Tulsa Claims Arenacup8 Title In Epic Battle, 73-66

[GreenBat]

Tulsa claims ArenaCup8 title in epic battle, 73-66

For a man who weighs only 165 pounds and stands just 5’8”, Tulsa Talons WR JEFF HUGHLEY sure did carry a heavy load on Saturday night as he helped his team to the second ArenaCup championship in franchise history, 73-66, over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers.

Hughley accounted for four Tulsa touchdowns, including two kickoff returns and was named the U.S. Army Strong Ironman of the Game. He caught nine passes for 143 yards and returned seven kickoffs for 203 yards. The 203 kickoff return yards and 346 all-purpose yards are both new ArenaCup records.

Another record set on Saturday night was that the two competing teams combined for 139 points, surpassing the old record of 127 total points set in the 2000 ArenaCup by Quad City (68) and Tennessee Valley (59).

The game went back and forth all night long. With 6:33 left to play in the fourth quarter, Pioneers’ QB RYAN VENA hit Tyreak Saviour for the third time on the night to tie the game, 59-59. It was at that moment that Hughley put his exclamation point on ArenaCup8. Hughley caught the ensuing kickoff off the net and scampered 55 yards for his second kickoff return for a touchdown on the night, giving Tulsa a 66-59 lead.

The Talons defense made big plays all night long, but none was bigger than the fourth-down stop they made with 3:17 left to play in the game. Vena’s pass attempt to WR BUCHIE IBEH fell incomplete and Tulsa had the ball deep in Pioneers’ territory.

No defensive player for Tulsa had a bigger game than DB DELENELL REID. Reid was named the game’s ADT Defensive Player of the Game for his outstanding effort. He collected four tackles, three pass breakups, one forced fumble and a 52-yard fumble return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to give his team the 59-52 lead.

Tulsa QB JUSTIN ALLGOOD capitalized and ran in his second rushing touchdown of the night, giving the Talons a 73-59 lead with one minute to play.

The Pioneers wouldn’t give up without a fight. The reigning U.S. Army Ironman of the Week, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton WR/DB LARRY KENDRICK took K LUKE PHILLIPS’ kick into the end zone, making the score 73-66, Tulsa, with 52.2 seconds to play.

Tulsa recovered the onside kick attempt, but then WR JERMAINE LANDRUM fumbled and the Pioneers’ recovered with 44 seconds left. The Talons defense stood tall once again and the Pioneers last attempt with 3.8 seconds left fell incomplete, crowning Tulsa the champions of the af2.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Vena did his absolute best to will the Pioneers to a victory. The veteran signal caller, playing in his first title game appearance in four years in the af2, set a new ArenaCup record by throwing seven touchdown passes in the championship game. Vena finished the night 24-of-46 for 326 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. He also added one rushing touchdown and was named the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game.

Vena’s counterpart, Justin Allgood, had a great game as well. Allgood was 19-of-27 for 214 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for two scores. FB/LB ODIE ARMSTRONG lead the rushing attack for Tulsa with four carries for 17 yards and two touchdowns.

With the victory, Tulsa Head Coach MITCH ALLNER becomes the first man in af2 history to hoist the ArenaCup as a player and as a head coach. Allner was a member of the 2003 Tulsa squad which defeated Macon, 58-40 in ArenaCup4. As a player, offensive coordinator and head coach, Allner has been a part of 85 Talons’ victories throughout the team’s eight-year history.