Defense rescues Outlawz

Strong effort against the Mayhem preserves club's fourth win.

By Tom De Martini | Special to The Morning Call

May 4, 2008

Lehigh Valley Outlawz head coach Tom Laubach admitted his team did not play a complete game against the Marion Mayhem on Saturday night at Stabler Arena.

However, the defense put up a shutout in the fourth quarter and the offense provided just enough spark to produce a 43-33 victory in a Continental Indoor Football League game, improving Lehigh Valley's record to 4-2.

''Offensively, we've got to score in the red zone,'' Laubach said. ''Luckily, we have a good field goal kicker, but we would have killed them if we would have scored touchdowns.''

Lehigh Valley rallied from a 33-27 fourth-quarter deficit with a Mike Sedlock field goal and a 2-yard touchdown run from quarterback B.J. Hall.

Hall set up the game-winning tally by finding wide receiver Hassan Brockman for a 25-yard completion. Three plays later, Hall scampered into the end zone from 2 yards out to give the Outlawz a 37-33 lead.

However, the Mayhem weren't through. A 35-yard pass from quarterback Stanley Jackson to T.R. Dues brought Marion to the Lehigh Valley 6 with 17 seconds left.

But, Lehigh Valley end Brian Smith intercepted a Jackson screen pass and took it to the house with 9 seconds remaining to seal the deal.

''Defensively, we stepped up,'' Laubach said. ''We knew they were athletic and got physical with them. We didn't do that enough in the first half.''

Marion (4-4) clawed its way back from a 13-0 deficit midway through the second quarter by scoring 23 points in the final eight minutes to take a 23-20 advantage at the half.

Ian Schmidt woke up an offense that was held scoreless for more than 20 minutes as Jackson found the wide receiver for a 35-yard pass with a minute remaining in the half and a 6-yard scoring toss as time expired.

The Outlawz scored on their first two possessions of the game to take a 10-0 lead after one period.

Lehigh Valley's initial drive stalled inside the Mayhem 5 and Laubach elected to allow Mark Sedlock to kick a 17-yard field goal.

The Outlawz's second drive produced points after starting quarterback Walter Washington took a nasty hit to garner a first down at the Marion 1. Following a seven-yard loss on a sack, Washington found B.J. Hall in the corner of the end zone for an 8-yard TD pass with 2:45 to play in the stanza.

Washington left the game with an apparent neck injury during the next series and was replaced by Hall.

Marion clawed back within six with 5:02 to play in the half, following a 40-yard kickoff return and a 1-yard touchdown run from Dues.

Marion Mayhem (4-4) -- 0 23 10 0 -- 33

Lehigh Valley Outlawz (4-2)Â --Â 10 10Â 7 17 -- 43

LV – Mark Sedlock 17 field goal

LVÂ -- B.J. Hall 8 pass from Walter Washington (Sedlock kick)

LV – Sedlock 27 field goal