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Cardinals Digest
Volume #1, Issue #7
Monday August 30th 2004
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C-Dog Bites Voodoo, Sets IFL Record In Blowout Of Louisiana
The 2-4 Cardinals knew they needed to come out and make a statement against the 4-3 Southern Division leading Louisiana Voodoo, and boy did they ever do exactly that.
With pretty much all playoff hopes on the line in this week 8 game the Cardinals were a blaze of fire in the locker room prior the game, and despite a slow start they did exactly what they expected to do, come out and dominate and show the league how good this team can be.
But it didn't start that way, in fact, things looked pretty ominous for St. Louis early. The teams traded possesions a few times and then Louisiana got the first break of the game, A Dominique Winton fumble deep in their own territory set the Voodoo up for an easy FG to give them a 3-0 lead.
Winton fumbled again on the 2nd play of the Cardinals next possesion and this time the Voodoo would not settle for just a field goal.
They marched 32 yards and capped it off with a Williams 2 yard scramble for a TD and a 10-0 lead with 1:10 remaining in the first quarter.
After the ensuing kickoff and an incompletion, Mark McMurray threw a wobbler that was picked off by Burt Guyette at the Cardinals 37 and returned to the 25 yard line. With a 10-0 lead, 3 straight Cardinals turnovers and the ball on the St. Louis 25, it seemed that Louisiana was just moments away from securing the game for good............wrong.
Following Williams incompletion on the opening play of the drive, he dropped back on 2nd and 10 and attempted to throw a little hitch pass to Bennett Jones, the ball bounced off his hands and into the arms of Robert Yates, playing in his first game since week 1. Yates took the ball and motored 79 yards, following a convoy of blockers for a TD and whole new ballgame.
After holding Louisiana to a 3 and out on their next possesion, the Cardinals offense came to life, Winton made up for his 2 fumbles with a 33 yard run to the 6 yard line and two plays later McMurray ran a QB draw right up the gut for a 3 yard TD. Despite Boyce Heddens first missed extra point of the season the Cardinals now led the game 13-10 and you could feel the momentum changing.
The Voodoo got the ball back, but on 3rd and 6 from their own 30 Williams hit Timmy Agustin over the middle for a 17 yard completion, but Noel Daniels delivered a crushing hit that sent the ball out of Agustins hands and Charles Yon recovered the fumble to set St. Louis up at Louisians 30 yard line. 5 plays later McMurray hit Zach Hall from 16 yards out in the corner of the endzone and St. Louis took a 20-10 lead.
The Voodoo would answer, putting together a 9 play 76 yard drive, the Cardinals defense stepped up though, holding them to a FG to make it 20-13 at the end of 1 half of play, but as exciting as that was, no one could have guess what was still to come.
The second half started with the Cardinals driving but being stopped. They did however pin the Voodoo at their own 2 yard line.
Louisiana moved out to the 31, and then the fireworks began. Williams attempted a WR screen but Charles Yon read the play perfectly and stepped in front of the pass, picking it off and going 32 uncontested yards for a TD and a 27-13 Cardinals lead.
3 Plays later Williams attempted an out pass, Yon stepped in front of it and was off to the races again, this time going 36 yards into the endzone for his 2nd intercepted TD return in 4 plays and giving the Cardinals a 34-13 lead.
Louisiana, still not willing to concede, took the ball and drove 36 yards in 8 plays to move to the Cardinals 33 yard line, but Williams tried to thread the needle down to the 9 yard line and Charles Yon picked up his 3rd Interception in 3 Voodoo drives.
The Cardinals would go on a nearly 8 minute drive and cap it off with A Boyce Hedden 38 yard FG to make it 37-13 with 10:24 left in the game.
Louisiana would get a FG to cut it to 37-16 but on their next possesion lightening would strike for a 4th time.
From his own 22 with 1:58 left in the game, Williams heaved a deep pass down the sidelines, it was batted into the air by Drew Sandstrom and Charles Yon picked it out of the air, he then went on a 71 yard scamper that included cut backs, field reversals and numerous blocks from teamates, all seemingly intent on getting his 3rd TD of the game. When Williams whiffed on a tackle attempt at the 16 yard line Yon highstepped his way into the endzone and was immediatly swarmed by teamates and cheers as the crowd of 65,000 erupted in salute to the amazing performance.
