David Dinkins (8)

May 15, 2010 (Erie, PA) – Wide receiver David Dinkins and defensive lineman Ellery Moore provided the spark that led the Erie Storm to a thrilling 40-38 comeback victory at home over the New Jersey Revolution. Dinkins scored three touchdowns in a span of nine minutes to start the third quarter, which quickly turned a 13-point deficit into a 7-point lead. Moore led the Erie defense with three sacks and forced a fumble which set up an Erie score. However it took a clutch defensive play with just seconds to go in the game to secure the victory for Erie, which improved its record to 5-4 and moved back into third place, the last playoff spot, in the North Division.

Quarterback Rod Rutherford completed 21 of 32 pass attempts for 269 yards and three touchdowns, plus a rushing touchdown. Dinkins led the Erie receivers with eight catches and 129 yards of receiving, with one touchdown receiving and two more scores rushing. The Storm defense tied a franchise record with seven sacks of New Jersey quarterback Bill Winters, led by Moore and Bernard Faithful, who also recorded three sacks.

The game did not start well in any phase for the Storm as two turnovers, a missed field goal attempt, plus several crucial penalties that kept a time-consuming New Jersey drive alive in the first quarter resulted in an early and embarrassing 20-0 deficit with just one minute to go in the first half. A clutch 19-yard pass completion from Rutherford to Denayne Dixon on third-and-17 set the Storm offense up with first-and-goal at the New Jersey 9-yard line. It took four plays, but Rutherford eventually found Dixon in the end zone for Erie’s first score of the afternoon and the halftime deficit was trimmed to 20-7 with the Storm scheduled to get the ball to start the second half.

Erie’s Rich Cerro returned the opening kickoff 21 yards to give the Storm offense good field position. On first down, Rutherford hooked up with Dinkins for 22 yards to the New Jersey 2-yard line, and on the next play, Dinkins took the direct snap under center himself, and ran it for a score to pull Erie within 20-14. Sensing a change in momentum, the Storm defense forced the Revolution into a four-and-out, turning the ball over on downs. Each team’s offense traded interceptions on the next few plays, with Erie’s Chris Blackshear picking off a Winters pass near the end zone and returning it out to Erie’s 19-yard line. On the very next play, Dinkins caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Rutherford, and the Storm had its first lead of the game at 21-20. With the crowd back into the game, Erie then made the special teams play of the night as on the kickoff, Moore forced and recovered a fumble setting Erie up with the ball once again, at the New Jersey 7. Dinkins did all the work from there, rushing five yards on first down, and then two more yards for the touchdown which extended Erie’s lead to 27-20.

Both the Erie and New Jersey offenses came alive in the second half trading touchdowns on each of its next two series, as Erie maintained a lead, now 40-32 midway through the fouth quarter. The Storm defense appeared to have clinched the game for Erie after Moore sacked Winters on fourth down all the way back at the New Jersey 1-yard line. However, New Jersey defensive lineman Ray Simmons forced a fumble by Rutherford as he tried to reach the ball over the endline and it was recovered by the Revolution with just three minutes to go in the game. As they had for most of the second half, New Jersey’s offense was able to move the ball down methodically the field, eventually scoring on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Winters to Elliott White with nine seconds to go to trim the Erie lead to 40-38. On the two-point conversion attempt to tie the game in regulation, after taking a screen pass from Winters, White was stopped at the one-yard line by Erie defensive backs Trent Jones and Sam Reynolds, and the Storm maintained its two-point lead. After recovering the ensuing onside kick, Erie ran out the clock to seal an important comeback victory.

The Erie Storm stay at home next week when they play host to the Fayetteville Guard at the Tullio Arena on Saturday, May 22, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM. Tickets are available at the Tullio Arena box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets.