Fever has a lot riding on final regular season game
June 10, 2011 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Tri-Cities Fever News Release
Tri-Cities Fever coach Adam Shackleford is calling Sunday's final regular season game against the Seattle Timberwolves a must-win. It sounds kind of strange considering the Fever has already clinched an Indoor Football League playoff spot for the second straight season. However, one of the goals the Fever had this season was to host a playoff game, and to meet that goal the Fever need a road win Sunday night.
"We want to be at home for several reasons," Shackleford said. "We want to make a playoff run and to do that, I believe you need to have some home games. Also, our fans deserve it."
The scenarios for hosting a home playoff game on Monday, June 20 are pretty simple. Beat Seattle and the Fever (9-4) will likely host West Texas in a first-round match-up. The other possibility to host a playoff game is if West Texas loses to Amarillo on Saturday night, West Texas will be in Kennewick regardless of Sunday's outcome between the Fever and the Timberwolves.
"We have to come and play like we have been playing," Shackleford said. "Seattle is a good team and they are playing some good football right now."
The Fever has beaten Seattle twice already this season and won four straight meetings against Seattle (5-6), which has been eliminated from the playoffs. The Fever leads the all-time series 4-2.
"We are not overlooking anyone," Shackleford said. "They are much-improved under (coach Sean) Ponder, and have a lot of weapons." If the Fever can close the season with a win Sunday, Tri-Cities would finish the regular season with a 10-4 record, which would be the best regular-season record in franchise history. Not bad for a rebuilding program.
"We are in the second year of the process and I think we have made some significant strides," Shackleford said. "We have made the playoffs, now our goal is to win playoff games."
The Fever has not won a playoff game since 2006 when it beat Wyoming in a first-round NIFL game at Toyota Center.
Sunday's game will be the Fever's 10th straight week it has played after having two bye weeks in the first four weeks of the season. Shackleford admits his team in a little banged up, but he says he will have everyone available at game time, including running back Dennis Kennedy, receiver Steven Whitehead, and defensive lineman Brian Rackley.
Kickoff for Sunday's game is 7:05 p.m. and can be heard on KONA 610 AM or you can watch the game live at Jackson's in Richland. Playoff tickets: Tickets for an impeding Fever home game on June 20 will be available to the public on Monday, June 13 and can be purchased through the Toyota Center box office or through Ticketmaster.
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Indoor Football League Stories from June 10, 2011
- Venom Game Preview - Amarillo Venom
- Fever has a lot riding on final regular season game - Tri-Cities Fever
- Roughnecks Look To Build Momentum Heading Into Post-Season Play - West Texas Roughnecks
- Two Division-Winning Teams Featured on This Week in the IFL - IFL
- Wild Look to End Season with a Win - Wichita Wild
- Spartans Season Ticket Holder Social Prior to Saturday Night's Game - La Crosse Spartans
- Storm Wrap-up Regular Season - Sioux Falls Storm
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