MARION, OH – The Marion Blue Racers had never lost before in their home facility until Saturday, February 16th.
They lost on a controversial end of the game call, as the Blue Racers were attempting a 38 yard field goal with 19 seconds remaining in the game.
Seth Burkholder had completed a field goal earlier in the game and had converted other extra point attempts; but, kicked the last moment field goal and had it centered straight through the uprights.
BUT… the ball hit the ceiling tiles before going through the uprights and thus giving the Blue Racers their second straight loss in the 2013 CIFL campaign and their first in two years at home.
Marion Blue Racer quarterback Adam Neugebauer got on the board at the 11:11 mark in the 1st quarter with a run up the middle.
The secret weapon for the Explosion was Alfonso Hoggard. The 5’3 speedster got the Explosion on the board with only 11 seconds remaining in the first quarter. At the end of the quarter, the game was tied at seven.
It looked like the game would be a nail-biter throughout; but, Marion controlled the momentum late in the second quarter. Seth Burkholder kicked a field goal to take the score to 10-7, midway through the second quarter before Erie retook the lead with a nine yard TD run by Hoggard with just over two minutes remaining before the half.
Hoggard fumbled midway through the third quarter and Marion was able to drive the ball down field and scoring on just three plays. Marion led 17-14.
Erie and Marion went back and forth on scoring; but, pulled away with a 31-21 score at the end of the third quarter. That was the result of two huge fumbles by the Explosion.
Rookie quarterback Aaron Smetanka led the charge for the Explosion in the fourth and brought the Explosion within four, after a 1 yard run with 13:15 remaining.
Shon Rowser kicked a kickoff through the uprights and added a bonus point with 12:38 remaining.
On the ensuing play by the Blue Racers, Neugebauer fumbled the ball at the two yard line, after a monstrous blow by Zach Williams and the ball being recovered by Andre Portis.
Burkholder got another field goal from twenty yards through to shorten the lead to one, 35-34.
Smetanka added an insurance score on a four yard scamper.
But, Thomas McKenzie got a 3 yard handoff from Neugebauer and scored to make it 42-40.
Then, the controversy began with the field goal to seal the deal; but, the deal didn’t come through.
Smetanka was 10-18, for 75 yards. Terry Jackson had three carries for 32 yards, as the leading receiver for the Explosion.
Smetanka and Hoggard each had two touchdowns, 27 combined carries for 137 yards.
The Explosion will be on the road next Saturday in Port Huron, Michigan to face the Detroit Thunder. Kickoff is slated for 2pm.
