Fever Set a Franchise Scoring Record in Win
Published on May 9, 2006 under National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Tri-Cities Fever News Release
Kennewick, WA - 05/05/06. The Fever are coming of their most convincing win of the season Saturday night against the Big Sky Thunder 102-20. It was a night of high flying offense and a dominating defense. "You go into every game offensively with the goal to score on every possession," said Fever head coach Dan Whitsett. "At the same time, in a game like this, you are not trying to run up the score or to hit 100 just to hit 100. But when your defense outscores your offense in the first half it becomes difficult to keep the score down."
The Fever scored more than 100 points for the second time in the young franchise history. The first time came against the Lincoln Capitols last season at home. That game also produced a lot of points from the Fever defense, however, the final scores were very different. Whitsett remembers last season's 100 point game as a bitter sweet occasion. "We had 98 points with just over a minute to go and we had just scored a touchdown," he recalled. "The crowd of 3500 started chanting (go for two) very strongly and I wanted to reward them. We went for two not to run up the score (which was 98-17 at the time) on the Capitols, but to reward our fans." The Fever was successful on that two point conversion and the week ahead would be an interesting one for the coach that made the decision. "I must have fielded 15 to 16 phone calls from all over the country asking me about my decision (to go for two)," said Whitsett. I was called by arena football Internet radio shows, newspapers, television stations, you name it, they all wanted to know my thought process involving the decision."
Saturday night Whitsett did not have to worry about making that decision on how to surpass the century mark on the scoreboard, it was made for him. Whitsett described the final touchdown with a bit of relief in his voice. "We had our entire offensive line in playing defensive line for us. They had a four down play from their own five yard line. The quarterbacks pass was deflected and landed right in the hand of big Josh Jelinek in the endzone, and the fans went crazy." It was Jelineks first ever touchdown in 17 years of playing football. After Jesus Solis extra point kick, we had a final and a new franchise scoring record for the Fever.
Quarterbacks Joe Wiser and Michael Spriggs split time on the field. Wiser started that game while Spriggs came in the second quarter. Wiser was on again in the third, while Spriggs finished the fourth. The Fever passed on every single play in the first half, something coach Whitsett said he was going to do prior to the game. "These quarterbacks needed some good solid reps in the offense and the passing game in particular. I asked my running backs to be patient in the first half and told them their time will come in the third and fourth quarters." Their time did come, as the Fever ran the ball in all but three plays in the second half. Paris Moore rushed 9 times for 49 yards and two scores in those two quarters, while Jay Bailey was able to get 8 carries for 32 yards and a score. Receiver Thomas Ford, who was a running back during his college career at Linfield also got into the mix, carrying a career high six times for 23 yards and a touchdown himself. He also caught two passes for 21 yards and another score.
Wiser completed just 3 of his nine attempts, but all three completions went for touchdowns. Two of the three went to George Carter who led the Fever with 3 grabs for 89 yards and 2 scores. Spriggs didn't fare any better than Wiser did in the completion percentage department as he finished just 4 of 11. One of those four completions went for a touchdown to Thomas Ford.
Defensively the Fever held Big Sky to just 108 total yards of offense. They had 8 sacks and 6 tackles for loss on the night. Defensive End Michael Hodges had an unbelievable night, recording 4.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, forced two fumbles and recovered three. "I have been telling Michael Hodges that he is much better than he has been playing this season," said Whitsett. "Hodges is one of the premiere players in this league and will surely land a job at a higher level eventually. I have been waiting for him to step up and have a night like this all season."
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.
National Indoor Football League Stories from May 9, 2006
- Fan wins bid to suit up with pro football team - RiverCity Rage
- Fever Set a Franchise Scoring Record in Win - Tri-Cities Fever
- Stars play but fall to Katy - Arkansas Stars
- Commentary: NIFL daily buzz - OSC Original by Jerry Hewitt
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