Wichita Looks to Dismantle a Stable Sioux City
April 3, 2014 - Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL)
Wichita Wild News Release
WICHITA, Kan.-With another bye week and personnel changes under their belt, the 3-0 Wichita Wild are prepared to make their way up to Sioux City on Saturday for their first chance at the 2-1 Bandits this season. The game is set to kick off at 7:05 p.m. in the Tyson Events Center. The last meeting between these two teams was May 25th, 2013, when the Bandits sent the Wild packing with a 21-46 loss.
In Week 4, the Wild hosted their home opener against the Dodge City Law and came out with a 40-7 win to extend their 13-0 home streak dating back to March of 2012. The Wild defense yet again showed its explosiveness, forcing three turnovers at the hands of Matt Moss (strip, sack, and touchdown) and Kendrick Harper (two interceptions), while allowing just a single touchdown by the Law. Wichita's offense proved its balance with touchdowns scored by RB Tywon Hubbard, WR Joe Kassanavoid, WR Jarrel Kelley and QB Rocky Hinds to outpace Dodge City in the final.
Harper, who currently leads the CPIFL in interceptions with three over three games, has since been called up to the AFL by the Philadelphia Soul. In his four year stint with the Wild, Harper was a nightmare for opponents, ranking first on the team in interceptions each year and topping the CPIFL in 2013 with 11. Harper's absence against Sioux City and the remainder of the season means the Wild defense will have to make some adjustments in order to continue disrupting opposing offenses, especially against the Bandits' notoriously high scoring offense.
A stable Sioux City is fresh off an impressive performance in Oklahoma where they handled the Defenders 46-33 for their second win of the season. In that game, returning quarterback Scott Jensen led the Bandits to victory, throwing for 212 yards, completing 10 out of 20 passes for five touchdowns and no interceptions. The Defenders defense worked hard to hold the Bandits to 46 points, which was far below their offensive scoring average that ranks first in the CPIFL at 61.3 points per game. In comparison, the stout Wild defense currently holds opponents to an average of 20.3 points per game which is also first in the CPIFL, so assuming the defense can keep up its intensity, it could be a long night for the guys in red.
"Sioux City has a scary offense-they're well-balanced, well-coached and execute each and every play. Our defense is the top scoring defense in the CPIFL, so I'm looking forward to the matchup between their offense and our defense," Wild head coach, Paco Martinez said in regard to Saturday's game. "We do have an additional challenge with loss of our veteran corner, Kendrick Harper and our defense will have to step up individually and collectively to make up for his loss."
Player to Watch: Wild DB, Chris Hemphill
Though Hemphill missed the Wild's showdown with the Law due to an NFL combine in Seattle, he will be a key piece of the Wild secondary with Harper out of the mix. Over the first two games of the season, Hemphill has recorded 15 tackles, one game-saving interception and one offensive touchdown. Look for Hemphill to be a huge playmaker, especially where it counts against a quick Bandit offense.
Kick-off for this Saturday's game in the Tyson Events Center between the Wild and Bandits is set for 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on 1410 AM KGSO or kgso.com, or streamed live on americaone.com for a small fee. For the latest news on the Wild, visit www.wichitawildfootball.com or follow the team on Facebook and Twitter (@wichita_wild).
• Discuss this story on the Champions Professional Indoor Football League message board...
Champions Professional Indoor Football League Stories from April 3, 2014
- Wichita Looks to Dismantle a Stable Sioux City - Wichita Wild
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
