NAFL Nashville Storm vs. Central Penn Pirahna

[Cornpoke]

I got a little blurb in this preview

NAFL Final 4. Winner goes to minor league footabll championship in Miami

Nashville Storm (12-0) @ Central Penn Piranha (13-0)



This NAFL Final 4 match-up pairs two of the most successful franchises in NAFL history, when the Central Penn Piranha host the Nashville Storm. These two teams have combined for 13 appearances in the NAFL Final 4 (Piranha 9, Storm 4), and 6 trips to the Championship Game (Piranha 5, Storm 1).

Whenever a game of this magnitude attracts a national audience, there sometimes is added pressure on the teams involved. "The Storm have had a high level of success, but the Piranha have had a higher level of success than virtually any other program in the country (5 League Championships, 2 National Championships). We aspire to be at that level, but we're not there yet. Hopefully Saturday's game will get us closer," comments Storm Owner Bill Caldwell.

Charles Hunter, Head Coach of the Storm, offers his take. "With all the attention surrounding this game, we are taking the approach that this is just another game against a good football team, with the winner advancing to the NAFL Championship. There's no added pressure. Games like this one are what minor league football is all about. As a player or coach, you want to be part of a game like this."

This years contest will mark the third meeting between these two prominent NAFL franchises, with Central Penn leading the series 2-0. Both games were played in the NAFL Final 4 (35-13, 10/18/2003; 17-10, 10/30/2004). The most recent game in 2004 was an epic contest. The Piranha jumped out to a 17-0 lead at halftime, and were ready to punch their tickets for Orlando. However, a Lamar Carter touchdown reception and a Blake Coble field goal by the Storm tightened the score to 17-10, which produced a fantastic finish.

With 2:46 remaining, Nashville began the game's final drive from their own 27-yard line. It stalled at the 12-yard line of the Piranha with time left for one more play in the game. A pass was lofted to the back right corner of the end zone, where Piranha cornerback Roman Morris (HOF 2009) knocked down the pass attempt as time expired.

"The last time we (Piranha) played Nashville, I was a player. Let's just say that I'm glad to be coaching now, because that game was too much pressure for a player," states Ron Kerr, Piranha Owner / Head Coach. Bill Caldwell states, "If we play well, this weekend's game has a chance to be that kind of contest again. There are 10 members of the 2009 Storm team that played in that game. Everyone else on our current roster has joined the program since then. The veterans will let them know what to expect."

The Piranha bring 13 players into this game that played in the 2004 classic, so there's enough familiarity on both sidelines to add to the intensity level of this game.

Coach Kerr and the Piranha know that their task is a formidable one this week, having to face what is considered by many to be the best team in the NAFL. "Nashville is big, fast, and physical. They proved their worth by going undefeated while playing perhaps the toughest schedule in the nation." Kerr adds, "We (Piranha) have to step it up another notch this week. We have no choice, if we want to win this game."

The tough schedule played by Nashville during the regular season will be a huge benefit. "Based on their body of work, the Piranha are going to be the best team we've faced all year. However, we've had a chance to line up against teams that do various things well, so there's not a lot that we haven't seen," says Caldwell.

For Kerr, this is just another playoff game. "Like I said last week, we (Piranha) approach every playoff game the same way, because every week the ramifications are the same, based on the result of the game. If you win, you move on. If you lose, you go home."

Both the Piranha and Storm have displayed championship-caliber football during the postseason, and this week they'll have the opportunity to match their superior play against one another.

Regular Season Stats
Points Scored Average
Piranha 38.8 (#6)
Storm 40.1 (#5)

Points Against Average
Piranha 3.3 (#1)
Storm 12.6 (#18)

Playoff Stats
Opponent's Winning Percentage
Piranha .848
Storm .842

Points Scored Average
Piranha 30.3
Storm 34.0

Points Against Average
Piranha 4.3
Storm 16.0

 

[Cornpoke]

Nashville was down 31-9 in the 4th Quarter. Came back to tie it up with 1 min left and won in overtime!

Onto the championship

 

[Cornpoke]

The following is a reprint of the game account of the classic Nashville Storm-Central Penn Pirhana National Semifinal battle on Halloween night, October 31, in Mechanicsburg, PA, where the Nashville Storm came back from a 31-9 deficit in the last 7:53 of the game to win in OT 37-31. The article was written by NAFL GM Dave Kmiecik, who both witnessed and announced the game.

MECHANICSBURG, Pennsylvania -
Often in sports, huge games never live up to the hype. That wasn't the case in the NAFL Final 4 Game between the Nashville Storm (13-0) and Central Penn Piranha (13-1). The game play surpassed everyone's expectations, and produced one of the most memorable games in NAFL history.

