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02-21-2011, 10:24 PM
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Omaha Defeats Pittsburgh 7-3 on Historic Goal Line Stand recap and pics
TODAY IN THE NJLMFL – AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME
#6 seed PITTSBURGH STEELERS at #1 seed OMAHA WRANGLERS PRARIEVIEW STADIUM The Omaha Wranglers made a historic goal line stand to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 7-3 in one of the greatest defensive battles in a long time. The Steelers had a first and goal at the Omaha 2 yard line with :37 seconds to go and the Omaha Wranglers defense stopped them on 4 straight plays to win the game and advance to the AFC Championship Game that they will now host. 1st Half. After a very hard hitting defensive battle in the first 30 minutes the Omaha Wranglers lead the Pittsburgh Steelers 7-3. It was a turnover and penalty free half of great smashmouth football. The Steelers got a huge 48 yard run by Jerome Bettis deep into Omaha territory but had to settle for a 29 yard Norm Johnson field goal foar a 3-0 lead. Just before the half Omaha finally got something going against the famed steel curtain defense. A 31 yard pass from Colt McCoy to Troy Brown got the ball to the Steeler 14 at the 2:00 minute warning. After a Matt Forte 2 yard gain to the 12 and an incomplete pass McCoy dropped back on 3rd down. The Steelers had all recievers covered so McCoy saw an opening to his left and made a dash. He got a great block on Greg Lloyd and was able to bolt into the endzone for a Wrangler TD. The Wranglers took a 7-3 lead into the half and will recieve the second half kickoff. More later. 2nd Half- Omaha took the second half kickoff with plenty of momentum but the Steeler defense snuffed that out early causing a 3 and out. Omaha got a tremendous 57 yard punt that pinned Pittsburgh at their own 3. Jerome Bettis had a 14 yard run and Terry Bradshaw hit TE Heath Miller for 31 yards to the Pittsburgh 48. The drive stalled and Pittsburh punted back to Omaha. Omaha began running the ball with backs Matt Forte and Lendale White and got the ball to midfield before they had to punt it back. It was a rapid 3rd quarter with all the running plays and the game remained 7-3 at the end of the period. Pittsburgh took the punt and drove as far as the Omaha 47 but came up short of a first down and punted back to the Wranglers. A poor punt by Bobby Walden gave the ball to Omaha at their own 36 with just under 9 minutes to go in the game. Omaha continued to run the ball for short gains and Colt McCoy hit on a key third down pass to Matt Forte to keep the drive going. Two more runs set up a third and 3 with 6:00 to go. McCoy again delivered. He hit Lendale White on a short pass and only a great tackle by Pittsburgh Troy Polamalu kept it from going all the way. Omaha had it at the Pittsburgh 33 and were closing in. On the next play McCoy threw for Lendale White down the right sideline but Steeler LB Jack Ham intercepted at the Pittsburgh 18 and returned it 15 yards to the Steeler 33 with 4:51 to go in the game. This was the games only turnover and gave the Steelers a chance to pull the game out. The Steelers got a big play when Bradshaw found his sure handed TE Miller for 31 yards to the Omaha 33 which took the clock down to the 2:00 warning. Miller was caught from behind by LB Lance Briggs saving a possible TD. Pittsbugrh then ran Jerome Bettis who appeared to fumble and the Wranglers recovered but Steeler head coach Chuck Noll challenged the call on the field. The call on the field was reversed as Bettis knee hit the ground before the ball came loose. With Pittsburgh deep in Wrangler territory and driving Omaha coach Wade Phillips chose not to use any time out to save time in case Pittsburgh scored. The next play saw Bradshaw hit John Stallworth on a quick slant and he got it down to the Omaha 20 with 54 seconds to go. The next play will go down as one of the greatest efforts made by a defender . Bradshaw dropped back and found Jerome Bettis open around the Omaha 10 with Franco Harris ahead of him to block. The only defender for Omaha was a charging DB Steve Foley. Harris made the initial block but somehow Foley slipped off the block at the last possible moment and tackled Bettis at the Wrangler 2 yard line. Pittsburgh took timeout number one with 37 seconds left. On first down Franco Harris tried the right side of the Steeler line but was stopped for a 2 yard loss back to the 4 by Casey Hampton. The Steelers used their second timeout with 26 seconds left. The next play Bradshaw dropped back and found all of his receivers covered. His only choice was to dump it off to Bettis but the BUS was swarmed on by the Omaha D for another 2 yard loss back to the 6 yard line. Pittsburgh spent their final timeout with just 10 seconds left in the game. Time for maybe two plays if the were quick. On third and goal Lynn Swann broke free on a quick out pattern just before the pylon but Bradshaw missed and the game came down to one final play. 4th and goal from the Omaha 6 with just :04 seconds left. Bradshaw took the snap and rolled left to avoid the rush. By now the clock had expired. Omaha had all the Steeler receivers covered as Lance Briggs was bearing down on the Steelers QB. Bradshaw had 2 choices. He could have handed the ball to Franco Harris who had a blocker in front of him but there were 3 Omaha defenders right there as well. Jerome Bettis was open at the 2 yard line but on a bad angle to the endzone but he was free of any Omaha defenders. Briggs leaped in front of Bradshaw as he released the pass and both went to the ground. When they both looked up they saw the errant pass go over the head of Bettis and fall harmlessly in the end zone. Omaha had pulled off a miracle goal line stand and mobbed each other in celebration. Franco Harris helped his QB up off the ground and they walked off the field with their fellow team mates in disbelief over what had just happened. Bradshaw who was red hot in the second half missed on 2 high percentage throws that both could have won the game but it was not to be. Great tackles by Lance Briggs and Steve Foley in the last drive both saved the game for Omaha. Another playoff game that was decided on the games final play. This was one of the greatest defensive games in league history. Probably the most exciting 7-3 game I’ve ever played. Omaha will now host the AFC Championship Game next week against either Hartford or Oklahoma. SCORING Pittsburgh 0-3-0-0...3 Omaha 0-7-0-0...7 1st QTR No Scoring 2nd QTR. PIT- Johnson 29 yd FG..................................3-0 8:57 OMA- McCoy 12 yd run (Crosby kick)...............7-3 :29 3rd QTR No Scoring 4thQTR No Scoring........................................... ........7-3 :00 
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