Heard Represents Bucks on All-Conference Team
July 30, 2004 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Houma Bayou Bucks News Release
Houma, LaâAs the Bayou Bucks look to build on their most successful season to date, post season allocates continue to surface for the Tri-Parishes only professional sports franchise.
Earlier this week Bayou Bucks veteran wide receiver, Kevin Heard, was named to his third Atlantic Conference All-Star team since joining the NIFL four seasons ago.
The 2004 season proved to be a godsend for Heard, who met or surpassed his previous season highs in many offensive categories. Heard ended the 2004 season having played in every game for the Bucks amassing 91 catches for an NIFL leading 1,269 yards and 38 touchdowns. Heard later contributed 9 receptions for 129 yards and 2 scores for the Bucks during their conference semi-final loss to the Lexington Horsemen earlier this month.
Bayou Bucks Head Coach Jack Phillips Jr. proudly said of his all-star wide out, "Kevin came into this season with great intensity and dedication. He worked as hard as anyone can work to improve." Phillips added, "Kevin is very comfortable being Kevin, and he stands as a role model to the other players on the team. It is my hope that Kevin will make the progression to the next level."
Heard had several accomplishments this season that cemented his claim to the Atlantic Conference All-Star squad. His first dazzling performance came on April 10 when Heard caught 5 passes for 110 yards while finding the end zone twice as the Bucks defeated the Wichita Falls Thunder. Heard again broke the century mark for yards receiving against the Beaumont Drillers when he hauled in 5 passes for 109 yards and 4 scores. Finally, on May 22 Heard exploded for a 4 touchdown performance against the Evansville BlueCats in which he caught 10 passes for 161 yards.
Kevin Heard is a native of Eupora, Mississippi where he competed in variety of sports ranging for track to basketball. Heard later joined the University of Southern Mississippi football team where he was a member of the receiving corps that included NFL players Sherrod Gideon, Harold Shaw, and Todd Pinkston. While at Southern Miss, Heard was the Conference USA long jump champion as a member of the Golden Eagle track team. After college, Heard played one season for the NIFL champion Mississippi (Biloxi) Firedogs before becoming a member of the Bayou Bucks.
INDOOR BOWL 4
The NIFL's championship game for the 2004 season is set to take place on August 7 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The contest dubbed as Indoor Bowl 4 will pit the Atlantic Conference Champion Lexington Horsemen against the Sioux Falls Storm, the champions of the Pacific Conference.
The Horsemen ended the 2004 regular season with 10 wins and 4 losses. During the post season, Lexington defeated the Atlantic City Cardsharks 54-25. Lexington later advanced to the second round and defeated the Bayou Bucks 70-63. The Horseman then traveled to Wheeling, West Virginia to defeat the two time defending NIFL Champion Ohio Valley Greyhounds 35-34. This game brought added significance because Ohio Valley had not been defeated on their home turf in 35 consecutive games.
The Sioux Falls Storm will play host to the Horsemen after compiling an 11-3 record in Pacific Conference play. The Storm enjoyed a first round bye in the playoffs before defeating the defending Pacific Conference champion Utah Warriors 65-41. The Pacific Conference championship game saw the Storm defeat the Billings Outlaws 44-13.
National Indoor Football League Stories from July 30, 2004
- Beef end season 11-6 - Omaha Beef
- Three Believers selected to All-Stars - RiverCity Rage
- Heard Represents Bucks on All-Conference Team - Houma Bayou Bucks
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