Game Summary/Box Score – 2008 AAA CHAMPIONSHIP
June 28, 2008 Idaho Matadors vs. Madison Lionz @ Sugar-Salem High School


Eastern Idaho Lionz survived the game of their lives to capture the AA Championship Trophy! (Photo courtesey of Bert Mecham)

Watch this game on EISNLive.com!

LIONZ EEK OUT IMPROBABLE OVERTIME VICTORY OVER MATADORS TO CAPTURE FIRST RMFL TITLE

VS.   

SUGAR CITY – In a game that was definitely a “tale of two halves’, the Lionz decisively winning half #1 and the Matadors coming back to take the second half, the game ultimately came down to a single play.

After Matador quarterback, Tom Bennett, found James Clumpf  for a 25-yard touchdown completion on the second play of overtime, the Lionz had their work cut out for them.  In fact, prior to the game extending touchdown, an 11-yard pass from Todd Barber to Kory Fleming, the Lionz had to convert on 4th down TWICE, including the touchdown play to stay in the game.

AA Championship Photo Gallery

Then, the Lionz played the ultimate gambit… they lined up for a game-tying, game-extending extra point attempt… and then shifted into a power I set with Zack Buck, the “running” quarterback behind center. Buck optioned right and attempted to knife into the end zone.  As he struggled for the goal line, the ball came loose and after a mad scramble, Lionz tight end, J.C. Mecham came up with the loose ball for the 2-pointer and the incredible, improbable 21-20 victory and their first ever RMFL championship title.

The game, however, could have ended on the last play of regulation when Matador place-kicker, Logan Rupp, just missed on a 34-yard field goal that would have sent the Matadors into the victory circle.

After the Lionz scored 13 unanswered points in the second quarter, benefited in large part, by 3 Tom Bennett interceptions, it looked as if the Lionz might have another “cruise control” victory.

However, the Matadors, who were pumped with excitement after taking down their biggest rival, Boise, a week earlier, had other ideas.

The Matadors, lead by 133 rushing yards by Anthony Pomerlee and as strong second half performance by Tom Bennett, almost doubled up the Lionz on total net yards as they recovered in the second half with another Rupp field goal and a Kyle Coombs touchdown run.

As the Lionz offense struggled in the second half, however, the Lionz defense stepped up to keep the game from getting out of hand. Dustin Simmons lead all players with 12 tackles and Tagg Williams, who was named the game’s MVP by a panel of broadcasters present, had two key interceptions in the second quarter to set up the Lionz scores. The defense also did a good job containing all-star wide receiver, Javon Lincoln, holding him to only 3 catches for 31 yards.

Ultimately, however, the game came down to an unprecedented gambit played by first year RMFL head coach, Jason Stucki.  Stucki, who has coached at several high schools around the state, has been the team’s owner since the Lionz were founded in 2002.  For the first 6 seasons of the team, Rick Hilder, had been the head coach.  Even Hilder himself, said after the game… “I would have kicked it.”

Most coaches would have kicked it… the Lionz did not and now they are the Champions of the AA division of the Rocky Mountain Football League. .

 

Idaho Matadors

3

0

3

14

20

Madison Lionz

0

13

0

8

21

 

 
Scoring Summary:


First Quarter:

Idaho Matadors: Rupp 26-yard field goal 2:52

 


Second Quarter:

Eastern Idaho: Barber 32-yard pass from Buck (Mouser kick) 11:52
Eastern Idaho: Buck 5-yard run (kick failed) 1:01


Third Quarter:

Idaho Matadors: Rupp 22-yard field goal 3:30


Fourth Quarter:

Idaho Matadors: Coombs 1-yard run (Rupp kick) 5:30

 

1st Overtime:

Idaho Matadors: Clumpf 25-yard pass from Bennett (Rupp kick0

Eastern Idaho: Fleming 11-yard pass from Barber (Mecham recovred Buck fumble in end zone)

 

 

IDAHO MATADORS

MADISON LIONZ

 

First Downs

15

5

 

Rushes-Yds

40

156

29

72

 

Passing

9--22--3

6--17--0

 

Passing Yds.

145

86

 

Sacked-Yds

1

12

0

0

 

Net Passing Yds.

133

86

 

Total Yds.

289

158

 

Punts - Avg.

1-26.0

3-35.7

 

Penalties -Yds

10

70

6

45

 

Fumbles - Lost

0

0

1

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Individual Stats:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rushing:

 

 

 

 

 

Player -Team

Tot. Att.

Tot. Yds

TD's

2 pts.

 

Anthony Pomerlee - Idaho

30

133

0

0

 

Javon Lincoln - Idaho

2

8

0

0

 

Kyle Coombs - Idaho

3

8

1

0

 

Georgio Sutton - Idaho

5

7

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kory Fleming - Eastern Idaho

13

52

0

0

 

Braxton Mouser - Eastern Idaho

6

19

0

0

 

Zack Buck - Eastern Idaho

5

17

1

0

 

John Lammers - Eastern Idaho

4

-13

0

0

 

Todd Barber - Eastern Idaho

1

-3

0

0

 

J.C. Mecham

0

0

0

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passing:

 

 

 

 

 

Player

Comp.

Att.

Yds

TD's

Int.

Tom Bennett - Idaho

9

22

145

1

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jon Lammers - Eastern Idaho

4

14

43

0

0

Zack Buck - Eastern Idaho

1

1

32

1

0

Todd Barber - Eastern Idaho

1

2

11

1

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receiving:

 

 

 

 

 

Player

Recepts.

Yards

Td's

2 pts.

 

TJ Mingo - Idaho

4

62

0

0

 

Javon Lincoln - Idaho

3

31

0

0

 

Justin McNicholl - Idaho

1

27

0

0

 

James Clumpf - Idaho

1

25

1

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Todd Barber - Eastern Idaho

2

55

1

0

 

Kory Fleming - Eastern Idaho

2

16

0

0

 

Zack Buck - Eastern Idaho

1

15

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Player

Tackles

Sacks

Intercepts

TD's

 

Wesley Zedalis - Idaho

7

0

0

0

 

Kyle Coombs - Idaho

3

0

0

0

 

Joel Gunstream - Idaho

3

0

0

0

 

Nick Fuls - Idaho

2.5

0

0

0

 

Nick Russell - Idaho

2

0

0

0

 

Mario Lopez - Idaho

2

0

0

0

 

Brady Warfield - Idaho

1.5

0

0

0

 

Will Aguilar - Idaho

1.5

0

0

0

 

Josh Driskell - Idaho

1

0

0

0

 

Chad Gunstream - Idaho

1

0

0

0

 

Josh Packard - Idaho

0.5

0

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dustin Simmons - Eastern Idaho

12

0

0

0

 

Lijah Calderwood - Eastern Idaho

5.5

0

0

0

 

Matt Landon - Eastern Idaho

5

0

0

0

 

Jeffery Macananti - Eastern Idaho

4

0

0

0

 

Josh Huntsman - Eastern Idaho

3.5

0

0

0

 

Chuck Traughber - Eastern Idaho

3

0

0

0

 

Tagg Williams - Eastern Idaho

2.5

0

2

0

 

Liji Waite - Eastern Idaho

2

0

0

0

 

Payden Toone - Eastern Idaho

2.5

0

0

0

 

James Huml - Eastern Idaho

2

1

0

0

 

Josh Stucki - Eastern Idaho

2

0