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By Danny Burnham

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Bo Bartik threw a World Indoor Football League record eight touchdowns Friday night.

The Daytona Beach Thunder still lost. 

Trouble with the bus on the way to Augusta to take on the Spartans was only the beginning of a long night for the Thunder at E-Auction Depot field at the James Brown arena as 3,039 saw the Spartans win 66-49.

Three turnovers just proved too much for the Thunder to overcome in what had already been a long day. The Thunder also missed out on eight points in the kicking department by way of missed extra points and field goal attempts.

Spartans quarterback Mike Rathe also threw eight touchdowns as he and Bartik smashed their previous record of six. The Spartans only outscored the Thunder by one touchdown in the WIFL’s highest scoring game of the season, but the 10-1 advantage in kicking and defense gave the Spartans an additional cushion.

"We thought we had a chance coming in, but we made too many mistakes tonight." Said Thunder Coach Leon Bright. "It only takes a couple of mistakes on the road, and you're out of the game."

The game started fast for the Thunder as Bartik threw a 25 yard touchdown pass to Barry Wagner on the first play from scrimmage. 

With a 19-17 lead at the end of the first quarter it appeared that the Thunder had things going their way. 

But being outscored 33-18 in the second and third quarters put the Thunder in a 50-37 hole going into the fourth quarter. 

The two teams traded scores in the fourth.

"They deserved to win tonight. They have great coaching, and they executed well tonight. All we can do now is focus on our next game." said Bright.

There were a couple of bright spots for the Thunder. At halftime Cory McKinney was honored as the offensive player of the month for May.

Bartik was 16-of-34 passing for 250 yards and the eight touchdowns and two interceptions. McKinney led all receivers with eight catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns.

Rathe was 21-of-31 for 191 yards and eight touchdowns, eight of those passes being caught by Michael Flint for 70 yards and two touchdowns. League-leading receiver Marvin Stone had relatively quiet numbers of six catches and 74 yards, but four of his catches went for touchdowns to increase his season total to 37 total touchdowns (36 receiving, one return).

Anthony Young (6-43) and Isaac West (1-4) each added a score for the Spartans. Wille Butler rushed for 44 yards and one touchdowns.

Wagner  had four catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns, while Tarell Moree, Nick Allison and Tavares Woodley each scored once.

The 115 combined points were the most in a WIFL game this season, eclipsing the old mark of 105 set by these same two teams on April 28 in a 54-51 Thunder victory.

The Thunder will be in action again next Friday night in Columbus, Georgia as they take on the league leading Lions.