Revolution Rally for a Playoff Run

By Tonya Swim
Frisco, Texas-The failure to finish at the beginning of the season put the Texas Revolation in a precarious position for the last game of the regular season.
The 4-7 Revs hosted the 8-3, second seed in the Southern Conference Amarillo Venom. Coming off of a two game loss, the Revs got the win in the last meeting of these two teams giving them high hopes of sneaking into the playoff spot.

The Venom fans were given a pleasant surprise when former Venom kicker Jacob Felton stepped onto the field for the kickoff.
The Revs Marcel Brooks took the first kickoff and got the ball out to their own 24 yard line.
Quarterback Andrew Jackson came out after two weeks on injured reserve and handed off to Darius Fudge for a two yard gain. Jackson passed to Brett Reece Jr then another hand off to Fudge to bring up second and nine with the ball on the Venom 14. An incomplete pass and then a pass knocked down by Venom Cashmin Thomas brought up fourth and nine. Jackson found Clinton Solomon for a first down then a hand off to Fudge for a loss of one put the ball on the Venom five.
Timeout Revolution 9:57 in the first quarter.
Jackson found C. Solomon in the end zone for the first touchdown in the game. Jarod Haynes' point after is blocked. At 9:32 in the first quarter, Venom 0 Revolution 6.

Haynes' kickoff taken out by another former Venom, Craig Fulton Jr and the Venom start their first possession on their own five yard line.
Quarterback Nate Davis passes to Alex Watson Sr. and the flags come out. Offsides on Tre Harlan of the Revolution. Venom are moved up to their own 19. Davis passes to Terrell Smith putting the ball on the Revs 21 and giving the first and ten. A handoff to a reactivated Jah'son Patterson and a holding call on the Revolution, which was declined, put the ball on the Revs 24 and a repeat of the down. The next pass was incomplete then another pass was knocked down by Frankie Solomon Jr bringing out Felton and the Field goal team.
Felton's attempt was blocked and the ball rolls into the end zone where Reece recovers it giving the Revs six more points. Haynes PAT is good and 6:33 left in the first, Venom 0 Revs 13.

Haynes kick off is taken by Thomas out the the Venom 22.
Davis found Fulton for a five yard gain, then an incomplete pass and pass to Watson brought up the first and goal with the ball on the Revs 10 yard line. Davis' next pass was incomplete then a bad snap had Davis scrambling when he found Fulton placing the ball on the Revolution three yard line. A pass to Watson finally got the Venom on the board, but the flags came out. Face mask on Revs Travonti Johnson, declined, Venom take the six. The extra point by Felton is good, 2:58 in the first, Venom 7 Revs 13.

Felton's onside kick touched a teammate on the knee before it went 10 yards, so the Revolution took possession of the ball on the Venom nine.
Now, here's the controversy. The face mask penalty was declined giving the Venom the six points, but then the Revolution was penalized for the same face mask putting the ball on the Venom 24.
Jackson passes to Clinton Solomon but only for a gain of four thanks to Thomas, then the next pass was incomplete placing the ball on the Venom 20. Jackson's next pass to C. Solomon was complete for a touchdown and Haynes hit the uprights bringing the score Venom 7, Revs 19 with 1:41 left in the first.

Thomas takes the kickoff out to the Venom 20. Flag, holding on the Venom put the ball back onto the Venom 11.
Davis' was pass incomplete then a pass to Ricardo Johnson put the ball on the Venom 18 for a gain of seven and third and three. Davis passed to Patterson was incomplete and that ended the first quarter.

The second quarter started with the Venom on the Revolution 18 bringing up the forth and three. Davis passed to Watson for a one yard gain. Another pass to Watson brought up first and goal putting the ball on the Revolution five. An incomplete pass brought up to second and goal then a pump fake and a pass to Watson was a touchdown. Felton added the one and with 12:14 left in the half, Venom 14 Revolution 20.

Felton's kickoff was taken by Brooks out to the Revolution 18.
Jackson pass complete to Tavarres Williams put the ball on their own 22 then another pass and a obsticle run through three Venom defenders and Williams added six more for the Revolution. Haynes' PAT was good, 11:53 left in the half the Venom 14 Revolution 26.

