Coyotes Bite Renegades Again
By: Brandon Rawe/Joey Hinojosa
Updated: July 14, 2007
For highlights of this game, click "WATCH"The following is a press release provided the Lubbock Renegades.
Lubbock, Texas - The Lubbock Renegades (6-8) closed out their regular season
home schedule with a loss to the Central Valley Coyotes (9-5) in a 56-52
decision in front of a crowd of 4,123 at City Bank Coliseum Saturday night.
The Renegades took the early lead after one offensive play with a 26-yard
touchdown pass to John King for the 7-0 advantage. After Coyotes' Tonae
Martin rushed for a three-yard touchdown, Lubbock's Jason Tezeno caught a
36-yard pass for the 14-7 lead. The score marked the fourth Renegade to
record 10 or more touchdown receptions this season. Tezeno would go on to
have a Lubbock single-game high of four touchdown passes. Central Valley
came back in the second quarter to out score the Renegades 21-17 in the
quarter with touchdown runs from Damian Walker and Brian Luke and a
touchdown reception by Martin. A 33-yard field goal by Chris Balseiro kept
Lubbock ahead at halftime with a 31-28 score.
Central Valley dominated the third quarter with a Martin touchdown run, and
touchdown receptions by Jason Barnes and Donyell Booker. Victor Mann's run
into the endzone was the lone Lubbock score in the quarter. In the fourth
quarter, Lubbock quarterback Robert Kent registered a one-yard touchdown run
to cut the lead to four, 49-45 with under nine minutes remaining. Mann and
Kent's touchdown runs keep them co-leading the team in rushing touchdowns
with 12 each on the year. An 11-yard touchdown reception by Barnes made the
difference as the Coyotes took the 56-45 lead. Tezeno's fourth touchdown
and a Balseiro extra point brought the Renegades within four but it would be
their last score of the evening, as an ensuing onside kick became a free
ball eventually recovered by Central Valley to preserve the win.
The Renegades dropped to the ninth spot in the National Conference standings
with the loss, since Tennessee Valley defeated Fort Wayne 61-48. Each team
is 6-8, but Tennessee Valley's strength of schedule is greater than Lubbock
to give Tennessee Valley the tiebreaker advantage. Lubbock must have at
least one win if they want an opportunity to get into the postseason, and
they will have to obtain that win on the road. The Renegades will travel to
Rio Grande Valley (Hidalgo, Texas) Saturday to face the Dorados before
closing the regular season on July 28th at Oklahoma City. Rio Grande Valley
will more than likely be ranked #1 in the af2 Coach's Poll released
Wednesday since they entered this week ranked #2, and the top seeded
WB/Scranton Pioneers were defeated Friday night.
PASSING: Luke, Brian (CVC) 19-34-0-241-4; Kent, Robert (LUB) 14-26-2-266-5
RECEIVING: Barnes, Jason (CVC) 7-85-2; Tezeno, Jason (LUB) 7-163-4


