Fever Defense Takes Over In Big Victory
May 10, 2010 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Tri-Cities Fever News Release
Coach Adam Shackleford has continually reminded Fever followers that rebuilding this team is a process.
Well, that long process back appeared to take a giant leap Saturday night.
The Tri-Cities Fever dismantled a short-handed Kent Predators team 71-24 at Toyota Center for its second straight victory. With the win, the Fever moves into third place in the Pacific North Division, and is back asserted itself as a legitimate playoff contender in the Intense Conference. At 3-5, the Fever currently sits seventh in the conference standings with six games left in the regular season.
The Fever goes on the road this coming Saturday night to take on the Colorado Ice (0-9), one of two winless teams left in the Indoor Football League this season.
"We have some winnable games coming up, but we can't take anything for granted," Shackleford said. "We still have a long ways to go."
The Fever's 47-point victory was the largest margin of victory in more than three seasons. And most of that scoring came from an unlikely source.
The Fever defense that came in averaging more than 57 points per game scored more points than it allowed against Kent.
Tri-Cities scored four defense touchdowns and recorded another safety on a night where the defense jelled with newcomer Dave Howell at nose guard.
In addition to putting up 26 points, the Fever also had five sacks and nine tackles-for-loss. And don't forget the three interceptions.
"I think we finally started to jell," said linebacker Jo Artis Ratti, who had three sacks. "We had been making some mental mistakes, forcing us to play catch-up. We didn't do that tonight."
The Fever's nemesis in its first two losses to the Predators (2-6) was quarterback Charles McCullum. He did not play Saturday night because of an injury. Instead it was Brandon Peterson who was trying to elude the Fever pass rush all night long.
"We had Dave at nose guard and I think that's what we were missing," said defensive end Ameer Ismail, who had two fumble recoveries, one for a touchdown and his first receiving touchdown of the season. "I think we just played more as a unit upfront tonight."
Howell, at 6-foot-5, 320 pounds, was signed by the Fever earlier in the week. The former University of Miami and Portland State standout had one sack in his Fever debut.
"We're an improving football team," Shackleford said.
The Fever, behind rookie quarterback Houston Lillard, improved to 2-0. Lillard completed 11 of 19 passes for 128 yards and four touchdowns.
But he, like the rest of the offense, got to sit back and watch the defense take over in the second half as the defense turned the game into a runaway.
Lionell Singleton had two of the Fever's three fourth-quarter interceptions, returning both four touchdowns. But before that happened, defensive lineman Blair Boynton scored a touchdown of his own, stripping Peterson at the 5-yard line and returning for a touchdown to make the score 57-18 with 9:58 left in the game.
The Fever had just one offensive possession in its 30-point fourth quarter and that resulted in a touchdown with Lillard ran in for a TD from 1-yard out.
"We want to use this momentum and keep it rolling," Ismail said.
NOTES: The Fever played without leading rusher and top return man Tyson Thompson, who has left team to sign with a team in the United Football League. ... The Fever played without defensive back Montavis Pitts, who sat out with a sore hamstring.
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Indoor Football League Stories from May 10, 2010
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- Fever Defense Takes Over In Big Victory - Tri-Cities Fever
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