The Revolution Vanquish the Venom

​By Tonya Swim
Amarillo, Texas-Every jigsaw puzzle needs all of it's pieces to become whole. When going into a playoff game, the same is needed for a team to be able to compete at the level necessary to move to the next round. Unfortunately, the Amarillo Venom did not have all their pieces out of the box and ready to be put in place. 
Key players Jer'yl Christian, Louvan Green and Steve Fluker were noticeably absent throughout the game, especially when Bernard Flores and Richard Mitchell both left the game with injuries that kept them from returning. 

The Texas Revolution received the ball first and Joe Adams took the kickoff out to their own 20 yard line before being stopped by Terrious Triplett.
Andrew Jackson starts the game off with a running play, handing off to Jordan Brown for a gain of two. His next three passes are incomplete and the Venom get to take over the ball on the Revs 22.

Nate Davis finds Xavier Amey for a gain of 19, putting the ball on the Revs three yard line then finds Alex Watson in the end zone for the touchdown. A flag for illegal defense on was declined and Jacob Felton's point after was good. 11:41 in the first quarter, Revolution 0 Venom 7.

The short kick off was taken out by Frankie Solomon Jr. out the the Venom 20.
Jackson handed off to Brown for a gain of four, and two incomplete passes brought up third and six. An off side on Desmond Raiford got a replay of the down and the ball moved up five yards to the Venom 11. Another hand off to Brown and the Revolution went on the board. Brad Dunavant came out for the one and at 9:36 in the first quarter, Revolution 7 Venom 7. 

Raymond Johnson Jr. took the kick off out to the the Venom 10.
Davis started with an incomplete pass before finding R. Johnson Jr. to get out the the Venom 19. Davis found Amey and an offside on Meshak Williams got the ball up to the Revolution 17 giving the first and 10. After another incomplete pass, Davis found Amey to bring up the first and goal with the ball on the Revolution six. Next play, Davis threw the ball away under pressure, then his next pass attempt to Jordan DeCorte was tipped by Tre Harlan to bring up third and goal with the ball on the three. A hand off to Jah'son Patterson would complete the possession with the touchdown but a high left snap threw the timing off for Felton and his extra point missed the mark. 3:43 left in the first, Revolution 7 Venom 13.

Kick off was taken out by Adams, but was stopped by Richard Mitchell on their own 17.
Jackson handed off to Brown and was stopped by Mitchell for no gain then Jackson was pressured and taken down by Eric Banford pushed the ball back to their own 15 bringing up third and 12. A complete pass to LaDon Hudson gave them the first and 10 on the Venom 20. 
Time out Revolution. Jackson throws deep, but couldn't connect then a hand off to Brown is stopped by Raiford for a gain of two and ending the first quarter. 

Jackson threw a pass to Adams, but the coverage by Jeff Branch negated that one bringing up fourth and eight on the Venom 18. A deep pass to Clinton Solomon into the end zone. The extra point was no good and with 14:12 left in the half, Revolution 13 Venom 13.

Cashmin Thomas took the kick off out to the Venom 17. 
Davis used Patterson twice to get the ball up to the Revolution 18 and get the first and 10. A fake hand off didn't get the desired complete pass nor did the next two pass attempts. Felton came out for the 33 yard field goal attempt and added the three to the board. Revolution 13 Venom 16.

Felton's kickoff was out of bounds giving the Revolution the ball on their own five yard line. 
Jackson was under pressure by Nashawn Lewis disallowing a complete pass, but found Adams with his next pass that put them on the board with a touchdown. Dunavant put the ball through the uprights and with 8:50 left in the half, Revolution 20 Venom 16.

Patterson took the kickoff down to the Revolution 17.
Davis' pass to Amey bought up the first and goal with the ball on the Revolution four. Next pass was batted down by Harlan, then a hand off to Patterson lost two yards. Pressure put on Davis caused him to use a shovel pass to R. Johnson Jr, who was in the end zone, and with Felton's extra point, the Venom go up again with 6:18 left in the half Revolution 20 Venom 23.

Harlan took off with the next kickoff, but with the holding call against the Revolution, the Revs are backed up to their own 21.
Jackson came out and used two plays to find Travarres Williams for a 10 yard gain then fakes a hand off, but Demario Donnell was there to make sure it didn't find the intended target. The defense pass rushed Jackson the next play causing him to scramble and throw away the ball creating a turnover on downs and giving the Venom the ball on the own 21.

Davis found Amey for an 11 yard gain then a touchdown pass. The PAT from Felton was good and with 2:18 left in the half, Revolution 20 Venom 30.

Adams took the kickoff out to their own 19 then Jackson handed off to Brown for a two yard gain. An incomplete pass heard the one minute warning and then an incomplete pass followed that, but a pass interference call on Triplett gave the Revolution the first and 10 on the Venom 14. Jackson passed to Brown, who was stopped by Mitchell for a loss of two then a pass to Brown was complete, but Jeff Branch put a huge hit on him only allowing a one yard gain. The Refs reset the clock to 23 seconds then Jackson threw another incomplete pass bringing up fourth and eight. With 18.7 seconds left in the half, Jackson found Hudson for the touchdown. The extra point was good making the score Revolution 27 Venom 30.

Thomas took the kickoff, but an illegal block in the put the Venom back to their own seven. 
Davis' pass was intercepted by Jerico Nelson and the Revolution get the ball on their own 13. 

Jackson finished up the half with an incomplete pass and a score of Revolution 27 Venom 30.

