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HARTFORD, CT (July 27, 1999) -- The New Jersey Red Dogs (6-7), a week ago on the outside looking in, now find themselves in position to advance to the post-season. Friday night they host the Nashville Kats in yet another must-win situation. With a heart-stopping 65-64 victory over the New England Sea Wolves at the Hartford Civic Center, the New Jersey Red Dogs moved one step closer to an improbable playoff run of their own. Finally, we saw Red Dog football that reminded us of better days. New Jersey ran the ball for over 50 yards (which doubled their season total). The Dogs got away from the break-but-don’t-bend defense by scoring on almost every offensive series while the defense made almost all of the stops they HAD to make. Rickey Foggie completed passes to six different receivers. And a BIG factor was that the team was only penalized seven times and for the first time al season, had fewer flags than their opponent. The only critizisms could be sloppy tackling and poor clock management. But overall, it was vintage Red Dog football led by Rickey Foggie, Robert Stewart and their AFL Rookie-of-the-Year candidates Dimitrious Stanley & Keita Crespina. New Jersey played a solid game in systematically picking apart the Sea Wolves' defense. Stanley, coming off the game of his career in Tampa (10 receptions and 148 yards), was named Game MVP in once again leading the offensive charge with 9 receptions for 138 yards and three touchdowns. That gives him a two-game total of 19 receptions for 286 yards. Rickey Foggie, who was named the AFL's MVP-of-the-WEEK, was an efficient 23-of-27 for 302 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also had two rushing touchdowns (4, 29). Leading the league's third ranked defense was DS Keita Crespina, who accounted for seven tackles on the night. After taking a 27-17 lead into halftime, the Red Dogs came out and played the Sea Wolves even, as the score heading into the fourth quarter stood at 41-31 in the Red Dogs favor. What would follow in the fourth quarter and beyond are the things that make legends out of mere mortals. A total of 50 points were scored in the final frame and beyond, as it took a 23-yard TD pass from Foggie to Alvin Ashley and a two point conversion stop following a Kerry Brown touchdown to give the Red Dogs a thrilling 65-64 victory. With the victory, the Red Dogs improve to 6-7 on the season, keeping their playoff hopes alive for one more week. This Friday, in a Bread & Circus-like atmosphere at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Red Dogs will host the Nashville Kats in what amounts to another MUST-WIN situation.
GAME NOTES: The 65 points scored by the Red Dogs marks their highest offensive output of the season... Robert Stewart, the leading candidate for AFL Defensive Player-of-the-Year, recorded his league-leading 8th sack of the year, as well as registering four QB hurries... Pierre Hixon led the team with eight tackles. He also recorded one pass breakup... Steve Videtich totaled 11 points kicking... Dimitrious Stanley led the receiving corps with 9 receptions for 138 yards and three touchdowns... Alvin Ashley reached the 100-reception plateau for the second consecutive year with his 23-yard touchdown reception in overtime... Though not named as the Game MVP, Foggie was named as the AFL's MVP-of-the-Week... The 'Dogs "D" was scorched once again, this time for 64 points by the New England Sea Wolves. Despite giving up 64 points, the "D" remains among the league leaders. The scoring defense drops off the pace to seventh in the league with a mark of 46.2 points per game. The 'Dogs total defense, allowing an average of only 258.9 yards per game, drops one spot to #4 in the league overall. Remaining at #3 in the league is the pass defense, which is allowing a miniscule-by-AFL-standards 233.4 yards per game. The "D" moves back into a first place tie with Grand Rapids with 18 sacks. Individually, Pierre Hixon leads the team in tackles with 55 (18th in the league). AFL Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Keita Crespina, who has missed two games due to an injury, recorded seven tackles, which gives him a total of 51 on the season (20th in the league).
p.s.: who were those funny looking Red Dog fanatics sitting with Ike? They were on espn2 all night and rushed the field after the game!
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