By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
KALAMAZOO – John Radney's 1-yard run with 26 seconds remaining Sunday afternoon lifted the Saginaw Sting to a 41-37 victory over the Kalamazoo Xplosion in the Continential Indoor Football League Championship Game at Wings Stadium.
Radney's run up the middle capped a three-play, 33-yard drive that took just nine seconds.
Kalamazoo, which had the best record in the CIFL this season, appeared to be headed toward a championship following Brad Selent's 41-yard field goal with 42 seconds to play.
However, it didn't take long for former Michigan State quarterback Damon Dowdell to lead the Sting down the field.
Dowdell, who led the CIFL in touchdowns with 61 coming into the title game, connected with Nate Collins on a 27-yard pass down to the Xplosion's 5-yard line.
Two plays later, including a penalty which placed the ball at the 1-yard line, Radney scored to snap a league tying 15-game home winning streak for Kalamazoo.
The game was a battle of momentum throughout.
Both teams put up 20 points in the first quarter, while neither team found the end zone in the second quarter as the defensive took over.
Defense was still the name of the game in the third quarter as the two teams combined for 14 points.
The Sting outscored the Xplosion 14-10 in the final quarter to rally for the victory.
Dowell finished the game 18-of-36 for 246 yards and three touchdowns. Nick Body, who was named the game's Most Valuable Player, caught 12 of those passes for 156 yards and all three scores.
The Sting finished with 291 yards in total offense against the league's top defensive team. Saginaw as the CIFL's top offensive unit in 2008.
Kalamazoo finished with just 178 yards in total offense.
Quarterback Randy Hutchison was 13-of-31 for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He had three interceptions, including two in the end zone, the last of which sealed the victory for the Sting.
Former Dowagiac and Grand Valley standout Brent Lesniak finished with one catch for two yards and one kickoff return for 18 yards.
The Kalamazoo Xplosion certainly had a southwest Michigan feel to its roster.
Along with Lesniak, the Xplosion listed players from Lakeshore (Mike Wolford), St. Joseph (Todd Christensen) and Benton Harbor (Larry Wooden). Also on the team were Brad Selent (Paw Paw/Western Michigan), Little John Flowers (Kalamazoo Loy Norrix/Michigan State) and Kelly Baraka (Portage Northern).
Saginaw 20 0 7 14 – 41
Kalamazoo 20 0 7 10 – 37
S – BODY, Nick 14 pass from DOWDELL, Damon (GALLAGHER, Anthony kick)
K – GARDNER, Eric 3 pass from HUTCHISON,Randy (SELENT, Brad kick)
K – SELENT 38 field goal
S – BODY 8 pass from DOWDELL (kick blocked)
K – DOLPH, Brian 45 pass from HUTCHISON (SELENT kick)
S – RADNEY, John 1 run (GALLAGHER kick)
K -SELENT 51 field goal
K – HUTCHISON 23 pass from GARDNER, Eric (SELENT kick)
S – BODY 7 pass from DOWDELL (GALLAGHER kick)
K – GARDNER 1 run (SELENT kick)
S – COLLINS, Nate 9 pass from DOWDELL (GALLAGHER kick)
K – SELENT 41 field goal
S – RADNEY, 1 run (GALLAGHER kick)