Fever returns home to take on Titans
April 3, 2014 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Tri-Cities Fever News Release
The new-look Tri-Cities Fever returns to the Toyota CenterÃÂ at 7:05 on SaturdayÃÂ night to play host to the Cedar Rapids Titans.
Seems a little bizarre to be saying new-look when the season is only four games old, but that's exactly what the Fever will be when it takes the field. The Fever have reached into the past to help secure its future by signing two-time all-Indoor Football League quarterback Houston Lillard and standout receiver Tre Young.
Tri-Cities (1-3) had a busy bye week, reaching out to Lillard to help improve its offense that has struggled in three straight losses.
Lillard led the Fever to back-to-back IFL United Bowl games (2011 and 2012) and been called back to manage the Fever offense which has turned the ball over nine times in the last two games in losses to Nebraska and the same Titans team Tri-Cities playsÃÂ Saturday.
In Lilliard's final two seasons with the Fever he lost a total of eight games, four of those were to three-time defending IFL champion Sioux Falls. Lillard has not played since the 2012 season.
Coach Adam Shackleford hopes Lillard will be the answer for ending the Fever's slow start "" the second straight season Tri-Cities has come out the blocks slow.
Young is also expected to provide a veteran presence at receiver for Tri-Cities. Young has spent parts of three seasons with the Fever. Most recently, he played in seven games last season catching 24 passes for 338 yards and seven touchdowns. Young played in 28 regular season games from 2011-13, catchingÃÂ 138 passes for 1,782 yards and 41 touchdowns, most coming from Lillard.
The Fever is coming off a 58-45 loss to Cedar Rapids two weeks ago, falling behind 38-17 at halftime and could not make a second-half comeback.
So not only is the Fever looking to even the score against the Titans, it is looking to get their first win since an opening night win over Wyoming.
In the loss to Cedar Rapids, the Fever turned ball over five times, four for those were fumbles, including one that was returned for a first-quarter touchdown. It was the turnovers that really slowed the Fever, which outgained the Titans in yards 240 to 212.
The Titans (4-1), since losing its first game of the season, has won four games in a row, including a 48-37 win over Bemidji last weekend.
There is really no secret what needs to happen for the Fever to end its recent skid and put a halt to the Titans' streak. Hang on to the ball.
Notes: The Fever is 1-1 at home, Cedar Rapids is 1-1 on the road. The Fever has only lost one home game over the past two seasons to a team other than Sioux Falls. That loss came last season to the Texas Revolution ... The Fever ranks second in the IFL in scoring offense at 50 points per game, Cedar Rapids is third at 47.4 points per game ... The Titans rank second in scoring defense, allowing 36.2 points per game, while the Fever ranks seventh at 52.0 points per game ... The Fever ranks third in yards at 247.8 per game, which Cedar Rapids is second at 251.6 yards per game ... Cedar Rapids is allowing a league-best 177.6 yards per game, while the Fever is sixth, allowing 237.6 yards per game. ÃÂ For tickets to Saturday's game visit www.ticketmaster.com or the Toyota Center Box Office. For Season Flex Tickets call the Fever offices at 222-2215.
Indoor Football League Stories from April 3, 2014
- Danny Mason and Donte Sawyer on This Week in the IFL - IFL
- Green Bay Blizzard Look to Make Most out of Bye Week - Green Bay Blizzard
- Fever returns home to take on Titans - Tri-Cities Fever
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