THUNDER NOW 3-0 WITH 50-41 WIN OVER WILD

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MICHAEL BOREN: LENFORD LENDS A HAND ON SPECIAL TEAMS

By Randy Shortnacy 
The Sports Kings

FRISCO, TX (March 16, 2008) - It was a record setting night Sunday as the Frisco Thunder moved to 3-0 in the Intense Football League by knocking off the Alaska Wild 50-41 in front of 1,701 fans at the Deja Blue Arena in the Dr. Pepper StarCenter.

Not only did the Thunder record their third win of the season and are off to the best start in team history, but Dennis Hopovac also shined again with a team-record three field goals while Kevin Lenford added his name to the record book with 123 yards in kickoff returns. He also returned two missed Alaska field goals for 72 yards. 

The offense did not put up big numbers because after Lenford's kickoff returns, there was really not many yards needed to hit pay dirt.

However, some of the numbers were still large with last weeks IFL offensive player of the week Richard Morris turning in another big day with nine catches for 90 yards and scored four times.

Ricky Madison scored just once but had his best rushing effort of the season carrying the ball 11 times for 34 yards. Wes Copper did not put up the large numbers that he has posted in the past two weeks but still completed 50% of his passes (15-30) and had five touchdown passes.

The story of the day was the Thunder defensive front three of Lamont Finley, Michael Larry and Linnis Smith. These three lived in the Wild backfield sacking Alaska 
quarterback Nick Mystrom seven times. 

Frisco took the opening lead after Madison took it in from three yards out, Hopovac added the point after and with 8:28 left in the first, the Thunder had the 7-0 lead.

Alaska would strike back when Mystrom and Nian Taylor teamed up for an 18 yard touchdown pass the point after by Mystrom was no good and Frisco still held the one point advantage up 7-6. Mystrom still managed to put up some good numbers for the day completing 18 of 34 for 229 yards and five touchdowns with three of those going to Taylor.

With 3:37 left, Cooper hooked up with Morris for an 18- yard shot capping off a four play drive that covered 19 yards, Hopovac added the points after and after the opening quarter the Thunder had the 14-6 lead.

Cooper found Morris again early to kick off the second on a 20 yard touchdown, with try for points good the Thunder found themselves coasting with a 21-6 lead. However that would not last for long as Alaska kick returner busted off a 54 yard kick return for and touchdown the point after was good and within seconds the Wild went from being down by 15 to pulling within seven early.

Hopovac added a 20 yard field goal as the second half came to a close and gave the Thunder the 24-14 lead at the half.

Alaska trailed 31-14 early to begin the third but was able to battle back and with the help of the Wild defense was able to maintain good field position. Then with 4:46 left in the third Mystrom hit Andre Velazquez on an 11 yard touch down pass the point after was good and now the lead was cut to five.

Hopovac added a 22 yard field goal in the third that gave the Thunder the 43-35 lead.

Mystrom and Taylor were not finished as they connected again to kick off the fourth cutting the Thunder lead to only two points down 43-41. 

The Thunder answered just as they have in the past as Cooper hit Jason Deml on a 35 yard bullet, Hopovac added the point after and Frisco pushed their lead back to nine. The defense picked up a blocked field goal and an interception from Kedrick Alexander that pretty much sealed the deal.

The Thunder hosts the CenTex Barracudas next Saturday with kickoff at 6 p.m.