The return cemented a 44-16 win for the Cardinals as the defense destroyed the Louisian offense and put the Cardinals to within 1 game of the division lead and kept their playoff hopes very much alive.
A Day For The Ages
Charles Yon has suffered thru some dissapointing moments this season, his week 1 fumbled punt return comes to mind.
But on Sunday afternoon he probably made up for it, and more.
"It's the kind of day you dream of, the only thing that could of made this better was if it was in the Imperial Bowl, I played them tight and took advantage of that, some plays i just read, It was like I knew exactly what was coming, like the passes were intended for me, I was in the zone today".
Yons amazing line was not just something for IFL record books, but for all of football history, "High School, College, NFL, Canada, i'm sure there have been some, but I can't imagine a player the kind of day that Charlie did today, it was unreal, everytime you turned around he was picking up a fumble, picking off a pass or scoring a TD, hell, when a running back gets 3 TD's in a game it's a great game, this is a Cornerback!! A friggin Cornerback, he was just godly today", said coach Tyrell Nichols in the post game press conference.
Players Of The Week
Charles Yon had 3 Tackles, 4 Interceptions, 3 TD's and 1 Fumble Recovery, truly an amazing day.
Robert Yates made his return to the field following a 6 week layoff with a 79 yard Interception return for a TD and 6 tackles.
Winton and McKelvey combined for 25 carries and 117 yards as they continue to provide the Cardinals with a thunderous ground attack.
Mark McMurray was 9-21 with 91 yards, 1 TD & 1 INT. Zachary Hall caught 4 passes for 53 yards and a TD.
Back In Action
Lost in the game that Charles Yon had was the return of Robert Yates, who has been deactive since week 1 with a hamstring pull. Yates returned and provided 6 tackles and a 79 yard Interception return for a TD.
"It was so good to get out there and contribute, i've wanted to play but i know that after Walts injury they wanted to be extra carefull.
I'm 100% and I think it showed out there on the field, we have such a lethal defense and I wanna be a big part of that, hell, I would of been angry as heck if I missed that game today", he said with a smile.
Volume #1, Issue #7
Monday August 30th 2004
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C-Dog Bites Voodoo, Sets IFL Record In Blowout Of Louisiana
The 2-4 Cardinals knew they needed to come out and make a statement against the 4-3 Southern Division leading Louisiana Voodoo, and boy did they ever do exactly that.
With pretty much all playoff hopes on the line in this week 8 game the Cardinals were a blaze of fire in the locker room prior the game, and despite a slow start they did exactly what they expected to do, come out and dominate and show the league how good this team can be.
But it didn't start that way, in fact, things looked pretty ominous for St. Louis early. The teams traded possesions a few times and then Louisiana got the first break of the game, A Dominique Winton fumble deep in their own territory set the Voodoo up for an easy FG to give them a 3-0 lead.
Winton fumbled again on the 2nd play of the Cardinals next possesion and this time the Voodoo would not settle for just a field goal.
They marched 32 yards and capped it off with a Williams 2 yard scramble for a TD and a 10-0 lead with 1:10 remaining in the first quarter.
After the ensuing kickoff and an incompletion, Mark McMurray threw a wobbler that was picked off by Burt Guyette at the Cardinals 37 and returned to the 25 yard line. With a 10-0 lead, 3 straight Cardinals turnovers and the ball on the St. Louis 25, it seemed that Louisiana was just moments away from securing the game for good............wrong.
Following Williams incompletion on the opening play of the drive, he dropped back on 2nd and 10 and attempted to throw a little hitch pass to Bennett Jones, the ball bounced off his hands and into the arms of Robert Yates, playing in his first game since week 1. Yates took the ball and motored 79 yards, following a convoy of blockers for a TD and whole new ballgame.
After holding Louisiana to a 3 and out on their next possesion, the Cardinals offense came to life, Winton made up for his 2 fumbles with a 33 yard run to the 6 yard line and two plays later McMurray ran a QB draw right up the gut for a 3 yard TD. Despite Boyce Heddens first missed extra point of the season the Cardinals now led the game 13-10 and you could feel the momentum changing.
