Bossier-Shreveport entered their game tonight with an 8-game winning streak at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City stretching back into the 2009 season. To keep that streak alive, they had to beat the all time winningest arena football team – Tampa Bay. Stretching that home win streak was not to be as Tampa won in ugly fashion, 48-44.

 

It was ugly from the start, with 28 penalties called on the night, 15 against Tampa and 13 against the BattleWings, who in years past have been the least penalized team in their league. Tampa’s journeyman QB Brett Dietz had a quiet – but very effective – night throwing the ball, completing 32 of 37 passes for 372 yards and 6 TD’s. Tampa was not quite so good keeping the handle on the ball, losing two fumbles on the night.

 

On the other side of the ball, Wings QB Ray Philyaw – one of the AFL’s top rated signal callers – had a less than “Philyaw” like evening, hitting 19 of 33 for just 3 TD’s and had 2 picked off. It appeared that Philyaw may have been pressing, missing his receivers consistently throwing high and hard. P.J. Berry – nicknamed “Superman” – entered the game as the AFL’s leading all-purpose yard gainer. He had 7 catches on the night, 2 for touchdowns. Randy Hymes had 5 receptions for 105 yards and one TD. The Wings big offensive surprise of the night was FB/LB Byron Douzart who carried the ball 4 times and gained 66 yards and one score.

 

Dietz spread the ball around, hitting Sedrick Robinson 10 times for 132 yards, but no scores. Dietz completed 8 passes for 115 yards and 4 TD’s to DeAndrew Rubin. Tyrone Timmons and Terrence Royal each caught touchdown passes from Dietz.

 

Each of the 4784 in attendance could see early in the fourth quarter that the game would probably come down to the final minute. Sure enough, Tampa got the ball trailing by three with one minute to play. Dietz expertly drove the length of the field, using the clock, scored, and gave the ball back to the Wings with just 13 seconds to play and a 4 point lead. Philyaw and company were able to run two plays, but came up short, losing their 4^th game in a row. The BattleWings go into Huntsville, Alabama next Saturday night with a 2-4 record. Alabama lost to the Orlando Predators tonight 48-31, and are 3-3 on the season. Tampa returns home, evening their record at 3-3. They will face the Orlando Predators at home Friday, May 28^th, after taking a week off.

 

                              1          2          3          4

Tampa Bay          6          14        7          21

Bossier-S’port    6          16        7          15

 

JLS Ironman of the game: BattleWings Willis Marshall
 

Russell Offensive Player of the game: BattleWings Byron Douzart

Spalding Highlight of the game: BattleWings P.J. Berry

Riddell Defensive Player of the Game: BattleWings Phillip Geiggar

NiftyTV Playmaker of the Game: Tampa Sedrick Robinson

Cutters Catch of the Game: BattleWings Randy Hymes