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Rage WIN TITLE!
The Orlando
Rage finished the 2008 season with a huge win over the Sarasota Millionaires
in the SSFL Championship "Rice Bowl" making the Rage the SSFL Champions for
2008. The Rage prevailed in a record-breaking 55 to 26 shoot out in which
the combined special teams of the Rage and Millionaires accounted for four
of the game's touchdowns and the defenses accounted for two more.
The Rage
had previously been denied the opportunity to play for the coveted
Championship by getting knocked out of the play offs in the semi-finals on
four prior occasions. Interestingly enough, this season the Rage went into
the post-season as the last seed with a less than .500 regular season
record. "It doesn't matter how you start; it's how you finish" commented
Rage Head Coach and SSFL Coach of the Year, Leonard Opheim.
The Rage
set the pace of the game early, pinning the Millionaires deep on their own
five yard line on the opening kick-off. The Millionaires punted to Rage
DB/KR Jerome Lowry who weaved his way to the game's first score. The
Millionaires then gave the Rage a dose of their own medicine, pinning the
Rage inside the five and forced a fumble allowing the Millionaires' defense
a score. Rage 7, Millionaires 6.
Next Rage
QB PeeJay Jack connected with WR Preston McGann for a sixty-plus yard
touchdown. making the score 14 to 6.
The
Millionaires again punted to Jerome Lowry, who was later named the game's
Defensive MVP, who again scrambled his way to the end zone for the score.
Rage 21, Millionaires 6.
The Rage
scored two more times in the first half with touchdown passes from Jack to
McGann and to Theo "Snoop" Chatman and the Millionaires scored on a
spectacular kick off return by WR/KR William Carter making the score 34 to
13 at the half.
Although
down by three touchdowns at the half, the Millionaires were far from
quitting and came out looking for the win. The Millionaires held the Rage
offense and managed a long drive culminating in a short touchdown run making
the score 34 to 20. With the momentum seeming to swing to the Millionaires,
the Rage special teams again managed a score when Rage LB Greg Lewin blocked
a punt and recovered it in the end zone. Rage 41, Millionaires 20.
The game
finished up with another touchdown by Jerome Lowry on an interception
return, another touchdown pass from Jack to Chatman and a fourth down
touchdown pass and catch between Millionaires QB Michael Peterson and WR
Dexter Morrison.
The Game
finished with the Rage on top, 55 to 26. Game MVP's were given out to Jerome
Lowry who accounted for two special teams touchdowns and an interception
return for a touchdown and Preston McGann with two touchdown receptions and
a number of key receptions.
The game
was a record-setter in total points of 81 in a Championship game, and the
Rage's putting up 55, Lowry's two punt returns for TD's and Carter's kick
off return of 96 yards.
By winning
the Championship the Rage have been invited to play in the Winter National
Championship Game sponsored by National Football Events on May 24 in Daytona
Beach.
 
(Pictured above, Rice Bowl MVP's, #19
Jerome Lowry and #83 Preston McGann)
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ORLANDO
RAGE FOOTBALL
