River Monsters Travel to Marion to Play Blue Racers

Mike Goodpaster leads the River Monsters into Marion in his first game as head coach.

The River Monsters (2-1, 2-0 South) take the leagues best defense into Marion to square off against the second ranked offense of the Blue Racers (2-1, 2-0 South).

The River Monsters are tied with the Saginaw Sting for the leagues top defense, allowing an average 28 points a game. The Blue Racers are second for best offense, also behind the Sting, scoring an average of
47 points a game. Something is bound to give in Sunday's game.

Both teams only loss of the season came at the hands of the Erie Explosion.

The River Monsters fell to the Explosion on February 9, 42-31. River Monster's quarterback, Jared Lorenzen, got hurt in the second quarter of the game and is out for the year. The following week the Explosion defeated the Blue Racers at home 43-23.

The Blue Racers are coming off a nine point victory over division rival, Dayton Sharks, on Sunday. Jon Mason took over the quarterback role and threw for 75 yards and three touchdowns.

The River Monsters had a full week to prepare for the Blue Racers because they had a bye last week. The River Monsters defeated the Bluegrass Warhorses for the second time this season on February 16. Kendal Owens led the offensive attack, rushing for a season high 92 yards.

Both teams in Sunday's match up sit atop the CIFL South division. The victor will take a game lead of the division early in the season.

Kick off is at 7:30 on Sunday. Follow the scores live on the River Monsters' Facebook and Twitter pages.

River Monsters Name Mike Goodpaster Head Coach

On Saturday the River Monsters parted ways with head coach Brian Schmidt and named defensive coordinator Mike Goodpaster new head coach.

Goodpaster has led the River Monsters to the CIFL's best defense, allowing an average 28 points a game. He was previously the head coach of the Evansville Rage in 2012 and the Owensboro Rage in 2013. He has a combined head coaching record of 126-32.

The River Monsters are 2-1 (2-0 South division) on the season and sit a top the Continental Indoor Football League South division. They travel to Marion, Ohio to take on the Blue Racers, who are also first in the South division.

The River Monsters come home to the Bank of Kentucky Center on March 15 to take on the Dayton Sharks.

Kendall Owens Leads River Monsters Past Warhorses

The Northern Kentucky River Monsters (2-1) defeated the Bluegrass Warhorses (0-3) 32-23 on Sunday at the Bank of Kentucky Center.

Kendall Owens, River Monsters running back, ran for a season high 92 yards on 30 attempts and two touchdowns.

"I was just focused on following my blockers," Owens said. "They did a great job blocking and all I had to do was run through the holes."

In the previous two games, the River Monsters rushed for a total of 99 yards as a team. Owens was seven yards short of the River Monsters total in just one game.

"Kendall has been so good in practice and today was going to be the day we broke him out," River Monster's head coach, Brian Schmidt said. "I have never had an indoor game where my running back had 30 carriers and 92 yards. He played great."

T.J. Harris anchored the River Monsters defense with three interceptions. Harris picked off Warhorses' quarterback, David Body, on their first and last drives of the game, helping seal the deal for the River Monsters.

David James also picked off Boyd in the third quarter and returned it for a touchdown.

"In six years of being a professional coach in this indoor league, it was the best defensive performance I have

ever been a part of," Schmidt said. "I was joking with my defensive coordinator and said that is why you are here."

Harris picked off Boyd with a little more than a minute left to go in the game. Boyd was looking to go deep to keep the Warhorses in the game, but Harris had a different idea. The interception was caught on the River Monster's own 4 yard line.

River Monsters' ground and pound offensive did not stop in the final minute, even when they were backed up near their own end zone. Kyle James, River Monsters quarterback, scrambled for a 25 yard gain, sealing the dear for the River Monsters.

The River Monsters have a bye next week but return to the field to take on the Marion Blue Racers on Sunday, March 2, at Marion. They will return to the Bank of Kentucky Center on Saturday, March 15, to take on the Dayton Sharks.

