The Kings Comets
7366 Elkwood Drive
West Chester, OH 45069

2006 KINGS COMETS

SCHEDULE

HOME FIELD: Kings High School (Kings Mills, Ohio)

July 15	CLEVELAND COBRAS	W, 27-0
July 29	JACKSON BOMBERS	W, 32-25
Aug. 5	at So. Michigan Timberwolves	L, 14-26
Aug. 12	SOUTHERN OHIO PATRIOTS	W, 38-6
Aug. 12	INDIANA MUSTANGS	W, 2-0 (forfeit)
Aug. 19	LOUISVILLE BULLS	L, 21-28
Aug. 26	at Cleveland Lions	L, 10-36
Sept. 2	CINCINNATI GAMBLERS	W, 10-0
Sept. 9	at Ohio Swarm	W, 20-12
Sept. 23	WEST MICHIGAN FORCE	L, 6-13
Sept. 30	at Cleveland Lions MCFL Playoffs	L, 0-39

SEASON STATS

STRONG GUIDES COMETS BY COBRAS

Quarterback Casey Strong set a Kings Comets record with four touchdown passes as the Comets opened their fifth season of play with a 27-0 win over the Cleveland Cobras in a non-league game Saturday night at their new home, Kings High School in Kings Mills, Ohio.

Strong finished the game by completing 10 of 15 passes for a career-high 188 yards and no interceptions.

After each team punted on its opening possession, the Comets opened the scoring by converting a third-and-22 from their own 33-yard line. Wide receiver Gene Hellams snatched a jump ball out of the air at the Cobras' 35-yard line and raced into the end zone for a touchdown.

In the second quarter, Strong twice found Daryl "Slash" Moore for long touchdown passes over the middle. The duo connected for a 25-yard scoring strike with 6:11 remaining in the half, and then for a 49-yard touchdown on the Comets very next play from scrimmage.

Moore, who also serves as the Comets team president, led all receivers with four catches for 94 yards.

Strong capped off the scoring by finding LeVar Berry in the corner of the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter to complete a 14-play drive that consumed 11:33.

Berry doubles as the Comets Sales & Marketing Director.

Defensively, Kings held Cleveland to 42 yards from scrimmage and two first downs to record its first shutout since blanking the Flint Fury, 32-0, August 13, 2005.

Running back Joe Norton converted both first downs for Cleveland, first with an 18-yard reception from Isaiah Brewer in the final minute of the first half, and later with a 36-yard burst on the first play of the second half. Norton led the Cobras with two catches for 21 yards and three carries for 35 yards.

Thaddeus Crosby led the Comets defense with five tackles and one-and-a-half sacks. James Dickens, John Richardson, Kyle Thigpen, and Andrew Atkinson also contributed to the five sacks recorded by the defense. Steve Costello intercepted a pass for the only turnover forced by Kings.

The Comets prevailed despite missing several potential starters who played in the Cincinnati Marshals' 48-30 National Indoor Football League playoff loss to the River City Rage in St. Louis. Comets defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Brian Barrett guided the team as head coach Brian Wells was also with the Marshals.

The Comets are off next week before beginning play in the Mid-Continental Football League by hosting the Jackson Bombers at Kings High School 7:30 p.m. July 29.

BACK RESCUES COMETS

Billy Back took a low snap on a field goal attempt and raced into the corner of the end zone to score the game-winning touchdown with 7.5 seconds remaining as the Kings Comets (2-0, 1-0) pulled out a thrilling, 32-25 win against the Jackson Bombers (0-1, 0-1) in each team's Mid-Continental Football League opener Saturday night at Kings High School in Kings Mills, Ohio.

Back's score capped a 10-play, 79-yard drive that took 1:49, allowing Kings to come back after letting a 24-6 halftime lead slip away.

Early on, Kings took advantage of a franchise playing its first game since October 2, 2004, scoring 17 points off turnovers in the first half as Jackson lost three fumbles.