The Nashville Storm scored 22 points in a span of 5:19 to overcome a 31-9 fourth quarter deficit against the Central Penn Piranha, and force overtime. In the extra session, it only took the Storm 2:17 to score the game-winning touchdown, which was a 25-yard pass from Phellepe Hall to DeQuinn Watford. With the victory, the Nashville Storm have punched their ticket for the NAFL National Championship in Miami.

These two prominent NAFL franchises last met in 2004. The Piranha jumped out to a 17-0 lead at halftime, until the Storm scored 10 second half points to tighten the score at 17-10. The game came down to the final play. With the ball at the Central Penn 12-yard line, Nashville lofted a pass to the back right corner of the end zone, where Piranha cornerback Roman Morris knocked down the pass attempt as time expired. Had the Storm scored and converted the extra point, the game would've gone into overtime.

Five years removed from that epic NAFL Final 4 contest between these two national powerhouses, it's hard to believe that the next meeting between the Central Penn Piranha and Nashville Storm could be even more exciting. On Saturday October 31, 2009, these two teams found a way to provide perhaps the most dramatic finish in NAFL playoff history.

The game began in exciting fashion, as the Nashville Storm offense ignited a powder keg of offensive fireworks by both teams. Quarterback Phellepe Hall (22-37, 347 yards, 3 TD / 2 INT) completed back-to-back 25-yard passes to Roger Moore and DeQuinn Watford on the game's opening drive. Following an incompletion, Hall connected with Jeremie Whittaker (5-118 yards, TD) on a 21-yard strike.

It only took the no-huddle Storm offense 4 plays to move the ball down to the 1-yard line of the Piranha. On the next play, fullback Kelcey Williams scored on a 1-yard run. Garrett Morgan added the extra point to give Nashville an early 7-0 lead.
On their first possession, the Piranha would respond in a huge way. Facing a third-and-8 situation, Piranha quarterback Mark Jarmon fired a laser down the right sideline. His pass went inches over the hands of a Storm defender and right into the hands of his intended target, Troy Ham (2-102 yards, 2 TD), who raced 65 yards for the game-tying touchdown. Andar Rehm added the extra point to knot the game at 7 points each.

For the hundreds of fans in attendance, this was just the beginning of a crazy, bizarre playoff game that was taking place on Halloween.

The Piranha found a way to stop the Storm's spread offense, and forced a punt. The Central Penn offense proceeded to impose their will on Nashville via the ground game. It only took the Piranha 2:49 to cover 60 yards, all on the ground. It was capped with a 1-yard touchdown run by Emne'ko Sweeney (17-71 yards, TD). With 6:11 left in the opening quarter, it was 14-7 in favor of the Piranha.

The Piranha defense forced a three-and-out, and took over deep in their own territory (17-yard line). The Storm defense allowed one first down, before halting the Piranha at the 28-yard line. On fourth down, the ball was snapped over the head of Jeremy Ricker and into the end zone. The Piranha punter kicked the ball out of the back of the end zone, and gave the Storm 2 points. At the time (0:06 left - first quarter), this play seemed insignificant. However, later in the game those 2 points would prove to be huge.

The Piranha defense continued their dominance, as free safety Mike Baldwin (6 tackles, interception, 2 passes defended) picked-off a Phellepe Hall pass and returned it 4 yards to the 37-yard line of Nashville.
Mark Jarmon wasted no time in keeping the momentum rolling in favor of the Piranha. The veteran Piranha quarterback hooked-up again with Ham, this time it was a 37-yard strike. Just like that, the Piranha had a 21-9 lead early in the second quarter.

The high-octane Storm offense responded with a 63-yard drive, which moved the ball down to the 12-yard line of the Piranha. Hall lofted a pass to the right back corner of the end zone. Piranha cornerback Marcus Sargeant came down with the jump ball, and recorded the interception. Another bullet had been dodged by Central Penn.
The Piranha responded with a long drive of their own, before it stalled at the 6-yard line of Nashville. Andar Rehm connected on a 25-yard field goal with 3:35 left in the first half.

Each team had one more possession before halftime, but neither team could score. The Piranha took a commanding 24-9 lead into the locker room. Despite having all of the momentum, the Piranha knew that this game was far from over.
After both teams exchanged punts to start the third quarter, the Piranha began the next drive at their own 9-yard line. During the next 5:44 of game time, the Piranha offense pieced together a back-braking 91-yard scoring drive. It was capped with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Jarmon to Jason Harris. With 0:16 remaining in the third quarter, the Piranha now held a commanding 31-9 lead.

The Storm were forced to punt on their next possession. Following a Piranha punt, Nashville got the ball back with only 10:13 left in the game. If there had been a travel agent on site, the Piranha fans and players probably would have been making flight reservations for Miami.

