Fury Fall to the Gators

07.17.11
GATORS VS FLINT FURY
Things can change in an instant in the world of Semi-Pro Football. It was never more evident than on Saturday when the Flint Fury who was supposed to host the Michigan Gators in Flint, actually hosted the Gators in Detroit.

The game was to be played at Atwood Stadium in Flint but due to an incident several weeks ago, the Stadium was unavailable. So the game had to be played on friendly ground at Plymouth Educational Center in Detroit.

In addition the game which was slated to start at 7 PM now was to start at 5 PM.

This sudden turn of events was the beginning of what would be a not so good game day for the Flint Fury as the Gators were looking to remain unbeaten in the Elite MCFL and keep pace with Racine who won a 2-0 forfeit over the Waterford Warthogs.

Quarterback Torrence Webster along with a stifling Gator Defense led the Michigan Gators to a record setting mangling of the Flint Fury 66-0.

Webster broke his own touchdown record of five TD passes (set in a 2008 Playoff Game vs. the West Michigan Force) and led the Gators to their 4^th win in as many tries in League games. This marks the first 4-0 start in the Gators five year history led by Head Coach, Wendell Jefferson.

The Gator “D” which has done nothing but improve each game since the return of Defensive Guru, John “Coach K” Kavanagh pitched their first shutout in League play this year.

The Defense led by Coach “K” has held the opposing team’s offense scoreless in 8 of the last 10 quarters it’s played.

Since the Season opener against the Detroit Ravens, the opposing team’s offenses have yet to surpass 14 points in a game.

After a slow start on offense, the Gators scored first when QB Torrence Webster Found a wide open Terrence Tumpkin for a 37 yard touchdown pass to make the score 6-0 Gators. Rookie Kicker Jimmy Allen made the extra point to make the score 7-0.

Mistakes and sluggish play by the Gator offense kept the score at 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The alarm sounded and the Gator Offense awoke scoring 3 touchdowns in the second quarter, two of which went to Rookie James “J.T. Terry who made two great plays. The first was a catch and run; while the second was a great “hands” catch with a defender draped all over him.

The Gator “D” not to be outdone recorded a safety which led to a TD Pass by Webster to second year receiver George Grandberry making the score Gators 30-0 at halftime.

The second half began like the first half ended. It all began with a second Derek Tate interception and The Gator “D” forcing a fury punt that was returned near midfield with one exception; Rookie return man Brian Cooper lost the ball and the Fury recovered in Gator territory.

The mistake would be nullified when the Gator “D” once again forced a Fury punt, which landed out of bounds deep in Gator territory.

The Gator “O” would move the ball into Fury territory but could not score and had to punt.

The Gator “D” once again showed why it’s arguably one the best around when Defensive End, Devin “50” Bland, scored his second TD of the season turning a Fury fumble into six points.

Torrence Webster found Donal Mahan for the 2 pt conversion after a bad snap by the center on the extra point attempt making the Score 38-0 Gators.

The 3^rd quarter ended that way but the Gator “D” would not let up as Derrick Tate intercepted a Fury pass and returned it deep into Fury territory which set up a short “walk in” TD by College Bound Running Back Tracey McIntyre.

Jimmy Allen remained perfect on the day making his fifth extra point of the day putting the score at 45-0 Gators.

Lamar King felt left out and decided to pitch in when he recovered a fumble and returned it deep into Fury territory.

Instead Torrence Webster found receiver, Arnold Rambus in the end zone making the score 52-0 after Jimmy Allen kicked his 6^th extra point.

Second year LB Wes Bryant added an interception that led to Rookie Receiver Brian “Move the Chains” Cooper first touchdown reception as a Gator.

Receiver, Chris “C.J.”McLean closed out the scoring with a spectacular grab over a Fury defender to make the final score; Michigan Gators 66 Flint Fury 0.

The Michigan Gators host the Southern Michigan Timberwolves in a rematch of their game won by the Gators 24-14 on the T’Wolves home field.

The Timberwolves come in after defeating the Toledo Raiders 17-6, looking to avenge the loss.

The game will be played at Birmingham Seaholm with the kickoff scheduled for 7 P.M.

Fury's J'Nathan Bullock Press:

Former Cleveland State baller J'Nathan Bullock still has pro hoops aspirations but is using the Flint Fury football team to stay in shape

Published: Sunday, June 12, 2011, 10:30 AM

 By Eric Woodyard | Flint Journal 
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View full sizeJ'Nathan Bullock

FLINT — Basketball has always been J’Nathan Bullock’s passion, but somehow he’s always ended up on the football field. 
 
Bullock, a Northern High School graduate who had a successful college basketball career at Cleveland State, is suiting up these days for the Flint Fury semi-pro football team.

“Everybody always told me that football was going to be my gateway,” said Bullock. “But I never really took football serious, period, so I really don’t know my full potential in that sport.
 
“I’ve been going hard with basketball since middle school.” 

In part, Bullock is playing for Fury to help him stay in shape for basketball. 

He hopes to play professional basketball overseas next season.
 
In his first game last week against the Detroit Redd Doggs, Bullock rushed for a touchdown and helped the Fury win 43-0. 

View full sizeDarron CummingsCleveland State guard Cedric Jackson, left, and forward J'Nathan Bullock react near the end of the second half of a semifinal college basketball game against Valparaiso in the Horizon League Conference Tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2008. Cleveland State won 78-73.

Although Bullock may feel different, many people that have seen him play believe he has a serious chance to make it big in the sport that’s never been that appealing to him. 

And the 6-5, 240 pound athlete has impressed the Fury with his workhorse mentality.    

