Outlaws beat Venom in an early season thriller
June 18, 2007
Last Saturday on a very humid 80 degree night, the (0-1) Franklin Outlaws squared off against the (0-1) Milwaukee Venom. This game had been highly anticipated by IFL fans as nobody thought these two teams would open the season winless.
Both teams are just coming off fairytale seasons from last year in which they shocked everybody in their respective conferences with Conference Championship appearances.
The Franklin Outlaws, who were an expansion team in 2006, gained big time respect by gliding through the regular season last year only to lose in the final seconds to the Milwaukee Bulldogs in the AFC Championship game.
The Milwaukee Venom, who were once perennial NFC bottom dwellers, rose from the ashes last year as they made their first NFC Championship appearance only to lose to the Verona Trojans. The Venom made everybody around the league last year step up and take notice as the franchise clearly turned things around and was ready to take the next step.
With both teams entering this game with a (0-1) record, losing was not an option as both teams were eager to leave it all on the field. The first score of the game came late in the first quarter when Outlaw quarterback, Steven Jackson, called his own number and followed his center in the end zone from the one yard line giving the Outlaws a 7-0 lead.
The Venom countered and mounted a drive, but after three failed attempts to score a touchdown from inside the Outlaw 20 yard line, they settled for the field goal making the score 7-3.
In the third quarter, the Outlaws mounted a lengthy 8 play, 86 yard drive where running back Lance Parks punched it in the end zone from two yards out increasing the Outlaw lead to 14-3.
In the fourth quarter, the Venom defense blitzed Outlaw quarterback Steven Jackson, and sacked him in the end zone which caused a safety and cut the Outlaw lead to 9.
With 1:47 remaining on the clock, the Venom nailed a 35 yard field goal which narrowed the Outlaw lead to 6.
The Outlaws got the ball back when they recovered the Venoms onside kick attempt but were unable to successfully run the clock out.
With 1:24 left remaining in the game, the Outlaws punted to the ever so dangerous Solomon Cabell who raced down the sidelines before he was knocked out of bounds at the Outlaw 30 yard line.
Venom quarterback Tony Henner guided his team all the way down to the two yard line. On fourth and goal and out of time-outs, the Venom would hold their own destiny as they called the final play of the game on the Outlaw two yard line.
With all the fans on their feet cheering for their respective teams, the Venom called a fullback dive which was stuffed at the line of scrimmage by the Outlaw defense subsequently ending a great game. The Franklin Outlaws prevailed 14-8.
The Outlaws go on the road next week to take on the McHenry County Pirates, while the Venom hope to get their first win of the season against the (2-0) Muskego Hitmen.
Both the Venom and the Outlaws played exceptionally well and gave IFL fans an early treat in this early season nail biter.