room, and the Warthogs went three and out. Punting away to the Savages, a touchdown was the only thing on a Savage mind.

With 2:27 and the ball at their own 11, the Savages would call on Dave Krieg to lead a two minute drill. Lead the drive he would, as Krieg, at first stalling, completed 16 yards on 4th and 13 to begin what would be a 89 yard touchdown drive, culmintating with a TD pass to the corner of the endzone.

Left with just 5 seconds, the 'Hogs could do nothing but complete a pass to the Savage 44. Pack it up, go home. Charlotte 24, Oxnard 21.

What began as a season that looked to have a number one draft pick on the horizon, to win four of five and finish 8-8 is something to build on. But with low attendance figures in Oxnard, a moved could be coming soon.

Stats

Montana: 8-16, 96 yds, 1 int
Craig: 15 car, 229 yds, 3 TD
Buoniconti: 10 tkl, 0.5 sack