SSFL 2008 CHAMPIONS: ORLANDO RAGE

For information on ordering your Championship Rings Click Here.

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 at a location to be announced.

(Pictured above, Rice Bowl MVP's, #19 Jerome Lowry and #83 Preston McGann)

"FROM RAGE...TO RAGE"

       Orlando Rage quarterback, PeeJay Jack didn't have long to revel in his post-championship glory after guiding the Rage to their first SSFL championship on April 26. His phone rang from St. Charles, Missouri, and on the other end was Head Coach Ken Stills. Ironically, of the River City RAGE. It seems that the indoor Rage were looking for a quarterback FAST.

     PeeJay was flown up to St. Charles on Thursday, May 8, to work out with the United Indoor Football League's Rage and found himself playing Saturday, two days after reporting to the club, in the first half. In fact, three plays into PeeJay's tenure as the River City Rage's quarterback he scored a touchdown scrambling in over the left side of the line.

     Unfortunately for the Rage (3-6) their opponent, the Sioux Falls Storm (7-2), proved too strong for them to overcome. Look for PeeJay next week as the RC Rage travel to Colorado to take on the Ice before returning home on May 31st.

     PeeJay's departure to the coveted "next level" marks the most recent of well over a dozen former Rage players who have made the step up to the professional ranks starting with kicker, Michael Vaughn in 2002. In addition the Orlando Rage can boast another dozen or so who have been placed into college programs throughout the United States.

     "We don't talk about placing these guys into programs; we do it!" commented Rage owner Christopher H. Morrison about the Rage's history of promoting players into college and professional programs. "I hear a lot of teams talking about placing players, but our staff actually has the experience and contacts to do it. And we have consistently done it" Morrison went on.

     Look for updates on additional players coming up soon as the Rage anticipate even more signings in the near future.

Mr. Morrison,

My coworker Allen Rice suggested that I email you.

On July 4^th the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, Winter Garden Downtown Merchant and the Masonic Lodge will be sponsoring the “5^th Annual Kids Parade and Breakfast”.

This is a wonderful and fun event for the kids of the West Orange area and I would like to invite you and some of the Rage players to come and be a part of it.  I understand your home field is at West Orange High School and I thought it would also be a great opportunity to meet the local residents.

Breakfast begins at 8:00am and is free for the kids.  We have games and provide items for the kids to decorate their bikes, wagons and themselves for the parade that begins at 10:00am.  The parade will be through Downtown Winter Garden and will last about 30 to 45 minutes.

The flyer for the event is attached.

If you or any of the Rage members would like to participate please contact me via email or by phone.

We hope you and some of your team members will come and enjoy the fun.

Betty Goodwin
407 656-1571
Betty.Goodwin@orhs.org

Change is in the Air!

Orlando Rage 2007-2008