Deja vu, Rage takes it to Xtreme on holiday weekend
May 25, 2005 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
RiverCity Rage News Release
A little less than a month ago, on Mother's Day Holiday weekend, the RiverCity Rage hosted the New Jersey Xtreme resluting in a 62-13 Mother's Day feast in the Family Arena. Well, on Sunday, May 29 on Memorial Day Weekend, the Xtreme will come back for an encore performance in a 7 PM contest.
REWIND: The Xtreme came to face the Rage after having a venue conflict and opted to come to St. Charles rather than the Rage travelling to New Jersey. The game was the second for a new coaching staff for the Xtreme and a new offensive and defensive systems. The Rage went on to by the most impolite of hosts, feasting on the Xtreme to the tune of 62-13.
FAST FORWARD: The Xtreme return to the Family Arena with their perfect season intact. They have yet to win a game, but they have had an open week to continue to get more comfortable with their new system. What's more, in their last game, they faced another premier team in the Atlantic Conference in the Miami Moray and they only trailed by a touchdown late in the third quarter.
"The Xtreme are an improving team and with a week off to prepare, they should be at their best. It would make their season to knock us off and they has somewhat of a moral victory two weeks ago when they played Miami tight through three quarters." stated Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt.
The Rage are also looking to bounce back from only their second loss of the season falling to the Fayetteville Guard 60-51. The loss avenged the season opening loss to the Rage by a 46-43 margin.
"Fayetteville is a much better team than their record indicates. They had lost four games by a three point margin in each game. They had been shooting themselves in the foot. This time, we did the honors turning the ball over twice late in the game." added Wyatt.
The Xtreme will, no doubt, continue to employ their 3 back offense with hopes of controlling the clock and keeping the Rage offense off the field. The Rage will counter with a defense that held the Xtreme to only 13 points in four quarters, a rarity in indoor football.
This game has been designated as Family Values Night and will honor the men and women of the police, firefighters and EMTS with a $3 donation for each ticket sold going to the Backstoppers organization.
2 MINUTE DRILL
RACE FOR THE PLAYOFFS
The RiverCity Rage are still in good shape in regard to playoff hopes for 2005. The Rage currently hold a one game lead over the Dayton Warbirds in the Atlantic East Division. In addition, the Rage also hold the advantage over the Miami Morays as the top seed in the Atlantic Conference. Even though the Rage and Morays both have identical 7-2 records, both of Miami's losses have come within the Atlantic Conference, while the Rage's two losses have come to an Atlantic Conference and a Pacific Conference foe.
Quotes from Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt
(On The Rage's 2nd Loss of the 2005 Season)
"It was disappointing, but it was not our intent to go out and lose the game. We have to understand that there is a difference between being the hunter and the hunted. When you are 7-1, everyone wants to make their season by knocking you off."
(On the Season, To Date)
"I have told the team, that we are 9 games into a 14 game regualar season and then, hopefully, some playoff games. So, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Sometimes we may lose a battle here or there, but we certainly want to win the war."
(On Facing the Xtreme for a 2nd Time at Home)
"We are glad to be at home in the Family Arena. We hope that we are building a culture of success in our venue and are 5-0 at home this season. We want to continue to dominate our opponents to the point that people will hate to come here to play games.."
BLUE'S CLUES
Rookie Defensive End, Bruce Blue from Western New Mexico University is having a banner season for the RiverCity Rage. The 6'1"-264 lb.er is currently tied with teammate James Green for 5th place in the NIFL in sacks. During last week's loss at Fayetteveille, Blue slapped the football out of the Fayetteville QBs hand, recovered the fumble and rambled 36 yards for a TD. That was one of two TDS and a 2 point conversion scored by the Rage defense last week. Terrell Washington blocked a field goal and returned it for 21 yards for a TD and Lenny Williams blocked and extra point attempt and returned it the length of the field for 2 points.
National Indoor Football League Stories from May 25, 2005
- Deja vu, Rage takes it to Xtreme on holiday weekend - RiverCity Rage
- Hawgs to stay in Daytona Beach - Daytona Beach Hawgs
- Roughnecks receive proclamation - West Texas Roughnecks
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