The Bloomington Extreme defense came within 1:40 of the franchise shutout and rolled to a 33-7 win over the River City Rage in the United Football League Eastern Conference championship game Monday night at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in front of a crowd of 3,208. The seven points is a franchise record for scoring defense. The old record was 15 points against Colorado in 2007 and Peoria in 2007.

The Extreme advances to the United Bowl IV July 12 at Sioux Falls with an 8-7 record.

Taking advantage of a franchise record four interceptions, Bloomington’s defense kept River City off the scoreboard until the Rage’s Virgil Union grabbed a 30-yard touchdown pass from Sterlin Finney with 1:40 remaining in the game. Union grabbed the ball from a defender’s hands and fell into the seats coming down with the ball. River City had possession of the football for only 2:53 in the fourth quarter.

The Extreme’s B. J. Brown intercepted two passes for 74 yards, including a TD return of 35 yards with 3:12 remaining in the fourth quarter. The other interceptions were by Terrill Mayberry and Blue Aldridge. Bloomington’s defense held Rage quarterbacks Ryan Maiuri and Anthony Fisher to a combined 85 yards passing on 10 completions in 27 attempts.

The Extreme’s Dusty Burk completed 23 of 37 passes for 232 yards and a pair of touchdowns – 21 yards to James Walton in the second quarter and 12 yards to Andre Raymond in the fourth quarter. Peter Christofilakos kicked four field goals for the Extreme, which led 19-0 at halftime. Rage kicker Mike Matheny missed five field goals during the course of the game.

Article courtesy Bloomington Extreme