Beef Defeat Warriors in Offensive Struggle
Published on May 15, 2004 under National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Utah Warriors News Release
West Valley City, UT â The Omaha Beef dealt a huge blow to the Utah Warriors playoff hopes with a 27-17 win at the E-Center Saturday night. The 17 points scored by Utah was the fewest a Warriors team has ever scored, the previous low was 34 against Sioux Falls in 2003. Omaha was led by the NIFL's leading tackler, Donavon LaViness and his 6.5 tackles and two for loss. The Beef held Utah to 166 yards and only 87 passing.
The key play came late in the third quarter with Utah trailing 24-17. Quarterback Doug Smith rolled out on a bootleg and was hit into the boards by Beef defensive back Justin Comstock. Smith couldn't get up and didn't return to the game. The next Utah play, back-up quarterback and starting defensive back Shawn Kojima threw up a wounded duck that was intercepted. That led to a 36-yard Chace Long field goal that gave Omaha its final margin. On Utah next possession Kojima was intercepted on his second pass.
After a stop by the Utah defense, Mike Rigell moved to quarterback and showed some spark, but the Beef defense was too much. Rigell moved the ball down field from the Utah five to the Omaha 10, but Pete Garces missed a 30-yard field goal that sealed the game for the Beef.
Smith finished 9x15 for 108 yards and one touchdown, a 40-yard strike to Rigell, and one interception while he was in the game. He also led team with 37 yards rushing. Emmett White has four catches for 35 yards and Rigell had added three catches for 56 yards and the one score.
Jason Potter set a Utah franchise record with 12.5 tackles including 8.5 in the first half. Bart Amundson chipped in with his usual solid numbers, 6.5 tackles, one sack, and six hurries. Antwoine Sanders made his presence know with seven tackles and one interception.
Utah now hits the road for two straight games, first at Rapid City, South Dakota next Saturday for a battle with the Black Hills Red Dogs. Utah defeated Black Hills 56-53 in the E-Center on April 15. Then they travel to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to play the Strom on May 29. Utah beat the Storm at the E-Center on 51-49 on March 22.
National Indoor Football League Stories from May 15, 2004
- Beef Defeat Warriors in Offensive Struggle - Utah Warriors
- Celebrate Chapman Ford Family Day with the CardSharks - Atlantic City CardSharks
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.