Casey Strong fired three touchdown passes in the first half, including a 37-yard strike to Daryl Moore to put Kings ahead 14-0 early in the second quarter after the Comets recovered a shotgun snap that had gone over Jackson quarterback Jason Tokar's head.

Kings picked up two points on a safety on another errant snap from the Bombers 5-yard line when the ball rolled by Tokar's feet, forcing him to bat the ball through the end zone.

Two plays after the free kick, receiver Anthony Tyus took a short pass from Strong and juked his way down the right sideline before cutting left to weave through the Bomber secondary for a 49-yard touchdown reception. After Back ran in a two-point conversion on a play similar to his game-winner, the Comets had added 10 points in the final two minutes of the half to up their lead to 24-6.

Jackson's comeback began on its second offensive snap of the second half when Tokar hit Eric Garner streaking down the left sideline for a 90-yard touchdown pass.

After Jackson stopped Kings on four plays inside the Bombers 10-yard line, Jason Gibson picked up 48 yards on three carries and Tokar capped off an eight-play, 99-yard drive by hitting Donti Hamilton with a 28-yard pass to cut Kings lead to 24-18.

Keith Rowe picked off Strong, the quarterback's first interception following seven touchdowns this season, setting up Toker's scoring dive from one yard away. Larry Kast added the extra point to give Jackson its first lead of the game, 25-24, with 5:36 left.

Kings was stopped on downs on its first attempt at a comeback, but the defense held Jackson to six yards on the next four plays, giving Strong and the offense another possession at their own 21 with 1:57 remaining.

In his second season with the Comets, Strong held his own against Tokar, a three-time MCFL MVP, completing 14 of 29 passes for a career-high 265 yards. Tokar finished 15-of-26 for 312 yards and two scores.

Kings travels to face the undefeated Southern Michigan Timberwolves (4-0, 1-0) in Monroe, Mich. next Saturday night. The Comets return home to Kings High School 7:30 p.m., Saturday August 12 to face the Indiana Mustangs (0-1, 0-1).

COMETS CAN’T TOP TIMBERWOLVES

The Kings Comets (2-1, 1-1 MCFL) surrendered a pair of turnovers that led to two touchdowns in the final minute of the first half in falling to the Southern Michigan Timberwolves (5-0, 2-0), 26-14, Saturday night at Navarre Field in Monroe, Mich.

Kings appeared poised to be down just 7-0 at halftime when Dennis Strayhorn intercepted D. J. Lutz’s pass in the end zone and returned it to the three, but running back Fate Jackson could not handle a hand-off from Casey Strong on the Comets’ next play and Southern Michigan’s John Slayton fell on the ball.

Jovan Johnson found paydirt one play later, increasing Southern Michigan’s lead to 13-0.

The Comets attempted to go deep on the first play following the kickoff, but Corterris Reese, the Timberwolves’ top receiver on offense, picked off Strong’s throw and returned it 61 yards to expand the Timberwolves’ lead to 19-0 21 seconds before halftime.

The Comets were finally able to respond after Jermaine Woods intercepted Nate Lewis’ halfback pass and returned it to the Southern Michigan 25 early in the third quarter.

Jackson ran 28 yards with a screen pass to set up an 11-yard scoring connection between Strong and Daryl “Slash” Moore.

The Comets appeared ready to continue their comeback in the fourth quarter when a pass interference call gave them the ball at the Timberwolves one-yard line, but Southern Michigan’s defense held firm. Jackson, who had broken a 21-yard run earlier in the drive, was stuffed for no gain before a fumbled snap pushed Kings back to the nine. Strong’s next two tosses fell incomplete, handing the ball back to Southern Michigan.

The Comets picked up a safety to make the score 19-8 when Orlando Wright ran through the back of the end zone, but Wright came back with the help of his running game to lead a scoring drive that put the game out of reach.