However, that's why you play the full 60 minutes of football. The Nashville Storm traveled over 12 hours via bus to play against the Central Penn Piranha in the NAFL Final 4, and they weren't about to go down without a fight. If the Storm had any chance to win the game, it had to begin on the ensuing drive.

Phellepe Hall cranked-up the spread formation Storm offense, and led an 87-yard scoring drive that took 3:11. The touchdown was a 32-yard pass from Hall to Jeremie Whittaker, in which the Storm receiver made a spectacular catch, and then broke a tackle to get free and into the end zone.

It was much too early to be chasing points, but the Nashville coaching staff opted to go for the 2-point conversion. Hall's pass attempt was knocked down in the end zone by a Piranha defender, making the score 31-15 at the 7:02 mark.

The Storm defense forced a three-and-out, and took possession at their own 42-yard line with 4:25 remaining. At this point the Storm had some momentum, but there didn't seem to be any concern on the Piranha sideline. That was about to change.

Hall needed less than a minute (0:43) to put Nashville back in the end zone. A 39-yard pass to Whittaker help set-up a 9-yard touchdown pass from Hall to Ivan Burley. Trailing by 10, the Storm were forced to go for another 2-point conversion. This time they were successful, as a Storm receiver made a diving catch at the goal line, and rolled into the end zone.
That made the score 31-23 with 3:46 left in the contest. Nashville officially had the attention of their counterparts from Central Penn.

All the Piranha needed to do was notch a couple of first downs, and they could run out the clock. The ensuing drive started well, as the Storm were called for a spearing penalty on the kickoff return. The Piranha started at their own 34-yard line. A reverse by Darren Echols moved the football into Storm territory. One more first down would've put the final nail in the coffin of the Storm. However, that nail never got hammered.

On second down, Mark Jarmon scrambled down to the 33-yard line, and had gained enough yardage needed for the game-clinching first down. With the clock approaching the two-minute warning, the Piranha were in position to potentially run out the clock, or attempt a field goal with very little time remaining. However, there was a flag on the play. It was a costly holding penalty against the Piranha. This forced the Piranha into a second and long situation, and eventually a third-and-16.

Instead of running the ball to make Nashville burn a timeout, the Piranha opted to try and get the first down via a pass attempt. Jarmon's pass fell incomplete, forcing the Piranha to punt. The Storm sent Mario Merriwether deep to receive the punt. The Bethel College product only had one prior punt return on the night (11 yards), but he had already torched the Piranha special teams unit for 147 yards on 7 kickoff returns. He was a touchdown waiting to happen.

In the moment when his team needed him the most, Merriwether produced perhaps the biggest play of his minor league football career, against one of the top teams in nation. Merriwether had trouble fielding the punt, but finally gathered it in at the 22-yard line. He found an alley on the near side of the field, and squirted down the sideline into Piranha territory. Merriwether had blockers, and made one final cut back into the middle of the field, and he was gone. The dangerous Mario Merriwether had finally broken the containment of the Piranha special teams unit, and had given the Storm a chance to tie the game.

Emotions were running so high, that almost the entire Nashville Storm team ran into the end zone and jumped onto Merriwether. The Storm were flagged for excessive celebration. By NFL rules, a 15-yard penalty would be assessed on the kickoff.

Trailing by two points, everyone in the stadium at Memorial Park knew that the game might be decided on the upcoming 2-point conversion. Phellepe Hall brought his troops to the line of scrimmage in the familiar spread formation with multiple receivers. Hall dropped back to pass, and was pressured to roll to the right side of the field. It may have only been 4-5 seconds in real time, but it seemed like an eternity for all of the players, coaches, and fans that were anxiously watching the play develop. At the last moment (Hall's trademark play), Hall fired a bullet to the back of the end zone where a Storm receiver had broken loose from the Piranha coverage. The catch was made, and the Nashville Storm had made an improbable comeback to tie the game at 31 points.

Having to kickoff from their own 15-yard line, the Storm opted to pouch-kick it, and not let the dangerous return men of the Piranha beat them. It was a great decision, as one of the up-backs was forced to field the kick. It was only a 5-yard return, but the Piranha had the ball at their own 47-yard line. With 1:35 left in the game, the Piranha had 1 timeout, and only needed to gain about 18 yards to be in field goal range (52 yards).

There was more than enough time for the Piranha to utilize passing or running plays. However, the Piranha decided to go with their aerial attack. An incomplete pass and a 2-yard scramble by Mark Jarmon set-up third-and-8. Jarmon tossed another incomplete pass, and the Storm still had time to win the game during regulation.

Following a 10-yard punt return by Mario Merriwether, the Storm had the ball at their own 23-yard line with 0:27 left. Nashville ran a couple of plays before having Hall take a knee to run out the clock.