Warhorses		River Monsters
23	Score	32
8	First Downs	15
18 / 44	Rushes / Yards	34 / 145
89	Pass Yards	47
27 / 13 / 4	Passes - Att / Comp / Int	15 / 5 /3
45 / 133	Total Offensive Plays / Yards	50 / 192
0 / 0	Fumble Returns / Yards	0 / 0
1 / 11	MFG Returns / Yards	0 / 0
2 / 67	Kickoff Returns / Yards	2 / 51
3 / 22	Interception Returns / Yards	4 / 43
1 / 0	Fumbles / Lost	0 / 0
5 / 30	Penalties / Yards	1 / 5
21:56	Possession Time	24:17

River Monsters Defeat the Bluegrass Warhorses 32-23

The Warhorses, Doug Daniel, converts on a 31 yard field goal in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter to cut the River Monsters lead to 18-13.

The very next position for the River Monsters Kendall Owens runs for a 5 yard touchdown to extend the River Monsters lead to 25-13.

The Warhorses come right back down the field and answer the call with a four yard touchdown run by Mike Wolfork.

The River Monsters keep the ball on the ground an burn the clock. The combination of  Owens and Kyle James on quarterback draws keep the Warhorses offensive off the field.

Owens first runs into a wall of Warhorse defenders then bounces out to the left and runs into the end zone for a two yard touchdown run. River Monsters extend the lead to 32-23 with 1:05 to play in the game.

The first play from the line of scrimmage for the Warhorses is picked off by T.J. Harris for his third interception of the game. David Boyd threw the ball down field and Harris picked it off at the River Monster 2 yard line.

From their own end zone, Kyle James with the River Monsters some breathing room with a 25 yard gain and seals the deal for the River Monsters.

River Monsters lead Warhorses 18-13 at the end of Three

The River Monsters received the kick to start off the second half. On their opening drive, Dustin Zink pushed a 32 yard field goal wide right.

The Warhorses got the ball on their 5 yard line. David James intercepted David Boyd's pass and ran it back
for a touchdown. The River Monsters went for two and were stopped short. They took the lead 18-13, their first lead since they led 6-0.

The Warhorses were unable to go anywhere on their drive and sent out Doug Daniel to attempt a 54 yard field goal. The attempt was just short, hitting the bottom of the crossbar.

On the next River Monsters possession, Kyle James was intercepted by Patrick Cornet.

River Monsters Trail Warhorses 13-12 at Half

Dustin Zink attempted a 32 yard field goal with under eight minutes to go in the second quarter that was partially blocked. The Warhorses picked up the ball in their own end zone and ran it out to the 10 yard line.

The Warhorses end their drive with a 20 yard field goal by Doug Daniel with 56 seconds left in the quarter extending their lead to 13-6.

Dekota Marshall answers the call right away with a 55 yard kick off return for a touchdown. One again the River Monsters are not able to handle the snap and fail to convert the extra point. The missed PAT makes them by one, 13-12.

Doug Daniel missed a 22 yard field goal wide right with one second left in the quarter.

Kyle James heaves the ball down field and was caught by Aric Evans at the four yard line.

River Monsters trail Warhorses by one, 13-12 at half.

River Monsters Trail Warhorses 10-6 at the end of the First

The Lexington Warhorses received the opening kickoff. The Warhorses quarterback, David Boyd dropped back to pass and was intercepted by the River Monsters T.J. Harris.

The River Monsters take advantage of the turnover when Kyle James scrambles for a 17 yard touchdown.

The extra point was mishandled putting the River Monsters up only 6-0.

The Warhorses marched back down the field and found the end zone when David Boyd thew an 18 yard strike to Marcus Commodore. They kept on par with the River Monsters and did not convert on the extra point.

On the next kick off, Doug Daniels kicked the ball threw the uprights giving the Warhorses another point putting them up 7-6.

James then threw an interception to Deshawn Johnson of the Warhorses. The Warhorses then capitalized with a 19 yard field goal by Daniels.

Injury Update: Jared Lorenzen Breaks Tibia

Around 6:30 last night, word got out that Jared Lorenzen broke his tibia and will be out for the rest of the season. He will undergo surgery to fix the injury next week.

With 11:20 to play in the second quarter, the 6-4, 320-pound quarterback went scrambling for the end zone from the Erie Explosion 5 yard line. Lorenzen was hit low after a one yard gain and laid on the turf for several minutes. Two trainers and two defensive linemen carried "hefty lefty" off the field.

Laken Litman from the USA Today was at the arena Sunday night and wrote a story about the River Monsters Quarterback. The story can be read here.

