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Bandits Seek Fourth-Consecutive Victory in Second-Straight Road Game

May 24, 2005 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Richmond Bandits News Release


One week after setting an Atlantic Indoor Football League (AIFL) record for points in a game, the Richmond Bandits look to make it four wins in a row as they travel to Canton to face the Legends Saturday, May 28 at 7:05 pm.

Fans can follow all of the action live on www.RadioRichmond.com.

Last week, the Bandits hung a league-record 94 points on the Johnstown Riverhawks in the teams' first-ever meeting. The record surpassed the previous mark of 74 set by Richmond on May 13 against the Legends. Richmond (4-1) also remained perfect on the season when scoring over 50 points.

"Our offense is really clicking right now," said head coach Rik Richards. "We've put together some great outings on that side of the football. Defensively, we've got some work to do. We have several things we need to sure up."

Quarterback Will Burch had another stellar night under center, completing 18-of-29 passes for 333 yards and nine touchdown passes in only three quarters of work. Burch currently leads the league in passing average with 214.2 yards per game. He is tied for the AIFL lead in touchdown passes with 21, but has accomplished the feat needing 33 fewer attempts than Canton QB Dan Larlham with whom he is tied.

Thirty unanswered first half points by the Bandits, accompanied by three first quarter interceptions by DeAndre Green, helped propel the Bandits to the win.

Of the league's top 15 scorers, Richmond's roster boasts four, the most of any team. Redd Thompson, who tallied five scores against the Riverhawks last week, ranks third in scoring having hauled in 11 touchdowns and a pair of extra points for 68 total points on the season. Former Virginia Tech standout Bryan Still has scored 44, followed closely by teammates DeAndre Green and Bobby Phillips with 42 and 38, respectively.

Richmond faces the Canton Legends (2-3), a team in which it needed last-second heroics to defeat two weeks ago. The Bandits squeaked out a five-point, 74-69, win in the hideout, the Richmond Coliseum.

"Canton really was a challenge for us a couple of weeks ago and that will make Saturday's match-up very interesting," said Richards. "We didn't play very well against the Legends in our first meeting. If we struggle like that again, on the road this time, we'll have a tough time bringing home the win."

Under the leadership of the aforementioned quarterback Larlham, the Legends rank second in the AIFL in passing offense, behind the Bandits with 194.8 yards per game. Larlham also leads the league in total offensive yards with 197.2.

Canton's Randell Knapp has accounted for 72 points this season, second in the AIFL this year, while averaging seven catches per game. He also leads the AIFL in all-purpose yards (84.2), just in front of Legends' teammate Sly Brumfield (85.0).

The Bandits defense, which has surrendered 69 points in each of the past two games, will be tested. They enter the contest leading the league in pass defense rating and have intercepted a league-best 11 passes. That stat bodes well for the red and blue as the Legends have given up a league-worst 10 picks.

Kick-off from Canton is slated for 7:05 pm.



American Indoor Football Association Stories from May 24, 2005


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