RiverCity Beats Wichita 52-31
April 18, 2009 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
RiverCity Rage News Release
ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI: The RiverCity Rage proved to be quick studies Saturday as they avenged their only loss of the season, beating Wichita, 52-31, at the Family Arena.
"It's a win," said RiverCity head coach Rik Richards. "We did a lot of good things. We picked off the best quarterback in the league four times. A little bit of a pass rush helps. We also dropped two more, so there is room for improvement."
Wichita's Derek Rasmussen came into the game averaging 203 yards and three touchdowns per game, and had only thrown four interceptions this season. The Rage harassed Rasmussen all game, sacking him twice and holding him to 139 yards through the air. Additionally, they doubled Rasmussen's season interception total with the four picks. Two of the picks were taken back for a touchdown; one by Byron Jones and another by Daryon Brutley. It was Brutley's fourth interception of the season and second touchdown.
The biggest difference in the game was the ability to stop the Wild rushing attack. Last week Darius Fudge racked up over 100 yards on the ground. The Rage run defense stiffened this week, yielding him just 39 yards rushing - 30 of which came on one run.
Four consecutive scores, including Brutley's pick six, that spanned the first and second quarters helped the Rage build a 15-point lead. After the Wild trimmed the lead down to eight going into the final quarter, RiverCity went on another scoring bonanza that quieted any thoughts of a Wild repeat victory.
Receiver Maurice Avery hauled in an 11-yard pass from Dixie Wooten, then scored on a one-yard plunge. The back-to-back Avery scores were followed by the defenses second score of the game, Jones sealed the game with his interception returned for a touchdown.
Wooten finished the game throwing for 162 yards on 15-of-26 passing and three touchdowns. He now has 21 touchdowns with just one interception this season. Hurtis Chinn led the way with six receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown, while Avery and Randy Bell each found the end zone.
Defensive stalwart Joe Bevis led the team with 10.5 tackles, while Xzavie Jackson and new comer Sunungura Rusununguko added a sack each.
RiverCity (4-1) will host Saginaw at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 25 at the Family Arena. It will be the third time the two teams have locked up with the Rage claiming victory in both of the previous meetings. RiverCity won the opener in Saginaw, 55-41, on March 20 and followed that up with a 59-20 win on April 4 at The Family Arena.
It was an emotional win for the Rage, who dedicated the victory to former lineman Barry Brueggeman, who was killed in a single car accident on Thursday. Brueggeman was an All-Star last season for the Rage and was an All-American at Quincy University.
"On the field before the game we were all very emotional," said Richards. "We all rallied behind his memory and played this one for his family and his memory."
The RiverCity Rage is a member of the Indoor Football League. All Rage home games are played at The Family Arena in St. Charles, MO. For information contact the Rage at (636) 946-RAGE or log on to www.ragefootball.com.
Indoor Football League Stories from April 18, 2009
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- RiverCity Beats Wichita 52-31 - RiverCity Rage
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