Adam Bednarik throws eight TD passes; Steelhawks win fourth straight

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/

FROM KEITH GROLLER

It was the final scheduled home game for the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks on Saturday night, but the way it looks, they might be back for more at Stabler Arena.

The Steelhawks won their fourth straight game, routing the Knoxville Nighthawks 67-42 before 1,421 fans as Bethlehem Catholic graduate Adam Bednarik completed 26 of 34 passes for 333 yards and a season-high eight touchdowns.

The win improved Lehigh Valley to 6-4 with two games left to play.

One more win would most certainly secure a playoff berth and two wins would likely bring the team back to Stabler for a home playoff game on June 29.

It was the Steelhawks third win of the season over Knoxville (2-8) and they were unstoppable, scoring TDs on 10 of 12 possessions.

Bednarik completed touchdown passes to four different receivers. He connected 11 times with Torieal Gibson for 144 yards and three scores. Tom Gilson also caught three TD passes.

The 67 points -- three PAT kicks were missed -- was Lehigh Valley's second highest point total of the season.

Defensively, Villanova product Chris Johnson was the standout with two interceptions. Knoxville was held to 14 points in the second half and didn't score over the game's final 16 minutes and 20 seconds.

Lehigh Valley closes the regular season with road games at Columbus next Sunday and at Albany on June 15.

SCORING SUMMARY

Knoxville  -- 7 21 14 0 -- 42

LV Steelhawks -- 21 19 14 13 -- 67

FIRST QUARTER

LVS -- Tom Gilson 12 pass from Adam Bednarik (Evan Selman kick), 11:40

LVS -- Eliott  White 3 run (Selman kick), 4:42

KNX -- Kelvin Bolden 25 pass from Porter (Armando Cuko kick), 3:25

LVS -- Torieal Gibson 10 pass from Bednarik (Selman kick), 0:50

SECOND QUARTER

KNX -- Joseph Rico 21 pass from Ryan Porter (Cuko kick), 14:16

LVS --  Gilson 16 pass from Bednarik (kick failed), 7:40

KNX -- Charle Gilbert 45 pass from Porter (Cuko kick), 5:27

LVS -- Gibson 40 pass from Bednarik (Selman kick), 4:30

LVS -- Chad Hounshell 13 pass from Bednarik (kick failed), 0:51

KNX -- Deandre Brown 32 pass from Porter (Cuko kick) 0:19   

THIRD QUARTER

LVS -- Gibson 20 pass from Bednarik (Selman kick), 9:43

KNX -- Rico 23 pass from Luke Collis (Cuko kick), 4:48

LVS -- Tyrone Collins 8 pass from Bednarik (Selman kick), 2:35

KNX -- Rico 40 pass from Collis (Cuko kick), 1:20

FOURTH QUARTER

LVS -- Gilson 27 pass from Bednarik (Selman kick) 13:28

LVS -- Gibson 5 run (kick failed), 7:32