Fever Meet the Number One Ranked Team in the NIFL - The Aces

May 12, 2006 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Tri-Cities Fever News Release


The Tri-Cities Fever are coming off a franchise scoring record of 102 points in their victory over winless Big Sky Thunder. Now the Fever must turn their sights from a winless competitor to an undefeated one in the Rapid City Flying Aces (7-0). " Rapid City and Billings are the kind of teams we enjoy playing the most," says Whitsett. "We welcome the competition that teams like these two can give us. It will be a great battle Sunday in Rapid City and I always enjoy coaching against "Majic" (Coach Dan Maciejczak), and playing against (quarterback Albert) Higgs." Fever fans should remember those two names as they were in the same positions last season for the Fever's 2005 arch rival Everett Hawks.

The Flying Aces were flying high once again on Sunday when they dismantled the St. Joseph Cyclones of St. Joseph, Missouri 82-21. Veteran all-pro quarterback Albert Higgs threw for an NIFL record setting 11 touchdowns in the win.

Rapid City's future as an organization was in major trouble earlier this week when their alleged owner Howard Neal left town and the organization with a pile of unpaid bills. The team was able to find new investors and keep their undefeated season in tow as of Friday of last week. "We will be able to finish our season now," said Coach Maciejczak. "We have solidified enough investors to be able to finish the season out this year."

The Flying Aces are the number one ranked team in the NIFL and lead the NIFL or are near the top of every offensive category. Coach "Majic" (as he is known) said this about the Fever match-up. "They are the defending national champions, we get to play them at home, get a win, you have to think that we have a chance to win the whole thing."

The Fever are not exactly going into this game with a team full of health. A total of five starters are out with injuries this week, including leading receiver Quincy Jackson, offensive linemen Patrick Girardi and Mac Tuiaea, defensive back Emery Beckles, and defensive end Antwan Harris. On top of that offensive lineman Aaron Retzlaff's attempt to return this week from his injury was unsuccessful. All of these injuries has left Whitsett scratching his head. "I don't have the answer to the injuries," he said. "They are all different and all unique to each player. Maybe some guys are not taking as good of care of themselves as they need to. Maybe some are not hitting the weight room enough, maybe some too much. We don't have the answer to the injury bug situation. If we did we would solve it."

All of these injuries means that Whitsett has been busy this week brining in players to replace those that will not be making the trip to South Dakota. "We will have at least four new faces on that bus when it leaves on Friday," Whitsett said.

One of those new faces is defensive back and wide receiver Brandon Hazenburg from Linfield College. Hazenberg spent his four seasons playing on both sides of the ball for the national DIII power Linfield Wildcats in McMinnville, Oregon. He also returned kicks and punts and became the schools all-time all-purpose career yardage leader per game with a 111.0 yard average. He ranks fifth all-time in school history in total all-purpose yards during his career with 3,662. He also ranks fourth all-time in career receiving yards with 2,165, just two places behind current Fever receiver George Carter on that list. During this past season he was on the receiving end of quarterback Brett Elliott's passes 57 times for 997 yards and eight touchdowns. Elliott has since signed a free-agent contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. He also found time on defense to intercept four passes, break-up four more, record a sack and a tackle for loss. "I have always liked Hazenberg," said Whitsett. "He has been up here to a couple of games, so he knows what this is all about. We needed a corner this week, and (Thomas) Ford called me and told me he could be available. It was a no brainer, I jumped on it."

Another newcomer this week is a familiar face to Fever fans from last season in Britton Smith. Smith played defensive back/linebacker and special teams last season and Whitsett said he has beefed up and may even see some time at defensive end for the Fever. "Britton is a good athlete, always has been," said Whitsett. "He has been working out, is in good shape and was available so we brought him in. It is always good when you can get a quality player on such short notice that you know pretty well. Britton was fifth in tackles on our team last year playing a limited role. He is a good football player."

Stepping in at defensive line will be Nick Ball. Ball is a 6'1", 275 pound defensive end from Western Washington University. He played there with current Fever center Andrew Thompson. "Ball was a three technique guy in Western's system," said Whitsett. "He is a guy that can play some defensive end at this level, and will help us get pressure on Rapid City's quarterback this week."

There will be at least one more player that will join these three according to Whitsett. "We are working on an offensive lineman. We are short on time, but we will get an offensive lineman in here in time to travel with us. The offensive line position takes the least amount of time to coach up a player in this game, fortunately."

For the first time all season however, the Fever will have the same quarterback starting under center. Joe Wiser will get the call to lead the Fever on Sunday. "We have two good, healthy quarterbacks right now," said Whitsett. "I like them both, but only one can start. Wiser is healthy now and has looked very sharp in practice. We are in great shape at the quarterback position now and that is the first time I have been able to say that all season."

Game time against Rapid City Sunday in 1:00pm (PST) and can be heard locally on KONA 610 a.m., with pre game starting at 12:30pm (PST).



National Indoor Football League Stories from May 12, 2006


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