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Sting Travel To Fort Wayne This Week
Friday, 09 May 2008

Story by James Falls - SaginawSting.com

 

            With week 9 in the books and with only four games to go, Saginaw will try to secure their spot in the CIFL playoffs. The Sting (6-2) are in second place in Western Division of the Atlantic Conference and trying to catch up with the undefeated and defending champion Rochester Raiders (7-0). Not only does Saginaw and Rochester have to be concerned about each other, but Marion (4-4) does not want to be counted out of the race just yet.

 

            On Saturday, the Sting will travel to Fort Wayne, IN to re-build their winning streak against the Freedom (3-4). Fort Wayne’s will attempt to bounce back to .500 winning percentage by taking out the Sting. Recently, the Freedom fell in a conference showdown against Miami Valley Silverbacks 35-29, who is also struggling in the standings. The Silverbacks put a 29-9 spanking on the Freedom for three quarters until the Freedom were able to strike in the last few minutes.

           

The Saginaw Sting on the other hand are coming off a big win against winless Milwaukee (51-28).  The Bonecrushers looked good for about a quarter and then the Sting took control and never looked back.  With Saginaw having the #2 offense they will be a strong favorite on Saturday.  But don’t count out Fort Wayne, they have much to play and fight for. With a win over Saginaw, they may move up to second place of the Eastern Division of the Great Lakes Conference, depending on the performances of Miami Valley and Muskegon (4-3).

 After facing the Freedom, the Sting will return home to host the Chicago Slaughter on Saturday May 24th at the Dow Event Center at 7:30pm.
 
Saginaw Ends Two Game Slide Against the Bonecrushers
Wednesday, 30 April 2008

Saginaw Ends Two Game Slide Against the Bonecrushers

Story by James Falls - SaginawSting.com

 

Saginaw, MI - - Two teams came into Wednesday’s contest with losing streaks. Saginaw has lost their first two games of the season consecutively. Milwaukee is winless. What predicted to be a blowout turned out to be a thrilling chess match… well at least for a little while. Trailing behind Rochester and in the Atlantic Conference, the Sting came away with a 51-28 triumph to keep their playoff hopes alive.

 

Milwaukee was first to put points on the scoreboard. Marcus Johnson caught a 23-yard bomb from Cody Craig to get a 7-0 lead. The Bonecrushers looked promising and put up a good defensive brawl for the first few plays of Saginaw’s offensive series. From then on, the entire first half belonged to the Sting.

 

Saginaw’s offense was feeling the defensive pressure during the entire first quarter that is until the screen passes were drew up that brought in two consecutive touchdowns. One was not drown up intentionally. After fumbling a snap, Damon Dowdell desperately scrambled around the field with defenders on the hunt to find Eric Knott (who caught the first screen pass and scored) by his lonesome.

 

 

 

Nick Body could not possibly outcast himself out of the action. Already leading by six, Dowdell connected with Body for two of his four touchdowns of the first half despite the double coverage by the Bonecrushers. Heading into halftime with a 34-7 lead, what they did not expect was for Milwaukee to return from halftime with such vengeance.

 

 

 

Which Milwaukee indeed did. Dowdell threw two interceptions, which gave Milwaukee two quick touchdowns. Having a 34-20 deficit early in the second half, the Bonecrushers started to show some life during their 3rd quarter comeback. Shortly, the life span died out and Saginaw continued to put on the punishment.

 

 

 

Body hauled in two more touchdowns to

leave the Sting with a comfortable 48-28 lead. Gallagher added on to that lead making a record 50-yard field goal to seal the deal. Body finished with ten catches for 104 yards. Dowdell went 19-29 for 200 yards and six touchdowns. Corey Gonzalez led the defense with seven tackles and Ernie Smith followed with six.

 

“It’s just another notch under our belt,” says Knott. “We are trying to get a good seed for the playoffs.” Saginaw (6-2) really has their work cut out for them. Along with maintaining a seed in the playoffs, the Sting may have to be concerned with facing the defending champions of Rochester in the first round. Saginaw will travel to Fort Wayne, IN next Saturday May 10 for a 7:30pm showdown with the Freedom.

   

Box Score

Quarter           1st   2nd   3rd   4th   Final 

Milwaukee   7      0     13   8      28

Saginaw       13    21    7    10     51

 
Raptors Shock Sting by a Foot
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Raptors Shock Sting by a Foot

Rockford, IL. - Coping comes with a lot of heartache when it comes to losing. Unfortunately, the Sting has to cope once again when they experienced another upset by the Rock River Raptors (51-50). “Great teams know how to bounce back from adversity (hard times),” says coach Featherstone.

 

After a few controversial calls by the referees early in the fourth quarter, the Sting took their anger out on the field. Damon Dowdell hooked up with Nick Body on the fly to put the Sting up with under 14:30 remaining in the fourth quarter.