Nate Lewis, who led all rushers with 122 yards on 17 carries, picked up 58 yards on the drive, including a 46-yard burst on a third down from his own 32. Wright completed the drive when his pass was deflected into the arms of Aaron Schmidt for a touchdown.

The Comets added a final score when Strong hit Gene Hellams, who led all receivers with four catches for 101 yards, for a 42-yard touchdown down the left sideline.

Kings missed out on two chances to jump out to an early lead. Kings reached the Timberwolves’ 19-yard line on its opening drive of the game, but a pass on a fake field goal attempt fell incomplete.

On Kings next drive Travis Johnson’s 49-yard field goal attempt just missed the lower left corner of the goal post.

Instead, Southern Michigan struck first on Lewis’ 15-yard scoring run in the second quarter. A 36-yard punt return by Jason Gitler and a personal foul on the Comets helped set up the score.

COMETS RUN PAST PATRIOTS

The Kings Comets set season highs with 149 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in defeating the Cincinnati-based Southern Ohio Patriots, 38-6, in a non-league contest at Kings High School in Kings Mills, Ohio Saturday night.

Running backs D. J. Johnson (10 carries, 68 yards) and Fate Jackson (7 carries, 54 yards) achieved their best rushing totals as members of the Comets, scoring a touchdown each.

Fullback Dan Hartung added touchdowns both times he carried the ball, helping Kings reach the end zone on all four second-half possessions.

While the offense rolled in the second half, the defense held Southern Ohio to 21 yards of offense and no pass completions after halftime.

Nehemiah Brooks led the defense with 6.5 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Defensive back Steve Costello added 6 tackles and lineman Jessie Black had 5 tackles, 3.5 for a loss.

The game remained close throughout the first half, with the Comets scoring first after Thaddeuss Crosby's interception on the final play of the first quarter stopped a Patriot drive. Kings overcame a pair of holding penalties to start the drive by converting a fourth-and-four with a 10-yard completion from Casey Strong to Daryl "Slash" Moore. Jackson followed with 28 yards on three carries, finishing off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run.

Southern Ohio responded with an 8-play, 80-yard drive that culminated when former Comet Damian Cogar out-fought the secondary for a pass from quarterback D. J. Watson for a 28-yard touchdown with 1:18 left in the second quarter.

The Comets stuffed a two-point rushing attempt to maintain a lead at 7-6.

Chris Wermuth recovered Southern Ohio's on-side kick attempt that followed and returned it to the 28-yard line, setting up Travis Johnson's 47-yard field goal.

Kings took control of the game by racing downfield on six plays on the opening possession of the second half to extend its lead to 17-6 on Hartung's first score.

After holding Southern Ohio to one first down, Billy Back picked up a bouncing punt and wove his way in and out of the Patriots' coverage for a 58-yard touchdown return.

After another stop by the Comets' defense, Jackson and Johnson alternated runs of at least 10 yards, with Johnson capping off the 5-play, 59-yard drive with a 12-yard burst through the Southern Ohio defense.

Hartung finished the scoring with a 7-yard run up the middle after Southern Ohio had given up the ball on downs on its own 10-yard line.

The Comets (3-1) played the Patriots (4-7) because their scheduled league opponent, the Indiana Mustangs, was unable to travel this weekend.

The Comets return to play in the Mid-Continental Football League by hosting the Louisville Bulls (4-2, 1-2) 8 p.m. next Saturday at Kings High School.

LOUISVILLE SLIPS BY COMETS

The Kings Comets (3-2, 1-2) were unable to hold an early lead and had a late comeback attempt fall short in losing to the Louisville Bulls (5-2, 2-2), 28-21, Saturday night at Kings High School in Kings Mills, Ohio.

Steve Costello's recovery of a muffed punt helped the Comets control the ball for over 15 of the first 17 minutes of the game. George Murray finally gave the Kings a 7-0 lead by sneaking in from the one on the Comets' 16th consecutive snap covering nearly 12:30.

