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Suarez Clears Way for Conference Title
by Jack Emup
Early today the Hartford Grizzlies took on their division rivals the Norfolk Vipers. Today's game was more than a normal divisional game between rivals, this game would determine which team was the best in the AC Conference.
These two teams had met 14 times previously. The series has been evenly split with each team winning 7 games. The teams met twice earlier in the year with the Grizzlies winning both games. In their first game, also in Hartford, the Grizzlies won a squeaker 25-22. This game changed completely when Norfolk's star QB and past IFL league MVP Harold Lozier go down for the entire regular season with a broken collarbone. Last week he returned to action and led the Vipers to a win over heavily favored Portland in Portland. This week he sought to avenge the two earlier losses to Hartford.
However, TJ Palmateer had other plans. I spoke with Coach Palmateer earlier today and he told me he had a surprise in store for us today. Former All-Pro left guard Stephen Suarez was going to play. He has been out since mid-season when he broke his left fibula. He was listed as probable, but the Grizzlies medical staff warned against him playing for fear of aggrivating the injury. Suarez had other plans.
As one of the few remaining Grizzlies that were part of the 2004 Grizzlies team, Suarez knew that having a chance to go the the IFL Bowl does not happen frequently. So, he quietly suited up, and no one knew what was going to happen until after the opening kickoff.
When the Grizzlies offense took the field, Suarez came out onto the field. The crowd erupted. This was shades of Willis Reed coming out during the final game of the 72 NBA Finals. The Grizzlies feeding off the energy in the crowd immediately went to work. The call was all too familiar to Grizzly fans. 21 Power. A handoff to Jamison behind Flemming and Suarez. That went for 22 yards. The Grizzlies were off and running.
But, these were the defending IFL champion Norfolk Vipers. They survived the Grizzlies first punch by intercepting a Jim Hickman pass at their 1 yard line. They then mounted a drive that appeared destined for the Grizzly end zone. On a second and five from their own 44, the game changed. Jaime Wortham, the man responsible for Lozier's broken collarbone, blitzed inside the tackle, blew by the confused Viper tackle and guard and put Lozier down for a 7 yard loss. The ball came out, but the Vipers recovered. On the next play, FS Steve Frausto came untouched and sacked Lozier again, the Grizzlies defense had come into the game.
Time and time again, the Grizzlies pounded the ball behind the left side of their line. Flemming, Suarez, and Damien opened the holes and Jamison ran through the seams. The Grizzlies scored on their third possession of the game. A beautiful pass from Jim Hickman to Tito Hernandez made the game 7-0.
Norfolk responded with a drive of their own that stalled at the Hartford 22. David Harbour responded with a 39 yard field goal that closed the gap.
But that was all the Grizzlies needed. Their defense was stellar today. 5 sacks, 3 hurries, 6 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries. It was a defensive clinic, put on by a defense that had been questioned all year.
The vaunted Grizzlies offense was largely kept in check all day, but the constant pounding of the ball behind their offensive line finally started to pay dividends. Two 4th quarter drives ended in touchdowns for the Grizzlies and provided the cushion they needed. Jim Hickman might get the headlines for his 3 TD performance, which is a Grizzly team record, but it was the work of the Grizzlies up front that was the story of this game.
The fans recognized this as well. As time ran down, the fans started chanting Suarez's name in recognition of his efforts this day. He didn't rack up big stats. Just his presence in the game transformed the mediocre Grizzlies running game of the last half of the season to a monster that determined the pace and course of this game.
by Jack Emup
Early today the Hartford Grizzlies took on their division rivals the Norfolk Vipers. Today's game was more than a normal divisional game between rivals, this game would determine which team was the best in the AC Conference.
These two teams had met 14 times previously. The series has been evenly split with each team winning 7 games. The teams met twice earlier in the year with the Grizzlies winning both games. In their first game, also in Hartford, the Grizzlies won a squeaker 25-22. This game changed completely when Norfolk's star QB and past IFL league MVP Harold Lozier go down for the entire regular season with a broken collarbone. Last week he returned to action and led the Vipers to a win over heavily favored Portland in Portland. This week he sought to avenge the two earlier losses to Hartford.
However, TJ Palmateer had other plans. I spoke with Coach Palmateer earlier today and he told me he had a surprise in store for us today. Former All-Pro left guard Stephen Suarez was going to play. He has been out since mid-season when he broke his left fibula. He was listed as probable, but the Grizzlies medical staff warned against him playing for fear of aggrivating the injury. Suarez had other plans.
As one of the few remaining Grizzlies that were part of the 2004 Grizzlies team, Suarez knew that having a chance to go the the IFL Bowl does not happen frequently. So, he quietly suited up, and no one knew what was going to happen until after the opening kickoff.
When the Grizzlies offense took the field, Suarez came out onto the field. The crowd erupted. This was shades of Willis Reed coming out during the final game of the 72 NBA Finals. The Grizzlies feeding off the energy in the crowd immediately went to work. The call was all too familiar to Grizzly fans. 21 Power. A handoff to Jamison behind Flemming and Suarez. That went for 22 yards. The Grizzlies were off and running.
But, these were the defending IFL champion Norfolk Vipers. They survived the Grizzlies first punch by intercepting a Jim Hickman pass at their 1 yard line. They then mounted a drive that appeared destined for the Grizzly end zone. On a second and five from their own 44, the game changed. Jaime Wortham, the man responsible for Lozier's broken collarbone, blitzed inside the tackle, blew by the confused Viper tackle and guard and put Lozier down for a 7 yard loss. The ball came out, but the Vipers recovered. On the next play, FS Steve Frausto came untouched and sacked Lozier again, the Grizzlies defense had come into the game.
Time and time again, the Grizzlies pounded the ball behind the left side of their line. Flemming, Suarez, and Damien opened the holes and Jamison ran through the seams. The Grizzlies scored on their third possession of the game. A beautiful pass from Jim Hickman to Tito Hernandez made the game 7-0.
Norfolk responded with a drive of their own that stalled at the Hartford 22. David Harbour responded with a 39 yard field goal that closed the gap.
But that was all the Grizzlies needed. Their defense was stellar today. 5 sacks, 3 hurries, 6 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries. It was a defensive clinic, put on by a defense that had been questioned all year.
The vaunted Grizzlies offense was largely kept in check all day, but the constant pounding of the ball behind their offensive line finally started to pay dividends. Two 4th quarter drives ended in touchdowns for the Grizzlies and provided the cushion they needed. Jim Hickman might get the headlines for his 3 TD performance, which is a Grizzly team record, but it was the work of the Grizzlies up front that was the story of this game.
The fans recognized this as well. As time ran down, the fans started chanting Suarez's name in recognition of his efforts this day. He didn't rack up big stats. Just his presence in the game transformed the mediocre Grizzlies running game of the last half of the season to a monster that determined the pace and course of this game.
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