PLAYOFF Game Summary/Box Score
July 8, 2006 Madison Lionz at Ogden Rhino-Raiders @ Ben Lomond High School

2006 RMFL CHAMPIONSHIP

OGDEN RIDES RASHAD KENNEDY AND INCREDIBLE DEFENSIVE PRESSURE EN ROUTE TO A 34-26 CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY

OGDEN – The Ogden Rhino-Raiders rode the powerful legs of Rashad Kennedy and a dominating defensive effort imaginable, all the way to their 80th consecutive league victory and their 3rd consecutive RMFL Championship, and 7th straight league title (including 4 UFL titles).

Rashad Kennedy rushed for 158 yards on 29 carries all the way to a co-MVP nod for the game. Kennedy will have to share the award with the co-MVP of the game, the ENTIRE Ogden defense who played incredible pressure on Madison quarterback, Troy Dougherty, recording an unprecedented 13 sacks, a number of hurries and scoring 2 touchdowns of their own.

The game marked the first time in RMFL history when the same two teams matched up for the championship on consecutive years… and it did not disappoint.

Although high scoring, the first quarter ended in a 0-0 tie after Madison’s Cory Fleming returned the opening kick-off near midfield.  The teams exchanged possessions with the Rhino-Raiders unable to escape the shadow of their own goal posts and the Lionz unable to take advantage of the field position.

The first scoring drive started late in the 1st quarter and was capped by Rashad Kennedy’s only touchdown, a 4-yard sweep around left end in which he juked the Madison defenders inside and then outran the defense to the corner of the end zone.  Kennedy would end up with only 36 yards on 12 carries in the 1st half.

Two changes of possession later, the Lionz finally got on the board, when Madison quarterback, Troy Dougherty found Zac Johnson, his top receiver on the season, on a quick slant from 4-yards out.  The catch was Johnson’s first of the game, although he would go on to lead all receivers with 7 catches for 108 yards.  The conversion attempt by Buck Mouser, however, was blocked by David Stroshine and the point would end up becoming a strategy problem for the Lionz most of the game.

Near the end of the half, the Madison Lionz were driving inside of Rhino territory to set up a field goal or touchdown that would have given them the halftime lead, however, on another patented “bring the house” blitz by the Rhino-Raiders defense, Dougherty was hit and lost the football.  Jay Tupe picked up the loose ball on one hop and raced 55 yards uncontested for a touchdown for a big point-swing that would give Ogden a full 8-point halftime edge at 14-6.

Immediately after the Rhino-Raiders were 3 and out after the second half kickoff, and the Lionz took over for their first possession, Dougherty connected with back-up tight end, Todd Barber over the top of the Ogden defense and after breaking a tackle, waltzed on in to complete a 55-yard pass play bringing the Lionz to within 2 for the tie.  The Lionz attempted a two-point conversion pass to reigning RMFL MVP, Nate Brown.  The Rhino-Raiders intercepted the try and on the play, Brown took exception to a post interception shot that Ogden’s Jared Harward took on him and expressed it clearly enough that he was ejected from the contest.

After another stop, the Lionz, once again had the ball driving into Rhino territory with a chance to take the lead with a field goal or touchdown.

Déjà vu.

Once again, Dougherty, under serious pressure attempted to pass, could not get his pass over the out-stretched arms of Tracy Ita.  Ita caught the ball cleanly in the air as Dougherty was being taken down and had a clear field ahead of him.  As Ita crossed the Madison 45-yard line, he noticed number 44, Nate Rydalch, of the LIonz gaining quickly.  Ita squared around as Rydalch was closing in and tossed the ball perfectly back to David Stroshine who did have a clear path to the goal and Ogden had their second defensive score… and once again, turned back what would have been a Madison lead into a big defensive touchdown.

Madison would not give up.

The Lionz would get the ball back after another one of Stireman’s 5 interceptions when Willie Reed picked off a pass and had clear sailing, except for the quarterback Stireman who made a nice open field tackle to save the score. However, the Lionz would score anyway when Dougherty would find Zac Johnson once again in the end zone, drawing the Lionz to within 21-19.

It then became the turn of the Ogden offense to make a big play… compliments of Stireman and Trevor Bell.

After another Kennedy first down, Stireman fired a deep pass to Bell down the right sideline. Under single coverage, Bell out-leaped coverage and caught the ball and then made a great move on the safety racing over as he completed the 54-yard pass and run play to give Ogden the 28-19 lead. After those 4 touchdowns in a little over 5 minutes, things would start to settle down a bit in what turned out to be a most exciting championship game.