Louisville used Marcus Warren's first two completions of the game to tie the score, but Kings responded with two big passes of its own. Murray found Daryl Moore for a 34-yard catch-and-run and tight end James Frazier with a jump ball over cornerback Brandon Burfict for a 19-yard touchdown to put Kings ahead, 14-7, just before halftime.

After failing to convert any of three third downs in the first half, Louisville converted three straight on the opening possession of the second half to tie the score at 14 on a 13-yard touchdown from Warren to Tyler Holland on third-and-five.

Kings drove to midfield in its attempt to retake the lead, but Charles Ricketts recovered a fumbled snap on third-and-1. Instead, the Bulls took their first lead of the game when Warren kept the ball and went around the end for a 17-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-two in the final minute of the third quarter.

Two possessions later Murray restored the tie with a pair of strikes to Gene Hellams. Following a 17-yard completion, Hellams bounced off a pair of tacklers and raced into the end zone for the game-tying 34-yard touchdown just under the 10-minute mark.

Warren again converted key third downs, first with a 10-yard pass to Stuart McCormick with 10 yards to go, and later with a nine-yard scramble on third-and-seven, before finding Jarmel Hopson deep for a 52-yard pass. Nick Moore plowed two yards into the end zone on the next play to give Louisville a 28-21 lead with 3:45 to go.

The Comets advanced to the Bulls' 30 on their final drive of the game, but could get no closer. Murray scrambled for 19 yards to the 45 on third-and-seven, the Comets only third down conversion of the second half, and a penalty moved the ball 15 yards to the 30. Russell Lesshafft recorded his third sack of the game on first down, and three incompletions effectively ended the game. Burfict knocked the ball out of Frazier's hands on the fourth down pass in a play similar to the one Frazier had scored on earlier.

Murray finished the game 5-of-15 passing for 124 yards and led the team with 38 rushing yards after stepping in for starter Casey Strong. Strong injured his knee early in the second quarter after starting the game by hitting six-of-seven passes for 54 yards.

Kings travels to play the Cleveland Lions 7 p.m. next Saturday, August 26, with the Comets next home game scheduled for 7:30 the following Saturday, September 2, against the Cincinnati Gamblers in a non-league contest.

KINGS SHUT DOWN BY LIONS IN SECOND HALF

The Kings Comets (4-3, 2-3) trailed by just three points at halftime, 13-10, but the Cleveland Lions (5-1-1, 3-1-1) defense held Kings to negative yardage in the second half of a 36-10 Comets loss Saturday night at John Marshall High School in Cleveland, Ohio.

LeVar Berry and Anthony Tyus alternated at quarterback, helping the Comets roll up 127 yards in the first half, but Kings still found itself down due to a pair of long returns.

The first occurred after Kings was forced to punt on the opening possession of the game. A group of Comets appeared to have stopped the punt return by Cleveland's Brian Giovinazzi after pushing him back five yards, but Giovinazzi managed to lateral the ball to Lawrence Vickerstaff at the 10, who went around the crowd and down the sideline for a touchdown. The play marked the third consecutive game in which the Lions have returned a punt for a touchdown against the Comets.

Kings responded with a 42-yard field goal from Travis Johnson on its next possession, and appeared set for another scoring drive when Darryl Riston's interception gave them the ball at midfield. Nehemiah Brooks fumbled two plays later, however, and Woody Allen's 45-yard return of the fumble set up Jon Hunek's six-yard touchdown pass to Melvin Stewart. K. C. Cavette blocked the extra point keep the Lions lead at 13-3.

Tyus took over under center for good at the four-minute mark of the second quarter, and immediately led a 55-yard scoring drive by completing three of four passes for 49 yards and rushing once for seven yards. All three completions went to Daryl "Slash" Moore, including a seven-yard touchdown catch with 0:47 remaining in the half.

Moore led all receivers with seven catches for 98 yards in the game.