“He’s real powerful and a big guy (and) he’s hard to take down,” said Charles Lawler, the Fury’s head coach. “I kind of feel like they’re intimidated to tackle him almost.”

“He’s a good piece of talent and he’s a real physical specimen,” said Demarkis Smith, Bullock’s teammate and longtime friend.

Smith is the one who convinced Bullock to join the Fury. 

When Bullock was looking for a way to keep his conditioning intact, Smith brought the Fury to his attention. 

The duo hadn’t suited up for the same team since their senior year at Northern.
 
“It was good just being on the sideline talking to him,” said Smith, who is in his second year with the Fury at safety. “It kind of brought back some memories.” 

Bullock played four years of football and basketball at Northern. He averaged 20.6 points and 13.0 rebounds per game in his senior season. Bullock was named the 2005 Saginaw Valley Player of the Year and was a first team All-City selection in basketball, but also was honorable mention all-state in football. 

ERIK HOLLADAYNorthern's J'Nathan Bullock drives to the basket past the defense of Central's Chris Porn.

Bullock chose to play basketball for Cleveland State, temporarily ending his football career. 

After his four-year stint with the Vikings, Bullock was regarded as one of the best players in program history. 

He still holds records for career starts (124) and is the only Cleveland State player to score more than 1,500 points and grab over 750 boards in his career.

But it was the National Football League which came calling after college. 

In 2009, the New York Jets signed Bullock as an undrafted free agent and invited him to their training camp — although he never played a lick of football in college — but waived him before the season began. 

“At the time I had family issues and we had agreed to part ways but I just never went back because I had an unclosed chapter,” Bullock said.          

Bullock went directly back to something he was familiar with when that situation didn’t work out. 

He traveled overseas to play pro basketball in Australia with the Geelong Supercats and later suited up with the Optima Gent in Belguim before suffering a leg injury which he said was the result of overworking his body without the proper recovery.

Even with all the awards and honors that Bullock has attained throughout his career, the 23-year-old is still on a mission. 

The same fire that burned within him growing up on Kermit Street in Flint still pushes him to excel to this day.   

“I’m not really worried (because) I believe I will be playing (basketball) next year,” Bullock stated. “I don’t have any satisfaction right now because I’m not at the level that I want to be at.

“I’m not finished.”  

Related topics: Eric Woodyard, J'Nathan Bullock

For the Love of Flint:

Charles Lawler's 'love of the city' is the reason he keeps the Flint Fury football team going strong

Published: Tuesday, June 07, 2011, 10:45 AM

 By Eric Woodyard | Flint Journal 
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View full sizeCharles Lawler

FLINT — The Flint Fury semi-pro football team finished 1-9 last season and its president/head coach said he lost money.

So why would Charles Lawler continue to run an organization that’s seemingly cooking up a recipe for disaster?

“I think we’re contributing to the crime rate (in Flint) as far as helping it out and keeping these players doing something positive,” said Lawler, a 1988 graduate of  Northern High School. “We could have easily folded this team, but every year it’s one or two players who really appreciate what we do.” 

Lawler recognizes the significance of having something that can really help the lives of others in the area. 

He was once a semi-pro player for the Bath Cardinals, Flint Falcons, and experienced a brief stint with the Fury before settling into his current role in 2006.   

In 2003, Lawler started the Fury with partner Prince Goodson after the Falcons faltered. Goodson would go on to pursue other endeavors but Lawler decided to stick with the team. 

View full sizeCourtesy of the Flint FuryFlint Fury head coach Charles Lawler (center) rallies his team in the midst of a battle on the football field.

“I had a chance to leave, too, but I do it for the love of the city,” Lawler said. “I’ve been in Flint all my life, and we got all this talent going around here and there’s no reason why we should leave.” 

The Fury compete in the Western Conference of the Elite Mid-Continental Football League. 

Nearly 80 percent of the roster consists of Flint natives who were once graduates of city schools and currently attend local colleges like Baker, Mott CC, UM-Flint, and ITT Tech.

The Fury is off to a decent start this season with a 1-1 record, losing to city rivals the Flint Rampage, 14-6, in their opener before rebounding with a 43-0 win Saturday over the Detroit Redd Doggs at Atwood Stadium.  

Lawler expects nothing less than a playoff appearance this season. 

“We’re a more experienced team this year; last year, everybody was like fresh out of high school and we were playing against a lot of experienced teams,” said Lawler. “Guys (in this league) have been playing Division I, II, and III ball, or are ex-pro players. 

Lawler has earned respect as a head coach despite never logging significant minutes on Northern’s varsity because of grade issues. 

Flint Fury

Instead, he learned the intricacies of the game by playing on the streets against top-tier college athletes and pursuing semi-pro ball after high school.

The players describe Lawler as a no-holds barred type of sideline leader. 

“With Chuck, nothing’s given and you’ve got to work day in and day out. (So) if you think you have a spot, you don’t have a spot,” said Oliver Turner, a tight end for the Fury. “He’s a great coach as far as the game, and he goes that extra mile for the players — you need those little things like someone to talk to about technique, or if you’re dealing with life issues.”

Lawler also receives help from a staff unit comprised of members like Michael Carter (general manager), Dave Henderson and Dave Wilson (assistant coach), Doug Palmer (defensive coordinator) and Bill Hendley (defensive line). 

“We started preparing for this season last year, and we put a lot of hard work in to make sure the guys stayed mentally focused and stayed in tune. We talked to them just about every day,” said Wilson, who says he spends 15-17 hours per week talking to players about life issues. 

“It gives guys a positive outlook as far as not just being football players but also taking on responsibility and caring about themselves. They take life skills with them.”

Related topics: Charles Lawler, Eric Woodyard, Flint Fury