``WE NEEDED THIS'': THUNDER SNAPS 2-GAME SKID

By Dan Ryan
FriscoThunderIFL.com

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SAN ANGELO, Tex. (May 17, 2008) -- There may be more impressive defense performances in the Frisco Thunder's brief history, but Saturday's effort against the San Angelo Stampede Express may have been the most important.

The Thunder's defense second-half shutout and scoring nine points of its own picked up the slack for a struggling offense and reignited Frisco's post-season chances with a 28-16 victory Saturday night in the San Angelo Coliseum.

Not only did Frisco (6-4) snap a two-game losing streak, the Thunder headed home in third place in the Intense Football League's standings and playoff seedings. Both CenTex (5-4) and Alaska (4-4) lost on Saturday, elevating Frisco from fifth in the tightly-contested seeding battle.

Seedings will take care of themselves. Face it -- a loss to San Angelo (1-8) and remaining winless on a seven-game road swing wouldn't be where the Thunder wanted at this juncture of the season.

"We needed this,'' was all Thunder head coach Troy Esprit had to say. He was right.

"Morale has been shaky since we've been on this losing skid,'' said defensive lineman Nathan Jackson. "We needed a spark. It was time to stop talking and put words into action."

The 16-point total was the second-lowest for a Thunder opponent, and the second-half shutout was the first since Frisco held Alaska scoreless in the team's inaugural game.

Trailing 16-10 at halftime, Esprit switched quarterbacks, with rookie Wes St. Aubin replacing Wes Cooper. After the Thunder defense started the half with a stop, St. Aubin manufactured a 5-play, 45-yard drive that resulted in his only touchdown pass -- a 13-yarder to Daron Lawrence that tied it with 8:59 remaining in the third quarter.

Forty seconds later, Don McGee returned a Devon Vinson interception 45 yards to give Frisco a 23-16 lead.

"I have to give Marcus Stiggers all the credit for helping me on that interception," said McGee. "He jumped in front of the receiver and made the quarterback float the ball. It just dropped into my lap, but I'll take gifts ... cash, check, money orders, interceptions, I'll take them all."

The Thunder never trailed again as San Angelo managed just two first downs in the second half.

Dennis Hopovac's second field goal of the game extended the lead to 26-16, then the defense stepped up twice late in the game to preserve.

San Angelo stopped the Thunder on a fourth-and goal, but two plays later, Jackson tackled Vinson in the end zone for a safety. Aubin was intercepted on Frisco's next possession, but a Shaylon Carter pick with 1:01 remaining effectively sealed the game.

"It's a team game.  If the defense is struggling, everything's good if the offense is putting up points. If the offense is struggling, then the defense needs to make stops," McGee said. "Everything is coming together, we're just learning how to do it. " 

Frisco's defense wasn't exactly slouching in the first half, giving up just one field goal on the first three Stampede Express possessions. 

Vinson and Tavarres Williams connected on two second-quarter touchdowns -- the second a 45-yarder -- that turned Frisco's 10-3 lead into a 16-10 advantage for the home team.

San Angelo had the last possession of the second half and was driving, but Carter recovered a fumble to end to threat and keep it a six-point game.

McGee finished with six tackles and 72 return yards in addition to the interception.

St. Aubin finished 11 of 18 for 109 yards. Three Thunder receivers -- Jason Deml (80 yards), Lawrence (76 yards, 1 TD) and Moses Harris (46, 1 TD) had six catches.

Williams finished with 8 catches and 101 yards for San Angelo.

Frisco travels to Katy next week, while San Angelo is idle.