Vickerstaff returned the second half kickoff to the 50-yard line, and Cleveland needed just four plays to maneuver the other half of the field, scoring on a 30-yard pass from Hunek to tight end Mike Parris over the middle.

The ball never left Kings territory the rest of the third quarter, but the Comets defense held firm to keep Cleveland's lead at 20-10.

Riston recovered a fumble at the 1-yard line to thwart one Cleveland threat, and a fourth down pass by Hunek from the Comets' 16 fell incomplete to end another.

Cleveland broke through in the fourth quarter after Chip McClain carried four times for 28 yards, setting up Parris' second touchdown of the game from 13 yards out.

McClain, playing one day after being married, carried 14 times for 103 yards in the game.

Cleveland extended its lead to 34-10 on a 17-yard pass from Vickerstaff to tight end Frank Mastoianni, and added their final two points on the next play from scrimmage when Tyus was sacked in the end zone.

The Comets host the Cincinnati Gamblers at Kings High School 7:30 p.m. next Saturday night, September 2, in a non-league contest.

COMETS DEFEND HOME TURF

Linebacker Andrew Atkinson led a Kings Comets (5-3) defense that recorded its second shutout of the season and forced four turnovers, as the Comets won, 10-0, over the Cincinnati Gamblers (1-7-1) in a non-league game Saturday night at Kings High School in Kings Mills, Ohio.

Atkinson recorded 11.5 tackles, including a sack of Cincinnati quarterback Antonio Early that helped end the Gamblers final attempt to score.

Travis Cox, Scott Masturzo, and James Dickens all recovered fumbles for Kings and Jermaine Woods picked off a pass as all 10 points scored in the game came off turnovers.

Dickens also recorded seven tackles for the Comets defense, with linebackers Nehemiah Brooks and Alessandro Bosco each adding six tackles apiece.

Masturzo's recovery of a muffed punt at the Cincinnati 23-yard line led to Travis Johnson's 49-yard field goal midway through the second quarter to open the scoring. The kick was Johnson's third straight successful field goal, all from over 40 yards out.

With seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Dickens recovered a fumble at the Cincinnati 40-yard line after Thaddeuss Crosby stripped Early of the ball. Two runs by Keith Brooks and a penalty put the Comets on the 10, and after losing yardage on the next two plays, James Frazier hit Daryl "Slash" Moore with a 22-yard touchdown pass to push Kings' lead to 10 with 3:13 remaining in the game.

The Comets were unable to take advantage of Cox's recovery of another muffed punt at the Cincinnati 10-yard line after the opening drive of the game. Kings starting quarterback LeVar Berry had a pass intercepted in the end zone by Marcus Dobson to thwart that scoring opportunity.

Dobson was one of a number of players from Columbus along with indoor football veterans James Spikes and Demitrius Howard recruited by the Gamblers for the game. Spikes and Howard combined for six tackles and each recorded a sack as Cincinnati's defense held the Comets to 61 yards, only six coming in the first half.

Keith Brooks, the Comets all-time leading rusher, saw his first action since playing this summer for the Gladiatori Roma in Italy, accounting for 52 of those yards on 11 carries.

The Comets' win marked their second this season over an area rival, having beaten the Southern Ohio Patriots 38-6 on August 12, and spoiled the final coaching appearance for Gamblers defensive coordinator December Lamb. Prior to the game Lamb, a 25-yard semi-pro football veteran, announced he would be retiring from coaching.

The Comets return to play in the Mid-Continental Football League next Saturday against the Ohio Swarm (2-3, 2-3) in Columbus. Kings' next home game will be the final game of the regular season against the West Michigan Force (8-1, 4-1) 1 p.m. September 23 at Kings High School.

