Published: May 16, 2008 03:22 pm            

Outlawz to battle for CFL title

Ada — The Oklahoma Outlawz can bring the Central Football League championship trophy back to the Sooner State Saturday, when the Stratford-based semi-pro club faces the Joplin Crusaders for the CFL crown at 6 p.m. at Tulsa East Central High School.

Last Saturday, the Outlawz won their first-ever CFL South Division championship with a defense-dominated 14-7 victory over the 2006 league champion Oklahoma Rebels at Blackburn Stadium. After a freak touchdown following a huge goal line stand by the Outlawz defense gave the Rebels a 7-0 third-quarter lead, the Outlawz scored 14 fourth-quarter points to advance to Saturday’s title game against a Joplin club that scored 21 fourth-quarter points in a 21-6 victory over the Arkansas Warriors to claim the CFL North title with a perfect 11-0 record.

“It was a great game to get us ready for the Joplin Crusaders,” Outlawz coach Mark Barrett said of Saturday’s emotional victory — the Outlawz’ second over the Rebels this season and their fourth straight over their in-state rivals going back to last season. “This is the first championship game that many of our players have ever been to or competed in.”

The Crusaders edged the Outlawz 22-20 in Week 1 of the CFL season in Stratford. Both teams have changed a lot since that first meeting.

“It would be a great feeling and accomplishment to bring the league championship to Ada,” Barrett added. “I am very proud of my players for making this a great season. I would also like to thank all our supporters, fans, businesses for the donations and the support of the Outlawz this season.”

Outlawz owner Mike West said CFL officials are expecting a big crowd Saturday night.

"There're more hype about this game than any CFL game over the past three years," he said. "They think there could be over 2,000 fans in attendance for the game."

Barrett’s club improved to 8-3 on the season with Saturday’s victory, but the Outlawz had to rally from a 7-0 third-quarter deficit — the result of one of the strangest plays of the CFL season.

After a fumbled punt gave the Rebels a first down at the Outlawz’ 1, the defense stopped two straight running plays for no gain, then linebacker Omega Holman — one of the leaders all season of a defense that might have been the best in the CFL this spring — dropped a Rebel running back for a seven-yard loss on a blitz. On fourth down, defensive end Lacozie Sanders blocked a chip-shot field goal, but the ball bounced to the Rebels’ quarterback, who threw a pass into the end zone for the game’s first touchdown.

The Outlawz used a takeaway of their own — a fumble recovered at midfield — to set up a 4-yard scoring run by Holman and a two-point conversion burst by Keith Jones early in the fourth quarter to make it 8-7, then CFL veteran (and former Outlawz owner) Daniel Crites gave the home team some breathing room late in the final period when he returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown.

For the second straight week, the Outlawz passing attack was virtually a non-factor, with quarterback T. R. Kanuch — the architect of a four-game midseason winning streak following losses in the team’s first two games this spring — completing just 3-of-7 passes for 35 yards. But Jones (last season’s quarterback) continued to flourish as the Outlawz’ tailback, gaining 103 yards on nine carries.

Kanuch rushed for another 32 yards on seven tries, and Holman added seven yards and the key fourth-quarter touchdown on two carries.

Former East Central University star Willie Lane continued to be one of the CFL’s top receivers, catching two passes for 39 yards in the victory.

The Crusaders will enter Saturday night's title game ranked No. 1 in the CFL's Central Region rankings while the Outlawz have landed in the No. 8 spot. Joplin has outscored opponents 339-121 this season while the Outlawz own a 207-98 advantage.

        

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