 

Just when the game seemed to be slipping out the hands of the Raptors, Bell stole the show and ran behind is huge linemen for a 58-yard kick return back for a touchdown. Along with the extra point reduced the Raptors deficit within four (42-37) midway through the fourth quarter.

 

The momentum shifted quickly as the fans roared for a comeback, but Nate Collins had another idea. On 4th and 10, Dowdell slung the ball in the Collin’s midsection as he rolled over in the end zone. After Body snuck to the back of the end zone and caught a bullet for the two point conversion to give the Sting a 50-44 lead.

 

The Sting (5-2) had the game in the bag. After stuffing the run four times with the ball inches away from the goal line, Saginaw looked like they had the win with a 50-44 lead. Nick Body caught a bomb pass to put the Sting within field goal range with less than 1:30 to go in the 4th quarter. Instead of kicking a field goal, Saginaw went for it on fourth down and Damon Dowdell’s pass was tipped and intercepted.

 

Starting from their own 10-yard line, Rock River went to work. One short pass after another, the Raptors ended up on their 9-yard line. After five previous lead changes, that is when QB Steven LaFalce decided to bring it home and gave the Raptors the 51-50 lead.

 

Collins had a decent return for the Sting, but an illegal blocking penalty set Saginaw back to their own 12-yard line. Gallagher set up for a 45-yard field goal. The snap was good but the kick was blocked.

 

Playing on an agitated foot, Dowdell connects first with Body early in the first quarter to give the Sting a 7-0 lead with an extra point by Gallagher. Two minutes later Saginaw’s intimidating defense recovered a fumble from a dropped screen pass inside Rock River’s red zone. However, the Raptors answered the next play with an interception by Jermaine Hampton that was tipped by Body.  

 

A pair of false start penalties reduced the momentum of the Raptors, but Randy Bell’s 59 first half yards not only made up for the penalty yards, but also help punched in a two yard touchdown to keep Rock River at bay. Attempting the tie the game, the extra point was blocked and with a few juke moves almost sent Corey Gonzalez a trip to the end zone.

The Dowdell-Body duo led the offense in stats once again. Dowdell finished 17-34 for 138 yards and six touchdowns along with two interceptions. Body caught 11 catches for 75 yards and four touchdowns.

 

Saginaw, who seems to have one of dominate defenses in the CIFL, had a very difficult time handling Rock River’s offense; especially in the running department. As Bell ran up and down the field, the Sting left passing gaps open which gave the Raptors plenty opportunities to capitalize on short yardage passes. “Steve LaFalce would just read their (Saginaw) defense and made the adjustments,” says new Head Coach Dave Jones.” When Saginaw’s defense was on, they produced a huge safety by Gonzalez and many huge stops from the defensive line that resulted in many lost yards.

 

Families from across the Rockford area came to enjoy Rock River’s Family Night. What they did not know is that they were about to experience a fierce main event, “Nicholas Body vs. Randy Bell.” Both put on show for both teams as Body collects four touchdowns for the night and Bell ran for almost 100 yards and two touchdowns.

 

Despite the two game losing streak, the Sting must come home and get prepared for the visiting Milwaukee Bonecrushers on Wednesday, April 30th at 7:00 pm. For Tickets call the Dow Event Center Box Office.

 

 

Box Score
Quarter       1st   2nd   3rd   4th   Total
Saginaw       14    14     8    14     50
Rock River     6     17   14    14     51
 
WEEKLY SPOTLIGHT: DAMON DOWDELL
Friday, 25 April 2008

WEEKLY SPOTLIGHT: DAMON DOWDELL

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We are introducing the Saginaw Sting "Weekly Spotlight" where each week you will have the opportunity to get to know a member of your Saginaw Sting a little bit closer. We would like to kick things off, with your quarterback, number 7, Damon Dowdell:

Q: How does it feel to be the leader of this Saginaw Sting team?

A: It's a great feeling. We have a great group of guys on this team, and it's a tremendous opportunity to be able to go out and play the game i love with these guys.

Q: Why do you like playing quarterback?

A: I enjoy being in charge, i have always been a leader in anything i've done.

Q: What's Damon Dowdell like when he's not playing football?

A: I just like working out and keeping myself in good shape. Playing a bit of madden on Playstation doesn't hurt from time to time.

Q: Favorites you can't do without?

A: I love lasagnia. My favorite movies are "Varsity blues" and "the Program"

Q: Why number 7?

A: Because i grew up on 7th mile in Detroit and i don't ever want to forget where i came from.

Q: What are you looking forward to at the mid-point of your first season with the Sting?

A: Just getting better each week as a unit. Ultimately, the only thing we all want is to win a championship.

Q: What is your ultimate professional goal?

A: I want the opportunity to play football at the highest level possible and i am hoping playing for the Sting will provide me the opportunity to do that.

 
 
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