FORT COLLINS, CO – In the ICE’s second heartbreaking loss of the 2009 season, the San Angelo Stampede Express won 48-47 in a back-and-forth offensive contest at the San Angelo Coliseum Saturday, April 4th, 2009.

Scoring touchdowns in their first two possessions, the Stampede Express held the ICE offense to a lone field goal, leading 14-3 after one quarter. ICE kicker Rocky Stevens made a 45 yard field goal with just over 10 minutes left in the half to close the gap to 14-6. ICE RB Terry Washington then scored on a 22 yard run at the 7:30 mark of the second quarter making it 14-13 San Angelo after Steven’s PAT was good. The Stampede Express answered the ICE touchdown with a 23 yard field goal at the 4:34 mark in the second quarter. On the next possession, the ICE quickly answered with a Justin Gallas 11 yard leaping reception from QB Justin Holland, making the score ICE 20, San Angelo 17 at the half.

In the third quarter, the Stampede Express’ own costly mistakes, including a multitude of false starts, started to hurt them as the ICE seemed to find their offensive stride. Replacing Justin Holland, QB Garrett Mehl faked a handoff to Terry Washington and ran 11 yards to create a first down that would lead to an easy 6 yard run by RB Terry Washington for the ICE’s third touchdown of the game at 13:12 left in the third quarter giving the ICE a lead of 27-17. But in what proved to be only the beginning of a back-and-forth offensive contest between the two teams, the Stampede Express answered with their own 4 yard touchdown pass to WR Tavarres Williams to cut the ICE lead to 27-24. At 5:39 of the third quarter Washington danced into the end zone for his third rushing touchdown of the game to make the score 33-24 ICE as the extra point was no good. On the ensuing possession, the Stampede Express completed a 22 yard field goal at the 2:45 mark to make the score 33-27 ICE.

Regaining the lead at the 11:15 mark in the fourth quarter, WR Tavarres Williams would get his third receiving touchdown of the game to make the score 34-33 Stampede Express. But the Stampede Express would hold their lead for only 8 seconds as WR George Hill responded with a 50 yard kick-off return for a touchdown to regain an ICE lead of 39-34 at the 11:07 mark in the fourth quarter. Seesawing yet again, RB Brannon Hatley ran a 7 yard drive up the middle at the 7:54 mark in the fourth to again put the Stampede Express ahead of the ICE 41-39. With 6 minutes to go the ICE’s star offensive player of the game, RB Terry Washington bowled through the Stampede defense on an 18 yard run touchdown to make the score 47-41 ICE with 6 minutes to go. However, Stampede RB Brannon Hatley returned the kickoff all the way to regain the lead for the Express 48-47.

With the ICE driving for a game-winning field goal or TD with under a minute left, Mehl’s pass attempt to George Hill was intercepted by DL Clay Harrol with 26 seconds to go, dashing the ICE’s hopes for their first win of the 2009 season.

Notable Game Stats:

ICE Individual Stats-

Rushing: RB Washington 21-102 yards, 4 TDs.

Passing: QB Mehl, 5-10, 39 yards, 0 TDs, 2 Int, QB Holland, 6-10, 47 yards, 1 TD, 0 Int

Receiving (# - yds): Hill 5-25, Gibson 3-39, Gallas 2-12, Sleeth 1-10

Time of Possession: ICE 31:46, SA 28:14

First Downs: ICE 15, SA 15

Rushing (att-yds): ICE 27-118, SA 12-50

Passing (att-comp-yds-int): ICE 11-20-78-2, SA 22-32-213-2

Off Plays-ttl yds: ICE 49-196, SA 35-263

Kick returns-yds: ICE 9-162, SA 7-111

The ICE’s next game will be Saturday, April 11th at home at the Budweiser Events Center against the Bloomington Extreme at 7pm (MTN).

Injury Note: ICE WR Cory Sleeth left the game early in the second quarter with what appeared to be a high ankle sprain.

Other IFL League Scores from this week:

Billings 52, Omaha 40

Fairbanks 72, Maryland 41

Rochester 71, Muskegon 3

Bloomington 40, Sioux City 10

Sioux Falls 45, Wichita 41

River City 59, Saginaw 20

El Paso 50, Corpus Christy 17

The Colorado ICE are members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). All home games are played at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado. All ICE games are broadcast live on the Internet on the B2 Network (B2TV.com) and on the radio at Northern Colorado’s ESPN affiliate KJUMP AM 870.  Single, group, and season tickets for the 2009 season are available at the Colorado ICE headquarters by calling (970) 472-0128. Season ticket packages start at just $120 per seat and include all parking, ticketing, and facility fees.

2009 ICE Remaining Schedule:

Sat. April 11 vs. Bloomington Extreme

Sat. April 18 vs. Fairbanks Grizzlies

Sun. April 26 at Alaska Wild

Sat. May 2 vs. Omaha Beef

Sat. May 9 vs. Fairbanks Grizzlies

Sat. May 16 at Sioux City

Fri. May 22 at Omaha

Sat. May 30 at Odessa

Sat. June 6 vs. Alaska Wild

Sat. June 13 vs. El Paso Generals

Sat. June 20 at Billings

Sat. June 27 at El Paso

All home games start at 7 p.m. (local MTN time).  Additional information on the Colorado ICE can be found at TheColoradoIce.com. 

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Contact:

Kristin Willard

K.Willard@TheColoradoIce.com

(970) 472-0128

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