Kickoff taken out by Thomas, who was put out of bounds at the Revolution 23.
Davis had an incomplete pass then found Patterson with a touchdown pass. Felton remained perfect on his PAT's and 10:22 left in the second quarter, Venom 21 Revolution 27.

Felton's kickoff bounced then went out at the Revs eight yard line.
Jackson's first pass was incomplete then a pass to Reece was complete but stopped by new addition to the Venom Mark Sterling on the Revolution 18.
Jackson pitched to Williams was complete, but a personal foul on Revs was declined but the loss of yards pushed them back to their own 15. Jackson found Williams with a pass, but more flags, this time on both teams, holding on the offense and roughing the passer. They offset, so the Revs got their six yard gain and a repeat of the down. Jackson passed again to Williams who was brought down midfield by NaShawn Lewis and a hoard of other Venom. The next pass was incomplete, but then Jackson fired a shot of a pass to LaDon Hudson and touchdown, Revolution. Haynes again added the one and 7:32 in the second quarter, Venom 21 Revolution 34.

Kickoff was taken out by Thomas to their own eight yard line, but a flag on Ricardo Johnson moved the ball back half the distance to the goal on the four yard line
Davis passed to Watson for a gain of 9 bringing up second and one then a pass to Smith put the ball on the Venom 23. An incomplete pass with a flag of offside on the defense moved the ball to the Revolution 22 and the first and five. Another incomplete pass will have the Venom call timeout at 4:43 in the second. Davis fakes a hand off then passes to Watson for the first and 10 and the ball on the Revs 11. A hand off to Patterson will put the ball on the Revs six, then a pump fake and pass to Smith will close out for the touchdown. Point after was good and with 2:54 left in the half, the Venom 28 Revolution 34.

Kickoff taken by F. Solomon out to the Venom 23.
Jackson's pass was incomplete, then a pass to Robbie Rhodes put the Revs on the Venom 19 and a time out was called. 54 seconds left in the half, and at forth and seven, Jackson tried a pass, but it was knocked away by Thomas and the ball changes possession on downs on the Venom 19.

Davis starts out with a pass tipped back into his hands, then passes again, but brings out the flags for an illegal forward pass and the Venom are backed up to their own 12 and a loss of a down. The next play was an incomplete pass, then a bad snap was recovered by Harlan who ran it in for a touchdown. The snap for the two point conversion was taken by F. Solomon, Haynes faked a kick, but the conversion was no good. 32 seconds left in the half, Venom 28 Revolution 40.

Haynes kickoff went out of the end zone for a touch back and the Venom start on their own five yard line with 25 seconds left in the half.
Davis passes to Smith for a four yard gain, then Davis ran but was blocked and brought down for a gain of one. Third and five, flags, on the Venom backs the ball up to their own five. Davis found Patterson with a pass getting them out to the Venom 19 but the next pass was blocked by Malik Jenkins bringing out the field goal team. Time out, Venom.
Felton FG attempt from the V12, timeout Revolution. Trying again, field goal attempt, flags on the Venom moves the ball out to the Revolution 22. Felton's attempt was good to end the half. Venom 28 Revolution 40.

​Haynes kicked off to start the second half and Thomas took it out but was stopped with a huge hit from F. Solomon on the Venom 24. Davis found R. Johnson with a pass for a seven yard gain, an incomplete pass then a hand off to Patterson put the ball on the Revs 16. Davis' next pass was tipped again my Jenkins, but his pass to Watson put them on the Revs 7. Another bad snap had Davis scrambling, and he recovered, but was now on the Revolution 23. Felton again brings out the field goal team, but his first attempt was met with flags on the Venom and they were backed up five. His next attempt was good, so 10:31 in the third quarter, Venom 34 Revolution 40.

Kickoff was taken by F. Solomon, fumbled and picked up by Terrious Triplett giving the Venom the start on the Revolution 11. Davis hands off to Patterson for the touchdown, then with the good PAT, the Venom take the lead 41 Revolution 40 with 9:44 left in the third quarter.