The third quarter saw the kickoff go out of bounds and the Venom start on their own five yard line. An incomplete then a pass to R. Johnson Jr. got the ball out to the Venom 12 but another incomplete pass brought up fourth and three. Davis tried to run, but was short the first down and the Revolution get the ball on the Venom 13.

Jackson faked a hand off and the pass to Hudson found it's mark for a two yard gain. A hand off to Brown got the ball on the Venom 10, but the Venom's Mitchell was down and would not return to the game. Jackson's next pass was picked off by Thomas, the an illegal defense on Banford gave the ball back to the Revolution on the Venom five. Jackson handed off to Brown for a gain of one then used a keeper to get the first down. A hand off to Brown would put more points on the board, but only six as the PAT was no good. 9:19 in the third, Revolution 33 Venom 30.

Next kickoff was taken by Patterson out to the Revolution 15. 
Davis handed off to Patterson for a gain of three, but Venom player Bernard Flores went down and did not return to the game. Davis' pass was incomplete, the the next one was tipped then knocked down by Hudson bringing up fourth and seven along with the field goal team for a 27 yard attempt. Good. 7:02 in the third Revolution 33 Venom 33.

​Felton's kickoff hops over the wall and the Revolution start out on their own five.
Jackson fakes a hand off then throws deep but doesn't complete. The defense had him scrambling next play, but he finds Brett Reece Jr. for the completion and the first and 10 on their own 16. Two more incomplete passes, then a flag for delay of game will back the Revolution to their own 11. Jackson finds C. Solomon and an illegal defense on Raiford would put the ball on the Venom 24. Jackson completes the next pass, but two holding flags move them back to their own 16. Banford and Raiford sack Jackson for a loss of one but he finds Hudson again for a touchdown. Flags flew for interference on the Revolution voiding the touchdown and taking the ball to the Revolution seven bringing up second and 28. Jackson's pass was incomplete then his deep pass was intercepted by Donnell. Flags flew for an unsportsmanlike on Lewis and Raiford, but it was after the play so Venom got to keep the ball, half the distance to the goal on their own six.

Davis completed a pass to Watson that brings up the first and 10 and ends the third quarter.
Fourth quarter started out with a Revolution time out, but Coach didn't call it. 
Davis tried twice to find Amey before hitting his target bringing up forth and two on their own 24. Another incomplete pass will give the Revolution the ball on downs 12:36 in the forth quarter. 

Jackson pitched to Brown, but was stopped with a one yard gain by Bryce Cross. A keeper will move them to the Venom 19 then a pitch to Brown will give them a touchdown. The extra point drew flags for an illegal snap and moved the Revolution out to the seven, but is didn't distract Dunavant and he adds his one at 11:01 in the fourth. Revolution 40 Venom 33.

Kickoff was taken by Ricardo Johnson out to the Venom 23 yard line.
Two handoffs to Patterson will move them to the Revolution 22, then a pass to Watson but the Venom in the end zone. A high snap caused Felton to try and get a pass off, but was tipped and was recovered by the Revolution as Felton tackles. 9:18 left in the game, Revolution 40 Venom 39.

A onside kick was picked up by F. Solomon Jr. and ran in for a touchdown. Flags came out, but the offside was declined. The two point conversion attempt was thwarted by Lewis bringing out the challenge flag by the Revolution coach. The ruling on the field stands, Revs lose a time out and with 9:16 left in the game, Revolution 46 Venom 39.

R. Johnson takes the kickoff out to the Venom 23. Flags, offside Revolution and the ball is moved up to the Revolution eight. 
Davis hands off to Patterson to get the ball up to the Revolution two then another hand off to Patterson didn't gain any yards. Davis kept the ball and ran in for the touchdown. Felton's PAT was blocked by Malik Jenkins and with 7:48 left in the game, Revolution 46 Venom 45.

Kickoff taken by Adams but was stopped by R. Johnson on the Revolution 20. 
Jackson pitched to Brown for a four yard gain then passed to C. Solomon to bring up the first and 10 and the ball on the Venom 15. Another hand off to Brown and a two point conversion and the Revolution increase their lead to 54, Venom 45 with 5:05 left in the game. 
Thomas took the kickoff, but an illegal block in the back by Triplett put the ball half the distance to the goal on their own four yard line. 
A bad snap had Davis scrambling and recover, but it was in the end zone giving the Revolution a safety. Revolution 56 Venom 45.

Felton's kick was taken out by Adams, but he was stopped by Donnell. A late hit penalty from DeWayne Autrey on the safety put the ball half the distance to the goal on their own five.
Jackson pitched to Brown for a gain of six then fumbled the next hand off, but Brown recovers on the Revolution 21. Time out Venom.
Jackson hands off to Brown for no gain then another hand off to Brown was stopped for a one yard gain by DeCorte. An incomplete pass brings up fourth and 10 and the Venom call another time out.
Jackson had to scramble to get the ball off but it fell short and the Venom take over on downs with two minutes left in the game on the Revolution 22.

​Davis found R. Johnson Jr. to get the ball up to the Revolution one yard line. The next play, the snap went way out, Davis covered but it popped out, F. Solomon Jr. recovered and made a touchdown. The Venom challenge flag comes out. The ruling on the field took the touchdown away, but gave the Revolution the ball on their own 20 and the one minute warning sounds. 

Jackson hands the ball to Brown for a two yard gain. Time out Venom. Another hand off puts the ball midfield, then to end the game, Jackson used Brown again and the buzzer sounded. 

Texas Revolution 56 Amarillo Venom 45.

The season for the Venom has ended, but the Revolution will travel to Albuquerque to play Duke City in the second round on Monday, June 25th.