COMETS WIN WITH SECOND-HALF SURGE

Keith Brooks' rushing and Travis Johnson's kicking enabled the Kings Comets (6-3, 3-3 Mid-Continental Football League) to overcome an early 12-0 deficit and beat the Ohio Swarm (2-4, 2-4), 20-12, Saturday afternoon at Scioto High School in Dublin, Ohio.

Brooks ran for 134 yards on 20 carries in his second game back with the Comets after playing this summer with Gladiatori Roma in Italy. Johnson extended his streak of successful field goals to five straight with two 48-yard field goals, pinned the Swarm inside their own 20 twice while averaging 46.5 yards on two punts, and executed his third successful on-side kick of the year.

Despite the return of starting quarterback Casey Strong, Kings managed just 53 yards of offense in the first half while the Swarm struck for two Richard Rodawalt to Terrance Hudson 32-yard touchdown passes to lead 12-0 with 2:30 left in the second quarter.

Strong left the game shortly after halftime with a concussion, but not before leading a 36-yard drive that led to Johnson's first field goal with 23 seconds left in the half.

James Frazier took over under center in the third quarter, and aided by Brooks, enabled the Comets to pull ahead less than eight minutes into the second half.

Brooks ran 34 yards on three carries on the opening possession of the half, setting up Johnson's second long field goal of the game.

Travis Cox recovered an on-side kick after the score, and the Comets needed just two plays to take a 13-12 lead with 8:47 left the third quarter. Frazier hit Daryl "Slash" Moore with a 42-yard bomb down the sideline on Kings' next play, and Brooks followed with an 11-yard touchdown run up the middle.

Frazier and Moore hooked up twice more on the Comets next possession to extend the lead to 20-12. A 31-yard pass on the second play of the drive moved Kings into Swarm territory, and the duo completed the scoring when Moore caught a 17-yard touchdown pass over a pair of defenders two plays into the fourth quarter.

Moore finished with a game-high 90 yards on three catches.

The defense made the lead stand up, never allowing Ohio to get further than Kings' 44-yard line while holding the Swarm to 63 yards of offense in the second half.

Linebacker Andrew Atkinson led the defense with 6.5 tackles, two first-half interceptions, and a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Nehemiah Brooks, brother of Keith Brooks, added a sack to up his team-leading total to 5.5 on the year, and defensive back Jermaine Woods, son of former Bengal Ickey Woods, knocked away two passes, including a fourth-down pass to seal the win with 2:27 remaining.

Kings travels to play the first-place Detroit Seminoles (7-1-1, 5-0-1) next Saturday before hosting the second-place West Michigan Force (9-1, 5-1) in the regular season finale 1 p.m. Saturday, September 23 at Kings High School.

KINGS FALLS TO FORCE

Travis Johnson made two field goals, including a team-record 53-yard kick, and Keith Brooks ran for 109 yards on 20 carries, but the West Michigan Force (11-1, 7-1 Mid-Continental Football League) used two second-half touchdowns to defeat the Kings Comets (6-4, 3-4), 13-6, Saturday night at Turpin High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Comets defense held a West Michigan offense averaging 33.7 points per game in league play scoreless throughout the first half. With the Force playing without starting quarterback Phil Butler, the Comets limited 345-pound backup quarterback Bobby Hicks to one completion in six attempts.

Johnson accounted for Kings only points in the first half, booting a 42-yard field goal that was set up by a 30-yard run from Brooks on the first play of the drive.

Justin Sherrod's 55-yard kickoff return to open the second half led to West Michigan's first points. Reggie Williams carried the ball on five of the Force's next six plays, with the last being a five-yard touchdown run to put West Michigan ahead, 7-3.

D. J. Johnson's 20-yard run on Kings' next possession enabled the Comets to reach the West Michigan 36, leading to Johnson's record-long field goal. Despite slipping as he kicked the ball, Johnson was able to connect on his seventh straight field goal, all from at least 42-yards out. The distance was one yard short of the MCFL record set by Rich Wrightington of the Louisville Bulls in 1997.

