Oxnard Warthogs, Season 2 category - skidsboroff's Blog

Monday, February 16, 2009

Posted on February 16, 2009 at 01:38 AM.

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'Hogs Lose Thriller, Playoff Hopes

With a playoff birth on the line, the Charlotte Savages came to town with MVP Candidate Barry Sanders on an absolute roll. Today would prove to be business as usual for Sanders, but the outcome would be as close as any game this season.

The Warthogs knew coming in that Sanders would be the focal point of Charlotte's offense all afternoon, and had gameplanned to try and slow him down. Despite this, Sanders ripped off touchdown runs of 47 and 60 yards in the first quarter, putting the Savages out in front and giving the game a hint of a blowout.

But the 'Hogs showed their newfound resilience under skidsboroff, charging back in the second quarter on the laurels of one Roger Craig. He led two long drives and brought the game to a 14-14 tie at the half with two rushing TD's.

In the second half, Oxnard began to slow down the rushing of Barry Sanders, but also found difficulty on the offensive side of the ball. That is until, with 57 seconds left in the third quarter, from their own 8, the 'Hogs ripped off their longest play of the year. A stretch to the weak side with Roger Craig, who initially looked to be tackled for a loss. But with a signature spin move Craig burst up the left side before breaking two more tackles, en route to a huge 92 yard TD run.

This helped the hometown crowd forget the 44 yard field goal miss on the previous possesion, which would prove to be crucial.

The fourth quarter would then be the undoing of the 'Hogs playoff hopes. The Savages drove hard into the Oxnard red zone, before a Sanders was nailed for a loss and the subsequent incompletion led to a 28 yard field goal to put Charlotte within four.

Needing a couple first downs to salt away the game, Craig could not find any running room, and the Warthogs went three and out. Punting away to the Savages, a touchdown was the only thing on a Savage mind.

With 2:27 and the ball at their own 11, the Savages would call on Dave Krieg to lead a two minute drill. Lead the drive he would, as Krieg, at first stalling, completed 16 yards on 4th and 13 to begin what would be a 89 yard touchdown drive, culmintating with a TD pass to the corner of the endzone.

Left with just 5 seconds, the 'Hogs could do nothing but complete a pass to the Savage 44. Pack it up, go home. Charlotte 24, Oxnard 21.

What began as a season that looked to have a number one draft pick on the horizon, to win four of five and finish 8-8 is something to build on. But with low attendance figures in Oxnard, a moved could be coming soon.

Stats

Montana: 8-16, 96 yds, 1 int
Craig: 15 car, 229 yds, 3 TD
Buoniconti: 10 tkl, 0.5 sack

Category: Oxnard Warthogs, Season 2

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

On the Cusp

Posted on February 10, 2009 at 05:19 PM.

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Hogs Keep Rollin'

Sometimes change is a good thing. At least that seems to be the case so far. After starting off with four wins from eleven games, Oxnard (8-7) has now railed off four straight victories catapulting themselves into playoff contention.

The team, once staring a losing season and subsequent high draft choice in the face, has turned itself around, and in somewhat unlikely terms.

After Steve Young gouged the Hogs for 401 yards passing in skids' first game, the team has not allowed more than 146 yards through the air in the three games since. More impressive still, no opposing QB has completed more than 6 passes, against the likes of Warren Moon (43 yds) and Randall Cunningham (146 yds) no less. They have also limited other teams' offenses to just two touchdowns in three games

The defense, which is using a 3-4 scheme, has had to carry an offense that is still having trouble finding it's rhythm. Joe Montana has 1 TD pass in four games and is yet to have a QB rating over 70.

Keeping the ball moving has been Roger Craig, who after posting a season-best 253 yards against San Diego has continued to carry the load.

The performance of Willie Wood special teams has also been a boon to the squad. He returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown against Morgantown, and has nearly broken several others.

With one game to go in the regular season fans of Oxnard might just be sniffing the postseason that nobody expected. The injury-riddled Charlotte Savages (6-6) await in a game that has huge playoff implications. Charlotte currently sits in 4th place, with the Landover Renegades (5-6) nipping at their heals.

Stats

Oxnard 31, Morgantown 17
Montana: 8-16, 153 yds
Craig: 15 car, 115 yds, TD; 3 rec, 58 yds
Taylor: 4 rec 77 yds
Wood: 82 yd PR TD

Oxnard 10, San Antonio 0
Montana: 6-12, 80 yds, TD
Craig: 20 car, 130 yds
Greenwood: 1.5 sacks

Category: Oxnard Warthogs, Season 2

Thursday, February 5, 2009

New Boss, New Results

Posted on February 5, 2009 at 11:25 AM.

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Oxnard Hot With New Coach

We all know the story by now. After getting off to a 4-7 start, Coach TW SoonerMagic decided to step away from the struggling Warthogs, citing fatigue. The team was clearly taken aback when the news hit.
Said Guard Randy Cross:
"We knew Coach was having a rough time, but we just thought it was from the losing. We were all behind him %100. But he's a big boy, he has to do what's good for him and his family."

With TW stepping down, his replacement, Skidsboroff, has taken over with great fervor: "Implementing a new offense in just a few days wasn't easy, but we're thinking positive right now. We're 4-7, yes, but we're not out of it yet. We need to win out, but at the very least, we're trying to end the season on a high note."

Coach Skids' first game was as much as anyone could have expected. In a game that had just about everything, the Warthogs pulled out a 27-21 victory in triple overtime. Said Coach Skids:
"We got a little lucky today, with those two missed field goals and giving up that two TD lead in the 2nd Half. But sometimes Lady Luck is on your side, and something willed their 32-yarder wide. Inches wasn't it! Roger just took over from their. Guy was a monster today"

With the win under their belt, next came the Seattle Storm, also under new management, and their dreaded Cunningham-Sharpe duo. The Warthogs again rose to the occasion, giving a stellar defensive performance. Holding MVP candidate Randall Cunningham to 5-20 passing, and Shannon Sharpe to just one catch, albeit on a 39 yard bomb beating double coverage.

The final result was a 20-10 victory which brought the winning streak to two for Skids and the 'Hogs, now sitting in the 4th and final playoff spot with three games to go in the regular season.

Stats

vs. San Diego
Montana: 11-22, 138 yds
Craig: 23 car, 253 yds, 3 TD; 4 rec, 48 yds
Greenwood: 2 Sacks

vs. Seattle
Montana: 7-17, 105 yds
Craig: 20 car, 86 yds, 2 TD; 3 rec, 28 yds
Taylor: 4 rec, 77 yds

Category: Oxnard Warthogs, Season 2