Phantoms clinch division title

By: Mark Haselden | SCNow
Published: June 15, 2008

FLORENCE — The Florence Phantoms would take a division title over a rivalry trophy any day. On Saturday, they got both.
And because of what happened several states to the north, the Phantoms, who disposed of Augusta 56-22 at the Florence Civic Center, are in a position to do something really big for themselves.
Because of Reading’s 66-26 win over Erie on Saturday night, Florence (9-4) can wrap up the top seed in the AIFA Eastern Conference and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs by winning at Carolina next Saturday night.
Augusta, meanwhile, saw its playoff hopes dashed Saturday. The Colts (7-6) hung around early, but the Phantoms led by 15 at halftime and Augusta never got closer than two scores.
Florence, which beat Augusta for the first time in four tries and claimed the I-20 Cup in the process, made it 36-15 with 9:59 remaining in the third quarter when Jonathan Wedlock scored from 16 yards out.
Augusta made it 36-22 on J.K. Sabb’s second touchdown run, a 3-yarder with 7:08 to play.
But Florence drove right back down the field, taking four plays to go 30 yards. Omar Jacobs connected with Reggie Glover from the 9, and Derrick Scott’s PAT made it 43-22.
Jacobs finished 20-of-31 for 275 yards and four touchdowns, and Glover caught eight passes for 112 yards.
Augusta quarterback Mike Rathe struggled to get anything going downfield, going 19-of-33 for 132 yards, one touchdown and a pair of interceptions. The Colts also lost two fumbles to the Phantoms deep in Florence territory.
The Phantoms were well on their way by halftime, when they led 29-14.
Augusta scored fewer than three minutes into the game on a 6-yard strike from Rathe to Anthony Young, but Florence led 8-7 fewer than two minutes later.
On the Phantoms’ first offensive play of the game, Jacobs hit Torrey Pettigrew in stride for a 30-yard touchdown. Scott added the PAT and then split the uprights on the kickoff to make it 8-7.
Florence then moved 40 yards in four plays, a drive that was capped when Leonard Moore swept around left end, and it was 15-7 with 1:35 left in the first.
The Colts got a gimme when a botched onside kickoff attempt by Florence gave Augusta the ball at Florence’s 3, where Sabb scored on the next play.
The Phantoms didn’t take long to extend their 15-14 lead, moving 30 yards in four plays, the final 18 covered on Jacobs’ pass to Glover.
The Phantoms thwarted another Augusta scoring attempt by recovering Isaac West’s fumble at the Florence 1. Nine plays later Jacobs punched it from a yard out, and Scott tacked on the PAT for a 29-14 lead with 58 seconds to play in the first half.

Phantoms clinch division title

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