GOOD HALF SPOILED: CUDAS DOWN FRISCO 41-25

BELTON, Tex. (May 10, 2008) -- Holding a team to three points in a half will win you a lot of games in indoor football game. It didn’t for the Frisco Thunder Saturday.

Instead of celebrating one the best defensive halves of both team and indoor football history, the Thunder now has to break down its worst offensive performance after the CenTex Barracudas posted a 41-25 Intense Football League victory in the Bell County Expo Center.

After managing just two field goals on its first six possessions, CenTex (5-3) scored touchdowns on five straight possessions to sweep the season series with the Thunder(5-4) and move pass Frisco into fourth place in the Intense Football League standings. It was also the Thunder’s second straight loss.

Playing its first game after a two-week bye, Frisco defense was at its best the first 30 minute against CenTex QB James Brown, the former Texas Longhorn, AFL and NFL Europe standout who registered ten touchdown passes in his first two Barracuda appearances.

A pass rush keyed by Chris Glenn (three sacks) and defensive coverage paced by Marcus Stiggers (three breakups) limited Brown and the Barracudas to 59 total yards in the first half. The Thunder managed a 7-3 lead on Ricky Madison’s 17-yard run with 12:27 remaining in the first half of the well-played defensive struggle.

When Wes Cooper connected with Jason Deml for a 23-yarder on the Thunder’s opening play of the second half, it looked like Frisco had solved the offensive part. Instead, the touchdown would be Frisco’s last until Cooper hit Daron Lawrence with 2:01 remaining in the fourth quarter to make it a 34-25 game.

In between, CenTex capitalized on two Frisco turnovers, scoring three unanswered touchdowns to turn a 13-6 deficit into a 27-13 lead.

After Olan Coleman’s 31-yard catch-and-run made it 20-13, Frisco was driving to answer. On a controversial call, officials ruled that Jason Deml fumbled on a first-down play that CenTex recovered and converted into a two-score advantage.

Dennis Hopovac nailed two fourth-quarter field attempts to keep Frisco within striking distance.

Brown completed just 13 of 27 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns – one each to Coleman and Kendrick Wade. CenTex was outgained 193-160, but won the turnover battle 3-0.

For Frisco, Cooper finished 14 of 30 for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Lawrence had seven catches for 75 yards and Deml 4 for 52. Madison gained 39 yards on the ground. 

Michael Larry and Nathan Jackson each added a sack to Frisco’s total of five, the most against Brown this season.

The Thunder travel to San Angelo next Saturday. Gametime is 7 p.m.