BONECRUSHERS EARN FIRST VICTORY OF SEASON
MUSKEGON – The undermanned Milwaukee Bonecrushers notched their first franchise victory with a 51-46 upset over the Muskegon Thunder in Continental Indoor Football League action Saturday night.
Bonecrushers quarterback Brian Ryczkowski powered into the end zone from a yard out on the final play of the game to end eight weeks of frustration for the first-year franchise. Muskegon (5-4) had just taken its fifth lead of the night at 46-45 on a Derrick Phillips 3 yard run with 55 seconds remaining, but Ryczkowski’s 23 yard scramble with 1.4 seconds left set up the winning score.
The offenses were in high gear from the outset as the game’s first five drives resulted in touchdowns with Milwaukee (1-8) holding a 19-13 edge midway through the second quarter.
Thunder linebacker Tim Gough briefly halted Milwaukee’s momentum when he sacked Ryczkowski for a safety and two plays later Muskegon quarterback Dan Richard hooked up with Richard Gills on a 12 yard scoring strike to put the hosts in front 22-19 just before halftime.
Ryczkowski bounced back with a 24 yard scoring toss to James Leszczynski as the first half ended, heading to the locker room with a 25-22 lead.
After stopping Muskegon’s initial drive of the second half, it took Milwaukee just one play to up their lead as Ryczkowski hit Dorian Palmer on a 24 yard corner route to extend the lead to 31-22 lead.
Muskegon responded as Richard and Gills combined for a 10 yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 31-28.
Brian Ryczkowski, pulled another big play out of his pocket as he lobbed the ball to a wide open Matt Rahn, to give the Bonecrushers a 39-28 lead.
Phillips brought the Thunder back with a pair of scores. First, he returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards to paydirt on the opening play of the fourth quarter. Richard’s two point pass sailed incomplete, leaving Muskegon down 39-34.
After a Gough interception, the Thunder offense drove 33 yards in five plays, reaching the end zone on a Phillips 14 yard TD run, giving Muskegon a 40-39 with 7:19 remaining.
Ryczkowski bounced back after the only turnover of the game with a one yard touchdown dive that capped a methodical six-play, 27-yard march that chewed 4:16 off the clock. Palmer was stuffed on a reverse on the two point try, leaving Milwaukee clinging to a 45-40 lead with just under three minutes left.
Ryczkowski, a former UW Whitewater Warhawk finished with 15-of-28 passes for 162 yards and five scores while rushing for 60 yards and three TD’s.
Palmer led the Bonecrushers with 4 catches for 43 yards while Leszczynski added three grabs for 44 yards. Rahn, Thomas, Sam D’Alie and Marques Johnson each had two receptions.
Defensively, Milwaukee took away the big play all night as Muskegon’s longest play from scrimmage was Phillips’ 14 yard run. The Bonecrushers got 8 stops from James Cichon, who also forced a fumble, recorded a pass break up and handled kickoff duties. Matt Helgemo notched six tackles and Ahmed Braimah and Joe Schutz chipped in four stops each.
Milwaukee finished with 210 yards of offense and added 107 return yards while Muskegon managed 159 yards plus 114 more in the return game.
Thanks to Bob Eacker Director of Media Relations/Muskegon Thunder for game recap and statistics
The Bonecrushers play the next two at home....this Friday (May 23) against the Rock River Raptors, followed by a rematch against the Saginaw Sting on Saturday May 31st, both games at the "BoneYard"...the US Cellular Arena
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