The Voodoo got the ball back, but on 3rd and 6 from their own 30 Williams hit Timmy Agustin over the middle for a 17 yard completion, but Noel Daniels delivered a crushing hit that sent the ball out of Agustins hands and Charles Yon recovered the fumble to set St. Louis up at Louisians 30 yard line. 5 plays later McMurray hit Zach Hall from 16 yards out in the corner of the endzone and St. Louis took a 20-10 lead.
The Voodoo would answer, putting together a 9 play 76 yard drive, the Cardinals defense stepped up though, holding them to a FG to make it 20-13 at the end of 1 half of play, but as exciting as that was, no one could have guess what was still to come.
The second half started with the Cardinals driving but being stopped. They did however pin the Voodoo at their own 2 yard line.
Louisiana moved out to the 31, and then the fireworks began. Williams attempted a WR screen but Charles Yon read the play perfectly and stepped in front of the pass, picking it off and going 32 uncontested yards for a TD and a 27-13 Cardinals lead.
3 Plays later Williams attempted an out pass, Yon stepped in front of it and was off to the races again, this time going 36 yards into the endzone for his 2nd intercepted TD return in 4 plays and giving the Cardinals a 34-13 lead.
Louisiana, still not willing to concede, took the ball and drove 36 yards in 8 plays to move to the Cardinals 33 yard line, but Williams tried to thread the needle down to the 9 yard line and Charles Yon picked up his 3rd Interception in 3 Voodoo drives.
The Cardinals would go on a nearly 8 minute drive and cap it off with A Boyce Hedden 38 yard FG to make it 37-13 with 10:24 left in the game.
Louisiana would get a FG to cut it to 37-16 but on their next possesion lightening would strike for a 4th time.
From his own 22 with 1:58 left in the game, Williams heaved a deep pass down the sidelines, it was batted into the air by Drew Sandstrom and Charles Yon picked it out of the air, he then went on a 71 yard scamper that included cut backs, field reversals and numerous blocks from teamates, all seemingly intent on getting his 3rd TD of the game. When Williams whiffed on a tackle attempt at the 16 yard line Yon highstepped his way into the endzone and was immediatly swarmed by teamates and cheers as the crowd of 65,000 erupted in salute to the amazing performance.
The return cemented a 44-16 win for the Cardinals as the defense destroyed the Louisian offense and put the Cardinals to within 1 game of the division lead and kept their playoff hopes very much alive.
A Day For The Ages
Charles Yon has suffered thru some dissapointing moments this season, his week 1 fumbled punt return comes to mind.
But on Sunday afternoon he probably made up for it, and more.
"It's the kind of day you dream of, the only thing that could of made this better was if it was in the Imperial Bowl, I played them tight and took advantage of that, some plays i just read, It was like I knew exactly what was coming, like the passes were intended for me, I was in the zone today".
Yons amazing line was not just something for IFL record books, but for all of football history, "High School, College, NFL, Canada, i'm sure there have been some, but I can't imagine a player the kind of day that Charlie did today, it was unreal, everytime you turned around he was picking up a fumble, picking off a pass or scoring a TD, hell, when a running back gets 3 TD's in a game it's a great game, this is a Cornerback!! A friggin Cornerback, he was just godly today", said coach Tyrell Nichols in the post game press conference.
Players Of The Week
Charles Yon had 3 Tackles, 4 Interceptions, 3 TD's and 1 Fumble Recovery, truly an amazing day.
Robert Yates made his return to the field following a 6 week layoff with a 79 yard Interception return for a TD and 6 tackles.
Winton and McKelvey combined for 25 carries and 117 yards as they continue to provide the Cardinals with a thunderous ground attack.
Mark McMurray was 9-21 with 91 yards, 1 TD & 1 INT. Zachary Hall caught 4 passes for 53 yards and a TD.
Back In Action
Lost in the game that Charles Yon had was the return of Robert Yates, who has been deactive since week 1 with a hamstring pull. Yates returned and provided 6 tackles and a 79 yard Interception return for a TD.
"It was so good to get out there and contribute, i've wanted to play but i know that after Walts injury they wanted to be extra carefull.
I'm 100% and I think it showed out there on the field, we have such a lethal defense and I wanna be a big part of that, hell, I would of been angry as heck if I missed that game today", he said with a smile.
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