Renegades Stay perfect!

Written by admin   // June 21, 2009   // Comments Off

When Rockne Demello rounded up a group of friends and purchased an expansion team in the North American Football League, he didn’t really know what to expect in terms of results. At the midseason point, Demello couldn’t be happier. Behind four rushing touchdowns from Alvin Thornton and a defense that forced three turnovers and allowed just 164 yards, the Southern Oregon Renegades improved to 5-0 with a dominant, yet penalty-marred 44-12 victory over the West Sound Saints of Bremerton, Wash., on Saturday night at Spiegelberg Stadium.”We didn’t expect to be where we’re at,” Demello admitted. The Renegades lead the four-team Cascade Division of the NAFL at the midway point of their inaugural season. Demello recruited a large number of the Renegades roster from the Oregon Football League. ”This is a bigger league,” he said. “You have a lot more Division I athletes and guys who just got here from the Arena League.” Thornton, a native of Fresno, Calif., played with Roseburg in the OFL this spring. He upped his team scoring lead to 13 touchdowns with four scoring runs from inside the 10-yard line and finished the night with a game-high 68 yards on 13 carries. He scored twice in the first quarter to pace the Renegades to a 16-0 lead that they never relinquished. Nate Ellis (the runner) and Phil Dupont (the passer) again split time under center, with Ellis directing a pair of scoring drives and Dupont guiding four, including a 24-yard touchdown toss to Anthony Spain that came one play after the two had connected on another apparent score that was negated by a holding penalty. Penalties again were a problem for the Renegades. Southern Oregon rang up 16 flags for 135 yards, three of which called back touchdowns, and three others which kept West Sound drives alive.

“That’s just a lack of concentration,” said defensive lineman Darren Dixon, who had a pair of sacks and forced a fumble. The penalties only helped keep the score marginally respectable. The strength of the Renegades is their defense, which allowed only 63 yards through the first three quarters and forced three fumbles. ”We fool around when we hit,” said Dixon, a Grants Pass native. “We were like a pack of wild dogs tonight.” Eagle Point alum Kris Butler had a big game for the Renegades, catching four passes for 92 yards, including a 55-yard catch-and-run early in the third quarter that set up another Thornton score. Andres Reed added a 31-yard scoring run for the Renegades, who amassed 383 total yards. West Sound, which lost 14-6 to the Renegades in Week 1, fell to 1-3 after making the 10-hour bus ride. The Renegades play host to East County next Saturday night at Spiegelberg. ”As long as we continue to work hard and stay focused, we’ll be alright,” Dixon said.