It was Ogden, however, that would draw the next blood, when Stireman capped a short drive, hitting  the RMFL top receiver in 2006 on a perfect quick slant play giving the Rhino-Raiders what looked to be an overwhelming lead at 34-19.

But, once again, Madison would not go away.

Midway through the 4th, Madison’s Nate Rydalch would bust a 24-yard touchdown run on a draw play, and this time, would hold on to the ball all the way to paydirt to draw the Lionz to within one score, an 8-point deficit at 34-26.

In the end, the Rhino-Raider defense was just too much and too much Rashad Kennedy helped finish the game off.  The game ended with the Rhinos in possession of the ball and the Lionz defense just didn’t’ have enough to get the ball back for Dougherty to have another chance. Troy Dougherty, despite the incredible pressure on most plays, still passed for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns, but fell one score short in the end.

Madison

0

6

13

7

26

Ogden

0

14

14

6

34

 


Scoring Summary:


Second Quarter:

 Ogden: Kennedy 4-yard run (Frojker kick) 12:01

Madison: Z. Johnson 4-yard pass from Dougherty (kick blocked by J. Walker) 6:05

Ogden: J. Tupe 55-yard fumble return (Frojker kick) 1:15


Third Quarter:

Madison: Barber 55-yard pass from Dougherty (pass failed) 13:14

Ogden: D. Stroshine 50-yard lateral return of Ita Interception (Frojker kick) 11:36

Madison: Z.Johnson 10-yard pass from Dougherty (Mouser kick) 9:31

Ogden: Bell 54-yard pass from Stireman (Frojker kick) 7:51

 

Fourth Quarter:

 Ogden: Greenberry 7-yard pass from Stireman (kick failed) 14:56

Madison: Rydalch 24-yard run (Mouser kick) 7:44

 

 

 

MADISON

OGDEN

 

First Downs

13

13

 

Rushes-Yds

21

131

32

163

 

Passing

19-35-3

6--20--5

 

Passing Yds.

251

130

 

Sacked-Yds

13

78

0

0

 

Net Passing Yds.

173

130

 

Total Yds.

304

293

 

Punts - Avg.

3-33.3

3-29.5

 

Penalties -Yds

9

70

7

55

 

Fumbles - Lost

4

2

2

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Individual Stats:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rushing:

 

 

 

 

 

Player -Team

Tot. Att.

Tot. Yds

TD's

2 pts.

 

Nate Rydalch - Madison

11

92

1

0

 

Kory Fleming - Madison

7

24

0

0

 

Buck Mouser - Madison

1

11

0

0

 

Troy Dougherty - Madison

2

4

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rashad Kennedy - Ogden

29

158

1

0

 

Nick Fotu - Ogden

1

3

0

0

 

Dave Stireman - Ogden

2

2

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passing:

 

 

 

 

 

Player

Comp.

Att.

Yds

TD's

Int.

Troy Dougherty - Madison

19

35

251

3

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Stireman - Ogden

6

20

130

2

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receiving:

 

 

 

 

 

Player

Recepts.

Yards

Td's

2 pts.

 

Zac Johnson - Madison

7

108

2

0

 

Todd Barber - Madison

3

68

1

0

 

Buck Mouser - Madison

3

29

0

0

 

Nate Rydalch - Madison

2

25

0

0

 

Kirk Smith - Madison

2

12

0

0

 

Justin Stewart - Madison

1

6

0

0

 

Kory Fleming - Madison

1

3

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trevor Bell - Ogden

2

71

1

0

 

Damon Greenberry - Ogden

3

46

1

0

 

Nick Fotu - Ogden

1

13

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defense:

 

 

 

 

 

Player

Tackles

Sacks

Intercepts

TD's

 

Josh Pettitt - Madison

7

0

0

0

 

Kish Beverly - Madison

6.5

0

1

0

 

Brandon Hawkes - Madison

4.5

0

0

0

 

Sam Crockett - Madison

3.5

0

0

0

 

Willis Reed - Madison

3

0

1

0

 

Colby Simmons - Madison

2.5

0

1

0

 

Roy Withers - Madison

2

0

0

0

 

James Huml - Madison

2

0

0

0

 

Adam Seligman - Madison

1.5

0

0

0

 

Braxton Mouser - Madison

1.5

0