Chicago Slaughter overwhelms opponent in 71-29 victory
HOFFMAN ESTATES - The Chicago Slaughter (3-3) overwhelmed the Kent Predators (3-4) with a final score of 71-29 at the Sears Centre Arena in front of a packed crowd of 5,789 fans on Saturday night. Key Slaughter player maneuvers earlier in the week proved instrumental in the lopsided victory as WR Reggie Gray returned to the team catching five passes for 120 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Gray was a member of the 2009 Slaughter championship team. RB Jarrett Payton ran the ball five times for 57 yards and one touchdown, while adding another score on a ten-yard touchdown reception. DB Chris Rodgers returned an interception for a score, and DB Dennison Robinson picked up his fifth interception of the season. Both Slaughter Quaterbacks led the high-flying offense with Randy Hutchison throwing for three touchdowns and backup QB Tavares Woodley adding three touchdowns of his own (one passing and two rushing).
The Slaughter came alive in the second quarter after the defense sacked Kent QB Charles McCallum in endzone scoring a safety. Payton picked up his second score of the game as he ran four yards for a score. Chicago then recovered an onside kick and scored on the next play with a Reggie Gray 44 yard touchdown on a halfback option pass from backup QB Tavares Woodley. The very next Kent possession, Rodgers picked off a McCallum pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown to put the Slaughter up 33-10. Gray capped the Slaughter first half scoring with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Hutchinson to make the score 40-10. Kent scored on a long touchdown strike to make the score 40-17.
The Slaughter began the second half in style as Hutchison connected with WR De'Cody Fagg for a 45-yard touchdown on the team's first play. Woodley scored on consecutive one-yard rushing touchdown to put the team up 61-17. Woodley took over the QB reins and connected with Fagg in the end zone for a 5-yard scoring strike. Kicker Chris Nendick kicked a 40-yard field goal, his longest of the season, to end the scoring at 71-29.
"We've got three in a row now and I am hoping everyone can see just how good this team is," said Head Coach Steve McMichael. "Reggie Gray is back, and that really makes a difference. If you've got a great player like that, it raises up everyone's level. What I told the guys at halftime is even when you are dominating, you have to be sure to finish out. Other teams are watching, and we don't want to have everyone think we are happy with mediocrity."
"It's great to be back and I am hoping to be able to spark this team," said Gray. "It's a great bunch of guys and everyone is having fun. Even when I was gone from the team, I was watching the games. I felt there was great potential here. It was a great team last year, and I see the same thing happening this year."
The 71 points scored by the Slaughter was 21 points higher than the team's previous high score. It was also one point below the single team high score in the IFL this season.