BlueCats Try to Clinch Playoff Berth at Ohio Valley
June 30, 2006 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Evansville BlueCats News Release
EVANSVILLE, IN: After 5 consecutive weeks at home, the Evansville BlueCats (6-7) hit the road this weekend and travel to Wheeling, West Virginia to take on the Ohio Valley Greyhounds (6-7). The teams split their two previous meetings with each team winning by the slim margin of only two points on the other team's home field. Evansville and Ohio Valley are currently tied for second in the UIF East Division standings and tied with Omaha (6-7) in the UIF playoff standings. The BlueCats enter the game against the Greyhounds riding a 3 game winning streak as they look for a playoff berth for the second year in a row. The BlueCats can clinch a playoff spot with a victory over Ohio Valley and loss by both Sioux City and Bloomington.
Evansville, Omaha, and Ohio Valley currently sit in a tie for the #4 seed in the playoffs, with Sioux City (5-8) and Bloomington (5-8) only one game behind. Only the top 6 teams will make the postseason. Sioux Falls (14-0), Lexington (12-2), and Rock River (10-4) have all clinched playoff spots and will fill the top 3 seeds, that leaves 5 teams fighting for the last 3 spots with 2 weeks to go. Should Evansville end up with the #4 seed in the playoffs, the BlueCats would get a home playoff game at Roberts Stadium, the first home playoff game in franchise history. As the #4 seed, they would host the #5 seed. The #6 seed will play at the #3 seed, while #1 and #2 get a first round bye.
John Winchester and Vernon Turner have been leading the Evansville BlueCats defense, which has become one of the best in the league. The defense forced a team record 5 turnovers two weeks ago, and has forced 8 total turnovers in the last two games combined. As a team, the BlueCats lead the league in rushing defense, allowing a miniscule average of 57 yards per game on the ground. The BlueCats rank 3rd in total defense and 4th in passing defense. Winchester ranks among the league leaders with 102 tackles and 18 tackles for loss on the season. Turner is second on the team with 55 tackles, and is tied with Tarron Acuff for the team lead in interceptions and pass break ups.
Kicker Ton-Ton Luzayadio remains the league's leading scorer with 150 points scored this season. He extended his lead on the rest of the league and now leads the second place kicker by 26 points and the next closest position player by 27 points. He was recognized as the UIF Special Teams Player of the Week "Honorable Mention" for his performance He kicked 4 field goals in the game against Omaha, and was perfect 2-2 on his extra point tries. He also forced a turnover when one of his hard, swirling, line-drive kickoffs nailed an unsuspecting Beef player and the BlueCats recovered. He needs only 5 more points to break the league kicking record for points in a season set a year ago by Adam Hicks of Sioux Falls. Passing Hicks would give Luzayadio the second best single season scoring total in league history, only trailing behind last season's league MVP, Sioux City running back Fred Jackson (288 points) who is now with the Buffalo Bills.
BlueCats running back Dale Jennings had an outstanding all-around performance last week against Omaha, rushing for 10 yards and a touchdown, grabbing 2 receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown, returning a kickoff for 19 yards, and returning a punt 23 yards. He once again led all players in the game with 74 all-purpose yards. His 2 touchdowns in the game give him 21 touchdowns so far this season and move him into a tie for the league lead in touchdowns with RJ Rollins from Omaha. In addition to being tied for 1st in touchdowns, Jennings ranks 4th overall in the league in all-purpose yards and 5th overall in the league in total points scored.
The BlueCats will put their winning streak on the line when travel to play the Ohio Valley Greyhounds this Saturday night in Wheeling, West Virginia. The playoff implications will be huge for both teams as the run for United Bowl II start in just three weeks. Kickoff for Saturday, July 1st, is set for 6:30pm Evansville time and can be heard live on ESPN Radio 94.9 in Evansville. For the complete Evansville BlueCats 2006 schedule, please visit the website at www.evansvillebluecats.com.
United Indoor Football Association Stories from June 30, 2006
- Holtzman re-joins Hounds for playoff push - Ohio Valley Greyhounds
- BlueCats Try to Clinch Playoff Berth at Ohio Valley - Evansville BlueCats
- UIF Transactions - UIF
- Beef and Bandits to Renew Rivalry in Sioux City - Omaha Beef
- UIF Week 15 Preview - UIF
- Storm Prepare for Extreme; Vanden Bosch to Appear - Sioux Falls Storm
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