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Matt Wavra and the San Diego Chargers are the 2007 HHEFL Champions!
Matt Wavra is your 2007 HHEFL League Champion, as his San Diego Chargers rolled into Logansport on May 8th and handed Matthew Culp and the Dallas Cowboys one of their worst defeats by the final of 32-7. It is Matt Wavra's first HHEFL title. It was a game of big plays for the Chargers, as the Cowboys finished with 394 yards of total offense to the Chargers 228, but the Cowboys failed to take advantage of long drives and the Chargers, well they needed just one guy to make the plays...Drew Brees...to the Highlights we go...
2007 Hoosier Heartland Electric Football League Championship • May 8, 2008 • Logansport, Indiana • Culp Stadium 5pm
San Diego Chargers 32
Dallas Cowboys 7
First Half
How does a team finish with a 14 play possession advantage...166 yards more of total offense and playing on their home field? One answer...big plays! The 2007 HHEFL ProSeason Championship was won on big plays by the Chargers and great defense when they needed it most. The Cowboys got the ball first and following a 18 yard Kickoff Return by Terry Glenn got off to a good start. On the third play of the drive Tony Romo hit Julius Jones for a 30 yard gain out to the Dallas 41 yard line. From there it was all San Diego. A short run, two incomplete passes and a sack of Romo on fourth down and the Chargers took over at the Dallas 33 yard line for their first drive. It took just two plays to strike pay dirt. LaDainian Tomlinson got out of the back field and Drew Brees hit him in stride for a 33 yard touchdown pass to make it 7-0 San Diego. The Dallas fans were in shock, but the Cowboys quickly rebounded. The Cowboys took over on their next drive and began to move the ball down the field. The Cowboys one and only score then came on a 47 yard touchdown pass from Romo to tide end Anthony Fasano to make it 7-7 early in the second quarter. Little did anyone know that would be the end of the scoring for the Dallas offensive machine. The Chargers next drive was a short one. Two straight runs netted -2 yards. On third and 12 Drew Brees did it again, as #86 Keenan McCardell hauled in a beautiful catch down field, then out ran Terence Newman to the endzone...it was a 82 yard touchdown strike just like that and it was the death blow for the Cowboys...their defense never recovered. They had given up two huge pass plays and now trailed 13-7, as the extra point was no good. The Cowboys next drive started at their own 31. After seven plays, they got the ball out to mid-field, but again they turned the ball over on downs, as four straight pass plays failed to push them into Charger terriotory. Two plays later...yes...you guessed it...it was Drew Brees going deep...this time it was a 47 yard touchdown pass to tide end Eric Parker and the route was on at 20-7. With time running out in the first half, the Cowboys got a glimmer of hope. Terry Glenn broke a 73 yard return on the ensueing kickoff. With time for one more play, the Cowboys opted not to go for the field goal and went for the touchdown...the Chargers held and their lead was 20-7.
Second Half
Feeling a little desprite after a very unsuccessful defensive effort in the first half...the Cowboys opened the second half with an unside kick attempt. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, the kick did not go 10 yards and again the Chargers had a short field. However, for the first time in the game the Cowboys defense held and the Chargers came away with only a field goal to make it 23-7. The bad luck continued for Dallas on the next drive...it was a 4 and out. Two incomplete passes and a 4th down sack at their own 31 yard line all but put the game away for the Chargers. The final play of the third quarter was a 21 yard touchdown run by Clinton Hart to make it 29-7. The Cowboys opened the fourth quarter with a 57 yard kickoff return by Terry Glenn. However, the very first play from scrimmage was utter disaster for the Cowboys, as Romo threw an ill advised pass into double coverage and got picked off by Donnie Edwards of San Diego. San Diego then ran the ball and the clock down. They finished the drive with a 48 yard field goal to make it 32-7. The Cowboys drove late and the final play of the drive was a 46 yard field goal by the Cowboys...no good...and that is how it ended...the San Diego Chargers had won their first Championship!
To look at the stats in this one and the final score would make anyone wonder.The Cowboys had 217 total yards in kickoff returns...they had great field position, but when they got into the Charger's side of the field they simply could not make big plays. Put that with the fact that they turned the ball over on downs three times on their own side of the field and the interception and you quickly realize they could not win. The Chargers came to play.
The unanamious choice for Superbowl I MVP was Drew Brees. He finished 5 for 8 for 215 yards and 3 touchdowns. He completed 5 passes to five different receivers. Touchdown passes of 33, 47 and 82 yards sealed the Championship for the Chargers. For the Cowboys it was a rough day for Romo. Romo went 9 for 19 for 173 yards and 1 touchdown with 1 huge interception. Like Brees...9 completions 8 different receivers, but only one big play.
Congratulations to the Chargers and Matt Wavra and thanks to all of the Hoosier Heartland EFL coaches for another great season. More stats on this game will be available in our Game result section on this website. And don't forget...our 2008 HHEFL College season will be starting in the second week of August! Get those College teams ready and stay tuned for summer camp get together dates...until next time...LONG LIVE FOOTBALL!
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