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Stallions Douse Fire, Take Lead in NFC West Race
by Jimmy Somelove
Since the NFC Divisional Championship last season, Columbia had been looking forward to avenging a 48-42 upset on their turf. I don’t think they ever saw the Stallions coming. The game plan was executed to perfection this Sunday and the result was a disaster for the Fire.
B.J. Burke’s 3-4 defense was converted to his trademark 5-2 (5 linebackers and 2 DT) this week. This front allowed Burke to keep his best pass rushers on the field at all times and it wreaked havoc on the Fire’s pass-first attack. Cartagena completed only 18 passes in 42 attempts and while he was only sacked once, Julian was hurried 10 times and forced off the field 8 times on third down. The Columbia offense was confused all afternoon as they committed 12 penalties for 79 yards also.
“The 5-2 is something we used against Columbia last season when Morris was starting for them”, said Burke at the post game press conference. “We didn’t go back to it in the Championship and gave up 42 points. We decided to be aggressive this time. We wanted them have to adjust to us and I’d say we accomplished that.”
Burke was right. The Stallions held the Fire to 58 plays while they were able to run off 71 snaps for 487 yards, convert 10 of 15 thirds downs, and hold the ball for almost 35 minutes.
This put the ball in Nigel Booker’s hands enough for him to make some spectacular plays. On their second offensive series, the Horses imposed their will on a defense that looked primed to stop a passing attack. Backed up to their 6-yard line, Coach Palmateer sends out 4 wide receivers against a 3-4 front. I swear you could see Booker grinning as Columbia linebacker Eric Burgess reluctantly followed Donnie Tyler when Booker motioned him. Booker hit Tyler for 28 yards.
Tart first two carries gained nothing as he seemed to too eager to get to the hole and out-ran his blockers, but Booker calmed his team down and directed them 94 yards to pay dirt, capping the drive with a 8-yard fade to a wide open Gomez in the end zone. The normally efficient Gus Raymond missed his extra point and Booker followed him to bench while he gestured that he needed to relax before giving him the ole’ butt-pat while he hustled back to the bench to review the camera shots.
After the Fire’s next drive yielded another punt, The Stallions rushing attack got untracked and Gomez was again left single-covered in the red zone. Money cut off his route and darted to the middle of the field where Booker nailed him with a missile-strike for an 11 yard TD.
Columbia answered with 10 points over the next 3 series but Booker found Gomez single-covered on a 13-yard slant pattern early in the 4th stanza. Gomez beat his man, side stepped the safety and took the ball 78 yards for a 91-yard TD which gave the Stallions a 24-10 lead. Stallions went on to score another 10 points in the quarter before giving up a meaningless TD and conversion with 11 seconds left.
Booker won the game MVP but was quick to hand the accolades to Gomez who “made it pretty easy to look good today”. The Stallions now return home after their most successful road trip ever and look to host a misfiring Houston team---the same type of team that has given them issues in the past.
Reno won again so the Stallions need to stay a game ahead of them and not suffer a let down. If Booker can continue to lead his troops the way he has this season, the Stallions should maintain this momentum--JS
by Jimmy Somelove
Since the NFC Divisional Championship last season, Columbia had been looking forward to avenging a 48-42 upset on their turf. I don’t think they ever saw the Stallions coming. The game plan was executed to perfection this Sunday and the result was a disaster for the Fire.
B.J. Burke’s 3-4 defense was converted to his trademark 5-2 (5 linebackers and 2 DT) this week. This front allowed Burke to keep his best pass rushers on the field at all times and it wreaked havoc on the Fire’s pass-first attack. Cartagena completed only 18 passes in 42 attempts and while he was only sacked once, Julian was hurried 10 times and forced off the field 8 times on third down. The Columbia offense was confused all afternoon as they committed 12 penalties for 79 yards also.
“The 5-2 is something we used against Columbia last season when Morris was starting for them”, said Burke at the post game press conference. “We didn’t go back to it in the Championship and gave up 42 points. We decided to be aggressive this time. We wanted them have to adjust to us and I’d say we accomplished that.”
Burke was right. The Stallions held the Fire to 58 plays while they were able to run off 71 snaps for 487 yards, convert 10 of 15 thirds downs, and hold the ball for almost 35 minutes.
This put the ball in Nigel Booker’s hands enough for him to make some spectacular plays. On their second offensive series, the Horses imposed their will on a defense that looked primed to stop a passing attack. Backed up to their 6-yard line, Coach Palmateer sends out 4 wide receivers against a 3-4 front. I swear you could see Booker grinning as Columbia linebacker Eric Burgess reluctantly followed Donnie Tyler when Booker motioned him. Booker hit Tyler for 28 yards.
Tart first two carries gained nothing as he seemed to too eager to get to the hole and out-ran his blockers, but Booker calmed his team down and directed them 94 yards to pay dirt, capping the drive with a 8-yard fade to a wide open Gomez in the end zone. The normally efficient Gus Raymond missed his extra point and Booker followed him to bench while he gestured that he needed to relax before giving him the ole’ butt-pat while he hustled back to the bench to review the camera shots.
After the Fire’s next drive yielded another punt, The Stallions rushing attack got untracked and Gomez was again left single-covered in the red zone. Money cut off his route and darted to the middle of the field where Booker nailed him with a missile-strike for an 11 yard TD.
Columbia answered with 10 points over the next 3 series but Booker found Gomez single-covered on a 13-yard slant pattern early in the 4th stanza. Gomez beat his man, side stepped the safety and took the ball 78 yards for a 91-yard TD which gave the Stallions a 24-10 lead. Stallions went on to score another 10 points in the quarter before giving up a meaningless TD and conversion with 11 seconds left.
Booker won the game MVP but was quick to hand the accolades to Gomez who “made it pretty easy to look good today”. The Stallions now return home after their most successful road trip ever and look to host a misfiring Houston team---the same type of team that has given them issues in the past.
Reno won again so the Stallions need to stay a game ahead of them and not suffer a let down. If Booker can continue to lead his troops the way he has this season, the Stallions should maintain this momentum--JS