Carolina Phoenix Football Official Website

It was a night of nearly unstoppable defenses and virtually un-startable offenses as the Phoenix took the field against the Illusion of Erie Pennsylvania.  It started like business as usual for the Phoenix, they received and made strong strides down the field, but the Illusion defense got their feet under them and created a wall that none shall pass.

When it came the Illusion's turn with the ball, they could do no
better. By the end of the first quarter the Phoenix defense had gained
more yardage then the Phoenix Offense. Illusion carries tended to get
stuck at the line of scrimmage if lucky, all but the shortest of passes
(behind the line of scrimmage) failed.

Second quarter was much like the first, a constant grinding of defense
against the ball often looking more like a stampede than anything else.
The Phoenix offense could get the occasional first down,but couldn't ever seem to cross the line. The Illusion offense had real problems just crossing the 50.

At the two minute warning for the half, the Phoenix rally to within
spitting distance of the end zone, and with only 34 seconds left on the
clock throw an interception, the only one of the game for either side.
The Illusion have the ball but no time to do anything with it. At the
half the score is tied, nothing to nothing.

The second half starts more of the same only better for the Phoenix
defense, not satisfied with just stopping the ball's forward
progression they begin pushing it back further and further. More than
once in the second half it looked like the defense would be scoring
with a safety.
 
Finally something offensive happens! 1:19 left in the 3rd quarter, the
Phoenix offense manages to get one past the Illusion defense and makes
a great run to the end zone, only to have it called back again due to holding. Surely they can just do it again right? Ball is on the
17th yard line, and a bad snap makes it 2nd and 17. Phoenix run it up
to the 9 and the clock runs out on the 3rd quarter.

Starting back on the other end, encroachment by the Illusion brings the
ball to 4 and half yards from the end zone and still third down. A
short run, a short gain, here we are at 4th and 3 yards to the end
zone, well maybe the Phoenix can score a field goal. Nope, the kick is
blocked and the Illusion make a carry for 20, and we are still scoreless. 

8:55 left in the game, the Phoenix offense bring it back to within five
yards of the goal line but a false start pushes them back to the 10.
It's like giant magnets are pushing the ball away from the end zone.
After a series of grinding drives forward the Illusion take control on
the 9th. At this point the Phoenix defense has spend more time in
scoring distance than their offense.

An Illusion punt is caught by Jennifer King bringing the Phoenix back
to the six yard line, with four downs to go. We've seen this before in
this game, fans on both sides are white knuckled in the bleachers
wondering if this would be the one. It was. 4:21 left in the game,
Cameron Williams brings it home for six. The extra point fails due to a
bad snap, but there are points on the board!

Final score of a hard fought, well played game on both sides Carolina Phoenix 6,  Erie Illusion 0.