River Monsters Fall in a Close Battle with the Erie Explosion

The Erie Explosion handed the River Monsters their first home loss in franchise history. The Explosion topped the River Monsters 42-30 at the Bank of Kentucky Center.

River Monsters starting quarterback, Jared Lorenzen, was injured early in the second quarter and did not return.

"When your big guy goes down, you have two choices." River Monsters head coach Brian Schmidt said, "quit or you can stand up and fight. We stood up and fought."

Back up quarterback, Kyle James finished the game with 58 yards passing, 29 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

The offensive attack for the Explosion, led by quarterback Aaron Smetanka, was too much for the River Monsters defense. Smetanka finished with 148 yard and three touchdowns through the air and 46 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Explosion		River Monsters
42	Score	30
17	First Downs	13
30 / 89	Rushes / Yards	17 / 62
141	Pass Yards	105
26 / 19 / 0	Passes - Att / Comp / Int	25 / 12 / 1
57 / 230	Total Offensive Plays / Yards	44 / 167
0 / 0	Fumble Returns / Yards	0 / 0
1 / -32	MFG Returns / Yards	0 / 0
2 / 35	Kickoff Returns / Yards	3 / 49
1 / 0	Interception Returns / Yards	0 / 0
0 / 0	Fumbles / Lost	0 / 0
2 / 17	Penalties / Yards	5 / 19
26:40	Possession Time	25:03

River Monsters Trail Erie Explosion 23-21 at Half

Photo from Kevin Kloentrup

With a little under 12 minutes to go in the second quarter, River Monsters quarterback, Jared Lorenzen, scrambled for a two yard run on the Erie 5 yard line. Lorenzen was hit low on the play and laid on the field for several minutes. Two defensive linemen came out to assist Lorenzen off the field and into the bench area.
Lorenzen was later taken away on a stretcher with an apparent ankle injury.

With the injury to Lorenzen, Kyle James came in to take the reins for the River Monsters.

The River Monsters decided to run the ball with the absence of Lorenzen. James handed the ball off to Maurice Douce on a sweep play who was upended and jumped over a defender and into the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown run.

Erie Explosion came racing back down the field and kicked a 15 yard field goal with 0:06 left before half time.

The River Monsters attempted a 43-yard field goal to go into the locker room. The field goal attempt by Dustin Zink sailed just left, leaving the River Monsters trailing 23-21 at half time.

River Monsters and Erie Explosion Tied at 7

After one quarter of play, the River Monsters and Erie Explosion are tied at 7 in a close battle.

It only took Jared Lorenzen and the River Monsters 3 plays to score on their first drive.

The Erie Explosion answered that call with a 5 yard quarterback sneak touchdown of their own.

Lorenzen threw an interception on the River Monsters next position. The Explosion held the ball to end the first quarter.

The River Monsters have trusted Lorenzen with their whole offense and have yet to run the ball.

River Monsters Host CIFL Champion Erie Explosion

The River Monsters kick off their home season hosting the defending champion Erie Explosion.

River Monsters taking the field for warm ups

They are putting their franchise home undefeated streak on the line.

Jared Lorenzen takes the lead for the team after throwing for 183 yards and 3 touchdowns in the win against the Bluegrass Warhorses last Monday.

The Explosion are playing their first game on the 2014 season at the Bank of Kentucky Center today.

The game starts at 2:00 and can be heard on the MRSN Sports Network.

River Monsters Retun to the Bank of Kentucky Center

After a two year hiatus, the Northern Kentucky River Monsters return to the Bank of Kentucky Center to play football.

The River Monsters broke into the pro football realm in 2011, joining the Ultimate Indoor Football League (UIFL). The franchise went 11-3 in their first season and held an undefeated steak at home. They lost to the
Saginaw Sting in the first round of the playoffs. 

After the 2011 season the River Monsters and the UIFL decided to part ways.

In 2014 the River Monsters struck an agreement with the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) to once again field an active team.

The River Monsters took to the grid iron for the first time in two years on February 3 defeating the Bluegrass Warhorses 36-20.

The River Monsters will once again return to the Bank of Kentucky Center on Sunday, February  9, to host the CIFL Champion Erie Explosion. The Explosion are looking to kick off the 2014 season the way they finished the 2013 season, on top, and the River Monsters are looking to keep the undefeated home winning streak alive.