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Contact:
Mashonda Gilmore
Atlanta Xplosion
678.300.6771
678.791.3228
manager@atlantaxplosion.com
Mashonda_gilmore@yahoo.com
June 28, 2006
The Xplosion Suffer First Regular Season Loss!
The Atlanta Xplosion suffered their first loss of regular season
play over the last two years Saturday to the undefeated Detroit
Demolition by a score of 42-7. This game leaves the Detroit
Demolition as a number one seed in the Western conference for
playoffs and The Atlanta Xplosion turns into a number three
seed in the Eastern conference.
This game started with Detroit winning the coin toss. After Detroit attempted two passes that were knocked down the Demolition were forced to punt the ball. The Xplosion committed a penalty on the punt return before their offense finally took the field. However, the first play of the game resulted in an Xplosion penalty and they were backed up to their own 17 yard line. "Field position hurt us all game," stated head coach Phil Beniamino. The Xplosion rallied 60 yards to Detroit's 23 yard line were they would be stalled by great defensive plays. Xplosions Kicker Angie Mickel would attempt a 40 yard field goal that look good and had plenty of leg but was a shade wide to the right. Everything seemed to go down from there.
Detroit took the ball and drove 77 yards for the first score of the game and with the extra point led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. After another great specialty play by Detroit, the Xplosion were backed up again. However, a couple of first downs brought the ball to the 39 yard line, where the Xplosion were faced with a fourth down and 1. The Xplosion's offense went for the conversion but was stuffed by Detroit's linebacker core and took over at the Xplosions 38 yard line. "That was a horrible call by me," added Beniamino. "I thought we could get the momentum back if we converted and unfortunately it didn't work out that way, I'll take the blame for that one. You know how it goes, if you convert you're a hero and if you don't you're the goat. That was a bad decision on my part."
Detroit took the ball over and went the remaining distance for a 14-0 lead. After fighting for mid-field position again, the Xplosion Quarterback Charmaine Chin and Running back Keisha Hamilton botched a toss pitch and the Xplosion was faced with a third down and 35. Here Quarterback Cheryl Glover was intercepted and ran back to the Xploosion 16 yard line. One play later and the score grew to 21-0.
The Xplosion's next possession would result in a punt that only went to the 48 yard line. Once again the Detroit team had great field position. Forty-eight yards later and 12 seconds to go in the half and the Demolition took a 28-0 halftime lead.
The second half was much of the same with Detroit intercepting another pass, this time from Charmaine Chin and ran it back for a 35-0 lead. "Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong," stated Beniamino.
The only highlight of the game was in the third quarter when running back Lee Lee Cannon ran 80 yards for the Xplosion's first score of the game and the score was cut to 35-7. After an onside kick and a great defensive stand, the Detroit Demolition were forced to punt although this time the punt would roll up on an Xplosions player while blocking and Detroit would recover the ball at the Xplosion's ten yard line. One play later and the score was 42-7. "Our girls were out of position the whole game and Detroit lined up and just smacked us in the mouth." Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong," stated Beniamino. "Not to take anything away from Detroit, they're a great ball club with great coaching. However, our girls played the worst game ever." This was a wake up call for us and if we had to lose, now was the time for that to happen. Our girls have a lot of class and heart and I know they can rebound and make up for it."
The Xplosion will have a chance to meet Detroit again this year in playoffs if both teams can reach the Championship game. However, even though Atlanta finishes (7-1) they are only a number three seed in the playoffs. They will have to travel to Bay State on July 8th for their quest for a second return to the Championship round.
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