Johnson had a chance to regain the lead for Kings on its next possession, but his 36-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left with 8:22 remaining in the game.

Reggie Williams helped West Michigan add to its 1-point lead during a 74-yard drive that took 6:52. Williams carried the ball on 10 of the 13 plays, gaining 49 yards and converting two third downs. He finished the drive with a 12-yard run that left West Michigan ahead, 13-6, with 1:30 left in the game after the extra point was blocked.

Williams finished the game with 152 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries, with 102 of those yards and both touchdowns coming on 19 second-half rushing attempts.

Kings used a 14-yard completion to David Sanders and a 13-yard pass to Daryl Moore to advance to the West Michigan 42-yard line on its final drive, but Courtney Lewis intercepted a pass on the last play of the game to clinch the victory for West Michigan.

Linebacker K. C. Cavette led the Kings defense with seven tackles. Linebacker Andrew Atkinson added six-and-a-half stops, while Kyle Thigpen had the lone sack for the Comets in the game. Anthony Thomas picked off a pass late in the first half.

Despite the loss, the Comets kept alive their streak of making the post-season in each of their five seasons of play. As the No. 6 seed in the MCFL playoffs, Kings will travel to play the third-seeded Cleveland Lions (8-1-1, 6-1-1) in a first round game next Saturday. Cleveland defeated Kings, 36-10, at John Marshall High School in Cleveland August 26.

CLEVELAND ENDS COMETS SEASON

The Kings Comets 2006 MCFL season came to an end with a 39-0 loss to the Cleveland Lions Saturday night at John Marshall High School in Cleveland that was stopped with 1:29 remaining in the third quarter after an apparent neck injury to three-year Comets lineman James Dickens.

Dickens was injured as he and a teammate attempted to tackle Cleveland punt returner Dave Soucie at the Cleveland 40-yard line. As the two Comets converged on Soucie simultaneously from opposite sides, the impact of their blows offset each other and as Dickens fell to the muddy field, Soucie ran another 45 yards to the Kings' 15-yard line. After initially feeling pain, Dickens was reported to be in high spirits and could move his arms, but the game was delayed for an ambulance to take him to Fairview Hospital in Cleveland as a precautionary measure.

Dickens ended the game as Kings' leading tackler with four solo tackles.

Due to the delay from the injury, muddy field conditions caused by a steady rain before the game and throughout the first quarter, and the score, both teams agreed to end the game and declare Cleveland the winner.

Prior to the stoppage, Cleveland's top-ranked defense and the poor weather conditions proved too much for Kings offense.

The Lions defense recorded its fourth consecutive shutout by holding Kings to 49 yards of offense. In the wet conditions, the Comets were limited to one pass completion in 11 attempts while Keith Brooks led Kings with 42 rushing yards.

Cleveland quarterback Jon Hunek was able to complete five of 13 passes for 76 yards, including a 33-yard pass to Antonio Humphrey on the first play from scrimmage. Chip McClain ran in a 6-yard touchdown on the next play, and Cleveland lead, 6-0, after just 50 seconds of play.

A blocked a punt and two fumbles enabled Cleveland to add on two more touchdowns to lead 19-0 after the first quarter.

The Comets defense recorded it first stop on the first play of the second quarter.

Daryl Riston added his second interception in as many games against Cleveland later in the quarter, and Chris Young forced a fumble on the Lions' first play of the second half.

Cleveland tacked on a 1-yard touchdown by Roderick Thomas in the second quarter and two scores in the third. Brian Giovinazzi ran 48 yards after picking up a punt that appeared as if it would roll out of bounds and Chip McClain surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on the season with a 50-yard touchdown run to close out the scoring.

With the loss, the Comets end their season with a 6-5 mark. Cleveland advances to play the West Michigan Force in the semifinals. The Louisville Bulls, 22-18 winners over the Southern Michigan Timberwolves, will face the Detroit Seminoles in the other semifinal.

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

1999

1998