Published: May 19, 2008 06:22 pm            

Oklahoma Outlawz yield to Joplin Crusaders

Tulsa — The North Division champion Joplin Crusaders scored 11 points off key mistakes by the Oklahoma Outlawz and posted an 18-6 victory in Saturday's  Central Football League title game at Tulsa East Central High School.

Although the Outlawz -- coming off a 14-7 victory over the 2006 CFL champion Oklahoma Rebels last weekend to claim their first-ever South Division title -- and the Crusaders boasted some of the league's top offensive players, the title game was dominated by two defenses that forced repeated turnovers to keep the opposing offenses off the board.

"It was a defensive battle," Outlawz coach Mark Barrett said after seeing the Outlawz lose for just the second time in their last 10 games to finish the best season in team history at 8-4.  "Both offenses had chances to score three or four times, and the defenses stepped up and caused a turnover."

A high snap on a punt led to a safety just before halftime that gave the Crusaders a 2-0 lead at the break, and Joplin extended the lead to 9-0 with a touchdown early in the third quarter. 

Outlawz quarterback T. R. Kanuch found his favorite target, Willie Lane, for a 47-yard scoring pass with seven minutes to play to trim the Joplin lead to 9-6, but Kanuch was sacked in the end zone on the Outlawz' next possession to make it 11-6, and the Outlawz' final turnover -- a fumble on their next possession -- led to a 24-yard end-around on the next play to complete the scoring.

Kanuch, who completed 9-of-18 passes for 128 yards, then directed a last-ditch scoring drive that ended when wideout Wayne Rogers was ruled out of bounds on a catch in the end zone as time expired.

"It was a great season," Barrett said.  "There were eight other teams that would have loved to have been in Tulsa Saturday night.

"We still have a bright future," he added.  "I was proud of the way the guys played.  To finish second is bittersweet, but it was good to have the opportunity to be in the championship game.  It just wasn't in the cards this year.  We want to thank everyone who followed us and supported us."

Defensive back had two interceptions and was named the Outlawz' MVP in the game, and Lane finished with three catches for 57 yards and his sixth touchdown of the season.  Sean Pulliam also had three catches for 30 yards and completed a pass for another 30 yards, and Kanuch was the Outlawz' leading rusher with 35 yards on six carries.

Barrett said the Outlawz will have "13 or 14" players on the South roster for the CFL All-Star Game, which will also be held at East Central on Saturday, May 31.

        

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