As it was mentioned, the last time these two teams met, the Piranha almost lost a 17-point lead, and the game nearly went into overtime. This time, a 22-point lead had been squandered, and the game was going to overtime.

The drama continued to build, as the most important item of business to begin the overtime was the coin toss. The way things had been going, it was no surprise when the Nashville Storm won the coin toss.

Despite his phenomenal performance in the kick return area, the Piranha kicked the ball to Merriwether. He responded with his longest kickoff return of the game (38 yards), and was finally tackled at the 47-yard line of the Piranha. The Storm only needed about 17 yards to be in legitimate field goal range. They were able to do even better than that.

Facing a second-and-2 situation at the 25-yard line, Nashville had a free down to take a shot at the end zone. Phellepe Hall tossed a pass toward the back of the end zone, where his receiver was running a post pattern. Hassan Brockman had great coverage for the Piranha. Brockman and wide receiver DeQuinn Watford were running stride-for-stride into the end zone. Both players leaped toward the ball, and Brockman broke up the pass by tipping it into the air. Brockman fell down, and Watford stayed with the play, making a diving catch in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.

It was an incredible finish to a game between two of the top teams in the country. The Nashville Storm showed a lot of heart as they completed an improbable comeback. It was pandemonium in the end zone, and this time the entire team, coaches, and staff members of the Nashville Storm celebrated without garnering a penalty.

On the Piranha sideline and in the stands, it was very somber. They had a great season, but unfortunately for the Piranha, they had a victory in the bag and let one get away.

As is the case when you have two professionally run organizations like the Piranha and Storm, the post game hand shake and team prayer were done with class. Not only was it a spectacular comeback, but it will also go down as one of the greatest games in NAFL history.

The Nashville Storm (13-0) will face the St. Paul Pioneers (14-1) in the 2009 NAFL Championship Game, on November 14th in Miami, Florida.

Inside the Numbers
The statistics for this game were just as impressive as the storyline. The Piranha and Storm combined for 68 points, 812 total yards, 37 first downs, and 26 penalties for 199 yards. Equally as impressive was the fact that there were only 2 turnovers in the game, and the winning team committed both of them.

The game also produced 17 big plays (20+ yards) from the line of scrimmage (Piranha 9, Storm 8), and 6 big plays on kick returns (Piranha 1, Storm 5). In fact, the average distance of a touchdown scored in this game was 30 yards.

Game Stats
First Downs: Storm 21, Piranha 16
Rushing Yards: Storm 36, Piranha 333
Passing Yards: Storm 324, Piranha 119
Total Yards: Storm 360, Piranha 452
Comp-Att-INT: Storm 22-37-2, Piranha 3-8-0
Punts - Average: Storm 5-43.0, Piranha 5-36.6
Fumbles - Lost: Storm 1-0, Piranha 1-0
Penalties - Yards: Storm 12-85, Piranha 14-114
3rd Down: Storm 1-8 (13%), Piranha 5-11 (45%)
"Red Zone" Scoring: Storm 2-3 (2 TD), Piranha 2-2 (TD / FG)

Individual Leaders
Rushing
Roosevelt Turner (Piranha) 9-99 yards
Emne'ko Sweeney (Piranha) 17-71 yards, TD
Nick McConnell (Piranha) 8-70 yards

Passing
Phellepe Hall (Storm) 22-37, 347 yards, 3 TD / 2 INT
Mark Jarmon (Piranha) 3-8, 126 yards, 3 TD / 0 INT

Receiving
Jeremie Whittaker (Storm) 5-118 yards, TD
TDDeQuinn Watford (Storm) 4-65 yards, TD
Roger Moore (Storm) 4-58 yards
Ivan Burley (Storm) 5-52 yards, TD
Troy Ham (Piranha) 2-102 yards, 2 TD

Combined Yards
Mario Merriwether (Storm) 273 combined yards (147 KO return, 99 punt return, 27 receiving), TD
Darren Echols (Piranha) 101 combined yards (52 rushing, 31 punt return, 18 kickoff return)

Defense
Nathaniel Claybrooks (Storm) 10 tackles
Danny Roberson (Storm) 6 tackles, 2 sacks
Will Stilley (Storm) 5 tackles
Desmond Scantling (Storm) 5 tackles
Mike Baldwin (Piranha) 6 tackles, INT-4 yards, 2 passes defended
Tyree McCants (Piranha) 5 tackles, 1 pass defended
Marcus Saregeant (Piranha) 4 tackles, 1 INT-0 yards, 2 passes defended
Jermaine Thaxton (Piranha) 5 tackles
Mark McCutcheon (Piranha) 2 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 pass defended
Melik Brown (Piranha) 3 tackles, 1 sack