Kickoff is taken by Harlan, but a holding call gave them a 10 yard penalty and the Revs will start on their own 14. Jackson first pass was intercepted by Demario Donnell, and a holding call on Robert Griffin put the Venom on their own 13.
Davis hands off to Patterson puts the ball midfield, then a fake hand off and pass to Watson puts the Venom on the Revs 18. An incomplete pass then a pitch to Patterson got the Venom in the end zone and a good two point conversion tacked on an additional two. 6:21 left in the third quarter, Venom 49 Revolution 40.

F. Solomon takes the next kickoff up to midfield, then Jackson handed off to Fudge for a three yard gain bringing up second and seven. A hand off for no gain then an incomplete pass brought up fourth and seven. Jackson ran the next play getting up to the Venom 14, and an incomplete pass and pass interference on Thomas put the ball on the Venom 10. Jackson's next pass was nearly intercepted by Jeff Branch and the Revs call a time out with 1:59 left in the third. Jackson's next two passes was incomplete, but an illegal use of hands put the ball on the Venom five, and Venom Desmond Railford ejected from the game. Jackson's hand off went no where, but his pass to Williams resulted in a touchdown. Haynes hit the uprights and with 57 seconds left in the third, Venom 49 Revolution 47.

The first kickoff was whistled dead, but the second was taken out by Thomas down to the Revolution 12. Venom start out with a false start on Bernard Flores, backing them to the Revs 17. A hand off to Patterson will put the ball on the Revs eight and end the third quarter.
Davis again handed off to Patterson for a one yard gain, time out, Venom. Davis recovers a fumble in the next play, but the ball is back on the Revs 19. Felton comes out and punches the ball through the uprights for a field goal. 12:43 in the fourth, Venom 52 Revolution 47.

Felton kick off taken by F. Solomon out to their own 23. A block in the back will push them back to their own eight yard line.
Jackson's pass is incomplete, then a pass to Williams moves them up to their own 16. Finding Williams again puts the ball on their own 24, then to Fudge to get them into the Venom territory on the 22. Next pass was incomplete bringing up third and six. Jackson runs, but is stopped at the Venom 17, just short of the first down. Jackson with the quarterback sneak plows in for the first down, putting the ball on the Venom 14. Jackson's next pass was to C. Solomon, and he was wrapped up by Thomas on the Venom seven. An incomplete pass then another pass to C. Solomon put the Revs in the end zone, but the two point conversion was no good. 6:17 left in the game, Venom 52 Revolution 53.

The Revs kickoff taken by Thomas out to the Venom eight.
Davis fumbles the hand off to Patterson and the Revs recover getting the ball on the Venom eight.

Jackson hands of to Harlan for no gain, then a pass was incomplete. Third and goal, Jackson's pass was again incomplete then a run and a pitch to Harlan and the Revolution again added some points to the board. Haynes continues his one point streak and with 3:53 left in the game, the Venom 52 Revolution 60.

Thomas again with the kickoff and he gets the ball to the Venom seven. Davis finds Watson for a gain of eight, an incomplete pass. a pass to Patterson then another incomplete pass and an offside call on the Revs put the ball on the Revolution 19. Davis finds Fulton and DeWayne Autrey body slams Fulton creating a litany of yellow to fly for the personal foul giving the Venom the automatic first down and the ball on the Revolution six yard line.
One minute warning.
Davis with an incomplete pass, then a scramble up to the one. Flags, Venom, ball on the Revs 16. Davis' pass was tipped by Hudson bringing up the third down. Davis fumbles the next play and the Revolution recovers on their own 14.

Jackson hands off to Fudge for a seven yard gain, then hands off to Fudge again for a gain of nine putting the ball on the Venom 20. Time out, Venom, last of the game. With seconds left, Jackson uses two plays taking a knee, then an incomplete pass will end the game.
Venom 52 Revolution 60.

Venom Jer'yl Christian reflects on the game. “We beat ourselves. We started out slow and went back on top then we let the lead get away. We didn't take advantage of our opportunities.”

The Revolution will travel to Amarillo for the first round of the playoffs on June 18.

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