Machine Dismantle Phoenix in Inaugural Home Opener

By Jeffrey S. Williams: SPM MN Writer
Posted Sunday, May 3, 2009

WOODBURY, Minn. -- The Minnesota Machine dismantled the Missouri Phoenix 58-0 in the Machine’s inaugural home opener Saturday night.

The Machine’s Abby Krause returned the opening kickoff 95-yards for the score. Following the two-point conversion, Minnesota was up 8-0, and only 35 seconds had ticked off the clock.

After a three and out series for Missouri, the Machine’s Danielle Thompson caught a 13-yard pass to set up Catina Wilson’s 13-yard touchdown reception.

Things got worse for the Phoenix, who were held behind the line of scrimmage on consecutive downs during their next series and were forced to punt.

Krause returned the punt return for 51-yards to start the Machine’s series inside the red zone. Following an offsides penalty by Missouri’s Abby Vestal, Thompson ran for 9-yards and then caught a 5-yard TD reception to put the Machine up 22-0 with just under 7:00 left in the first quarter.

The Machine scored yet again when Wilson caught a 3-yard reception for a touchdown with just under 2:00 remaining in the quarter. After a bobbled snap for the 2-point conversion, the score was 30-0 Minnesota after the first.

Thompson continued the momentum for Minnesota in the beginning of the second quarter with a 43-yard punt return after the Phoenix went three and out, which set up a 3-yard quarterback draw for the touchdown by Mandy Merriman.

Minnesota scored yet again on a 30-yard reception by WR Jennifer Niemuth with 3:05 left in the half. After Thompson’s 2-point conversion, Minnesota led 44-0 at the half.

When the teams returned from the locker room, the tempo slowed and it became a rushing grudge match, though Krause and Thompson each scored on handoffs to make it 58-0 at the end of the quarter.

While the Phoenix struggled in the first three quarters, they didn’t give up. After two false start penalties by Minnesota, Merriman threw a pass right into the hands of Missouri’s Abby Vestal with 12:13 remaining in the game, making it 1st and 10 at the Missouri 49.

Quarterback Jessie Lundvall took the next snap forward for a 4-yard gain, marking the first time the game was played on Minnesota’s end of the field.

It didn’t last long as halfback Sarah Jones was hit behind the line of scrimmage for a 7-yard loss making it 3rd and 13 from the Missouri 45-yard line. The next snap was fumbled forcing fourth and long from the Missouri 40 and a line drive punt.

The Machine ran out the clock on the next drive with six rushes from five different players for 41 yards plus an incomplete pass. The game ended on the Missouri 3 yard line and a final score of 58-0.

“Krause and Thompson had really great games, and it was nice to see that everyone got a chance to play,” said Dann Lickness, Machine head coach. “There were not many penalties and everyone executed well.”

“They made a lot of mistakes last week,” he said, referring to his team’s 16-6 loss to the Iowa Thunder. “They are still tackling high and too many high snaps, but it was much better this week. I’m not a big believer in tackling in practice, so the only chance they get to learn it is in a game.”

He added, “We stopped passing in the second half until they started blitzing the corners. We called a lot of audibles in the second half.”

Despite the heavy-handed loss, Missouri head coach David Peyton is optimistic on his team’s chances for future success.

“I told them at halftime, ‘Yeah, we’re getting beat. But continue to play with a lot of heart, don’t ever give up and don’t forget to have fun.’ We’ve instilled tenacity, but we’re also teaching them to never give up and play with good sportsmanship,” he said.

“This is not an excuse, it’s reality. This team is receiving it’s baptism in football. We have 23 players here and 19 have never played… ever. This is the second game of our lives, yet we did not stop playing. From end to end, we didn’t give up. I give kudos to the team for not giving up,” he said.

Peyton believes his team will get better in time.

“This was only the second game of our lives and we’re going through the growing pains of being a first year team with first year players,” he said referring to last week’s 54-0 loss to the Iowa Thunder. “We’ll be better next year, we’re already looking for just that.”

Danielle Thompson the second year player was thankful the game pace slowed down in the second half.

“I was getting pretty tired in the first half but with lots of running in the second half I was able to recover well. But it feels great to get the win,” she said. “Coming out today and scoring lots of touchdowns was really great for the team.”

The Phoenix (0-2) will attempt to rise from the ashes when they play at home against the Kansas City Storm while the Machine will try to continue their dominance at home against the St. Louis Slam. Both games will be played on Saturday May 9th.