Commandos Look to Clinch Top Seed Saturday

Published on May 19, 2010 under Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Cincinnati Commandos News Release


Fort Wayne Firehawks (3-3) vs. Cincinnati Commandos (8-0)

May 22, 2010, 7:30 p.m.

Cincinnati Gardens

2250 Seymour Ave.

Cincinnati, Ohio 45212

Radio: Real Talk 1160 WQRT-AM (Live) Richard Skinner, play-by-play; Jim Breech, color commentary

Setting the Scene: At 8-0, Cincinnati can clinch the No. 1 seed in the CIFL playoffs with a win on Saturday vs. Fort Wayne. Any combination of a win from Cincinnati or a loss by the second-place Wisconsin Wolfpack (5-2) would secure the top seed for the Commandos and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Broken record: After recording three sacks in last week's win over Chicago, the Commandos now have 26 on the season, which ties the CIFL record for sacks in one season, previously set by the Port Huron Pirates in '06 and '07 ... Another CIFL record the Commandos are threatening to break is team interceptions. They have 25 picks through eight games, which puts them on pace to finish the regular season with 31. The '06 Rochester Raiders and the '08 Rock River Raptors own the record for most team interceptions in one season with 28.

No. 1 spot: The Commandos lead the CIFL in scoring offense (52.9 ppg), total offense (217.1 ypg), yards per play (5.9), rushing yards (514), turnover margin (+18), among others. Defensively, they rank first in interceptions, sacks, pass defense efficiency (52.4), and are second in total defense (144.1 ypg).

Last Week: Cincinnati defeated the Chicago Cardinals 61-13 on May 15 at Cincinnati Gardens. The Commandos were led by a dominating defensive performance that saw the unit score 20 points, collect five interceptions, three sacks and a forced fumble. Defensive back EJ Underwood scored two touchdowns on interception returns, DE James Spikes returned a fumble to the house and DB Jeff Franklin picked off three passes. Quarterback Ben Mauk threw three touchdown passes - two to WR Dominick Goodman and another to WR Robert Redd - and rushed for another. Running back Greg Moore rushed for two touchdowns.

Racking ‘em up: Cincinnati's streak of having at least one player recognized by the CIFL with a Player of the Week Award was snapped after Week 8. Prior to that, at least one Commando received that award every week this season (excluding after the team's April 17 bye week). Below is the list of winners, preceded by the game date for which they were honored.

May 1: K Travis Johnson, Special Teams Player of the Week

April 24: QB Ben Mauk, Offensive Player of the Week

April 10: DE James Spikes, Defensive Player of the Week

April 2: DB Robbie Wilson, Defensive Player of the Week, and K Travis Johnson, Special Teams Player of the Week

The Last Time: In their first road game of the season, the Commandos went into Fort Wayne and pummeled the Firehawks 55-27 at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Mauk threw five TD passes, while the defense racked up five interceptions - two by safety Robbie Wilson - and four sacks.

Promotions: The first 3,000 fans in attendance of Saturday's game will receive a voucher for free admission to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, where the new 1990 Cincinnati Reds Wire-to-Wire Champions exhibit is now on display. Additionally, Saturday's game has been deemed "Kentucky Night" and offers a buy-one-ticket, get-one-free discount to fans wearing apparel from any Blue Grass high school or college at the Cincinnati Gardens box office on gameday. The Highlands High School football team will be honored at halftime for winning their state-record 19th championship in 2009.

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