southwestiowanews.com/articles/2009/05/24/council_bluffs/sports/doc4a18c4412211b933929988.txtBlackhawks finally win in Kansas, 55-35
Sunday, May 24, 2009
TOPEKA, Kan. - The streak is over.
For the first time ever, the Iowa Blackhawks beat Kansas on the road in an APFL game, winning 55-35 Saturday at Landon Arena.
Mell Holliday scored 4 touchdowns, and Chuck Wright threw three touchdown passes as the Blackhawks’ offense played mistake-free football for most of the evening. The Iowa defense played inspirationally throughout the contest, forcing four Koyote turnovers, including a 25-yard interception return by Travis Hines to seal the victory.
Holliday rushed for 84 yards on 20 carries, and Wright completed 14 of 18 passes for 163 yards, as the Blackhawks took control of the contest in the second half after a 21-21 tie at halftime. Iowa led 42-21 early in the fourth quarter with an interception by Scott Yates and fumble recovery by Jeff McQuinn stopping Kansas drives to give Iowa momentum.
The play of the game though, occurred when Hines stepped in front of a Carlos Kelly pass and raced untouched to the end zone with less than 10 minutes remaining to put it out of reach at 49-28. Holliday added a 1-yard score with just seconds left to cap the scoring.
The Blackhawks have until June 6 before they play again, when they entertain the Mid-Missouri Outlaws at the Mid-America Center.
Iowa 7 14 14 20-55
Kansas 14 7 0 14-35
K-Kelly 5 run (Thompson kick)
I-McCray 39 pass from Wright (Lakin Kick)
K-D. Smith 1 run (Thompson Kick)
I- Rush 7 pass from Wright (Lakin Kick)
K-D. Smith 1 run (Thompson Kick)
I- Holliday 13 run (Lakin Kick)
I- Holliday 3 run(LAkin Kick)
I-McCray 34 pass from Wright (Lakin Kick)
K-Brittian 46 kickoff return (Thompson Kick)
I- Hines 25 interception return (Lakin Kick)
K-Kelly 1 run (Thompson Kick)
I-Holliday 1 run (conversion failed)
Rushing: Iowa- Holliday 20-84; Rush 2-17; Kansas- Kelly 11-38; DuBois 5-26; D. Smith 7-13.
Passing: Iowa- Wright 14-18-0 163; Kansas - Kelly 10-21-3 135.
Receiving: Iowa- McCray 6-107; Rush 4-32; Seymour 2-17; Holliday 2-7: Kansas - Wrecke 6-94; Freeman 2-22; DuBois 1-17; D. Smith 1-2.
------------------------------------------------
cjonline.com/sports/football/2009-05-24/koyotes_whipped_at_homeKoyotes whipped at home
By Rick Peterson Jr.
May 23, 2009
For the first time in a American Professional Football League regular season, the Iowa Blackhawks are in the driver's seat instead of the Kansas Koyotes.
Fueled by a strong third quarter, the Blackhawks downed the Koyotes 55-35 Saturday night at Landon Arena to improve to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 against Kansas.
After a back-and-forth first half, Iowa scored the first three touchdowns of the second half to hand the six-time defending APFL champions just their second home loss in franchise history.
After the game was tied at 21 at halftime, Iowa gained the momentum on its first series in the second half with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Mell Holliday on fourth-and-goal.
Holliday then gave the Blackhawks a 35-21 lead with a 4-yard run at the end of the third before the Blackhawks took control of the game early in the fourth when Wright hit Marque McCray for a 34-yard touchdown.
The Koyotes (3-2) were hurt by four turnovers in the second half.
"We've been talking about finishing out the game, and all of the sudden we had some letdowns and some drives that just killed us," Koyotes coach Jim Green said. "We didn't come back up to where we needed to be."
Wright was 14-for-18 passing for 164 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Blackhawks. McCray caught six passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Holliday rushed for 95 yards and four touchdowns.
Kansas quarterback Carlos Kelly went 11-for-20 passing with three interceptions. Kelly and running back Donnell Smith each ran for two touchdowns, while receiver Justin Wrecke caught seven passes for 97 yards.
The Koyotes will try to rebound Saturday when they host Florida.
Green said the loss will provide a good test for the Koyotes.
"We're going to come back stronger than ever, but this makes it very interesting for us because we haven't been in this position," he said. "This is going to change the playoff realm a little bit.
"It'll be a good character builder to see who wants to come out here and play football. I really think you're going to see the whole team back up rallying behind one another because that's what Koyotes do."
Iowa 7 14 14 20 — 55
Kansas 14 7 0 14 — 35
Kansas — Kelly 5 run (Thompson kick)
Iowa — McCray 39 pass from Wright (Lakin kick)
Kansas — Smith 1 run (Thompson kick)
Iowa — Rush 7 pass from Wright (Lakin kick)
Kansas — Smith 1 run (Thompson kick)
Iowa — Holliday 13 run (Lakin kick)
Iowa — Holliday 1 run (Lakin kick)
Iowa — Holliday 4 run (Lakin kick)
Iowa — McCray 34 pass from Wright (Lakin kick)
Kansas — Brittian 55 kickoff return (Thompson kick)
Iowa — Hines 20 interception return (Lakin kick)
Kansas — Kelly 2 run (Thompson kick)
Iowa — Holliday 1 run (run failed)
Individual statistics
RUSHING — Iowa: Holliday 22-95, Rush 2-8. Kansas: DuBois 8-37, Kelly 11-41, Smith 5-9.
PASSING — Iowa: Wright 14-18-0, 164 yards. Kansas: Kelly 11-21-3, 148 yards.
RECEIVING — Iowa: McCray 6-108, Rush 5-35, Seymour 2-18, Holliday 1-3. Kansas: Wrecke 7-97, Smith 2-19, DuBois 1-16, Freeman 1-5.