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Between the walls

by Josh Stein
May 7, 2004 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)


Billings Outlaws @ Lincoln Capitols

It sounds like Lincoln has some serious issues to address. This doesn't include the on-field issues of facing one of the NIFL's two undefeated teams in Billings. Lincoln always plays better at home (as do most teams), but Billings is just too strong to lose to a team in the turmoil Lincoln is in. Outlaws 41-27.

Black Hills Red Dogs @ Sioux City Bandits

At least Red Dog fans can go home knowing they will have beaten a playoff team this season. They even beat a division champion. Black Hills isn't 1-6 bad, but they're not good enough to win in Sioux City. Art Haege has this team on a small tear, and they are not going to let up this week. Bandits 44-21.

Wichita Falls Thunder @ Lexington Horsemen

The players have their minds on football exclusively in Wichita Falls, what with the team losing its ownership to the NIFL (like what seems to be half the league). Right. Lexington is looking for even more redemption, after losing at home to Tupelo. Good luck Thunder, you'll need it...Horsemen 56-20.

Evansville BlueCats @ Show Me Believers

Although the BlueCats are obviously better than they were last year (exhibited by a win over a decent Fort Wayne team), the Believers are on a tear (even though it's against inferior opponents). Show Me is positioning itself for a division title run while Evansville is trying not to get beaten too badly, too often. Show Me 51-31.

Houma Bayou Bucks @ Beaumont Drillers

The south is a 3-team race, with Tupelo, Houma and Beaumont. That means these games are supremely important for the division. Beaumont is a tale of two teams, with a great home squad and a not-so-great away squad. Houma is showing that they are pretty good all-around, although I don't think they can handle the Beaumont pass game in Beaumont. Drillers 41-34.

Greenville RiverHawks @ Carolina Stingrays

If nothing else, this will see if the Florence market is viable, and if they can draw fans. The game will never be in doubt. Stingrays 73-19.

Lake Charles LandSharks @ Utah Warriors

Utah is a very good team, and Lake Charles is falling apart. Plus, Lake Charles now has to travel to Utah, rather than to Waco. To say they have a legitimate chance here would probably be a lie, but it won't be an annihilation. Warriors 54-39.

Ohio Valley Greyhounds @ Fort Wayne Freedom

Fort Wayne has been playing some pretty bad football as of late, in losing twice to Lexington, barely beating a bad Atlantic City squad, and losing in Evansville. The Greyhounds have been playing the same football they have played in winning two straight titles, in that they don't make the mistakes. Even if there are some issues with different parts of the game, the "whole" in the Ohio Valley is well above the sum of its parts. Greyhounds 49-24.

Sioux Falls Storm @ Wyoming Cavalry

This is a hard one to call, as Wyoming has played better as of late, and Sioux Falls is still a relative unknown with a very new quarterback playing. Of course, the pedigree Jose Fuentes brings is a pretty good indicator of how he can play in the NIFL. It does suck for Wyoming that they won't be getting to see the quarterback that led them to Indoor Bowl I. They will, though, be seeing that guy's little brother throw all over their still-porous defense. Storm 64-55.

Staten Island Xtreme @ Atlantic City CardSharks

Two teams that are not very good get the matchup here. Atlantic City will be looking to prove that they are not the most offensively inept team in the NIFL, while Staten Island will be looking to move to a stranglehold on third in the division. Third, behind a team (Myrtle Beach) that has already died once. Does anyone really care? Atlantic City 39-30.

Tri-City Diesel @ Omaha Beef

Tri-City is still a team that struggles on the road, as do most in the NIFL. Omaha has what appears to be a crooked officiating crew helping its homefield advantage. Of course, that's just speculation. What isn't speculation is that Omaha is one of the toughest places to win a game in the NIFL, and Tri-City will see that firsthand. Luckily, Wichita Falls and Oklahoma are their division mates. Beef 50-30.

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National Indoor Football League Stories from May 7, 2004


The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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