It’s great when a game plan comes together, especially in a semi-final game.
The Louisiana Swashbucklers (11-1) executed in the running attack to dominate the Houma Conquerors 61-19 in the Southern Indoor Football League semifinal game on Monday night.
“You have to pick your poison,” said Swashbucklers’ head coach Darnell Lee. “You can either take away the pass or you can take away the run and they focused more on taking away the pass.”
The Bucs Kirt Duhon ran for 114 yards, a career best, along with three touchdowns that tied a season best.
“I was looking for them to really stack the box to open up the passing game downfield,” said Lee. “But they came in and played us the same exact way, so we did the same exact thing to get the ball to Duhon and let him make plays.”
Monday was not the first time Duhon has burned the Houma defense. In the last game against the Conquerors (3-9), Duhon rushed for 103 yards and three touchdowns on July 3 in the regular season finale for the Swashbucklers.
“We put in a couple of plays and came out and executed,” Lee said on the rushing game. “Duhon found the holes and topped off with another 100-yard night.”
With a 7-3 lead in the second quarter, Duhon scored his first touchdown of the game from one yard out to give the Bucs a 14-3 lead.
On the ensuing Houma drive, the Swashbuckler defense drove the Conqueror offense back led by a Vaalyn Jackson sack on All-SIFL quarterback Omar Haugabook to force a field goal attempt from the Houma five-yard line.
Marcus Wilridge blocked the kick of Chris Stropolo and All-SIFL lineman John Paul Jones recovered the ball in the end zone to extend the Louisiana lead to 20-3.
After a Haugabook touchdown pass to bring the Conquerors with in 10 points in the second quarter, the Swashbucklers scored two more touchdowns on the ground in the final three and half minutes to take a 34-10 lead at the half.
After a field goal by Houma, the Swashbucklers took control of the ball with excellent field position on the Houma 14-yard line.
Duhon took the ball all 14 yards in two plays on his way to his third touchdown of the night to give the Bucs a 41-13 lead with just over 10 minutes left in the third quarter.
With the running game more than fully established, Bartie connected with Raymond Harris for a 44-yard touchdown pass to run away from the Conquerors by a score of 48-13.
Haugabook hit Clifford Carter in the fourth quarter for a 42-yard touchdown to cap the Houma scoring.
Freddie Harrison came into the game in the fourth quarter and led Louisiana to two touchdown scoring drives to finalize the 61-19 rout of the Conquerors.
The Swashbucklers finished the game with 146 yards on the ground with 111 yards passing.
“It was our game plan,” Bartie said on the rushing attack. “The last time we played them, they were dropping their safeties. So our plan was to come out and run it on them.”
Duhon, Bartie, and the rest of the Swashbucklers will now host the Austin Turfcats in the inaugural SIFL championship game.
Bartie said that the game would be an opportunity to make up for a lack-luster performance in week four of the regular season.
"It’s a rematch for me,” said Bartie. “I went down in the first quarter, so the championship game is definitely going to be pay back.”
“Austin’s going to come in and be physical,” Lee said on the championship match up. “They are going to come in with a chip on their shoulder. But the truth is that we are the defending champs and they are going to be coming into our place.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game and we are going to come out and take what they give us. And if they don’t give anything up, then it’s going to be a grinding night.”
NOTE: Eight players from the Louisiana Swashbucklers were chosen to the All-SIFL team. The list of players include running back Kirt Duhon, receiver Marcus Wildridge, lineman Jabari Hendricks, defensive back Brandon Thomas, receiver Sammy Knight, kicker Tommy Herbert, lineman Lance Fremin, and lineman John Paul Jones.
