Fever vs. Thunder Preview
May 6, 2006 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Tri-Cities Fever News Release
Kennewick, WA - 05/05/06. The Tri-Cities Fever (4-2) host the Big Sky Thunder from Bozeman, Montana Saturday night in the Toyota Center. Game time is 7:05 pm and tickets are still available for this rematch of two Pacific Conference North Division teams.
The Fever are coming off an emotional 44-40 defeat at Billings (6-1) after they fumbled away an opportunity to take the lead with 90 seconds remaining in the game. They let a commanding 28-16 halftime lead slip away in the third quarter, and then saw their chances disappear when running back Jay Bailey fumbled inside the one yard line. "It was a very difficult loss to swallow," said head coach Dan Whitsett. "I struggled thinking about that game all week. But I am trying really hard to focus on some of the positive things we did. Our QB (Michael Spriggs) only had two practices with us and I felt he performed pretty well. We played solid defense for most of the game as well."
One of the bright spots for the Big Sky Thunder so far this season has been the play of receiver Shawn Brown. He leads his team with 20 receptions for 182 yards and four touchdowns. The 5'10" and 175 pound receiver played his college ball at Sacramento State University and is second on the Thunder in all-purpose yards to DB/WR Antoine Chambers. Chambers, a defensive back from the University of Idaho with AF2 experience, has shown his two way (Ironman) experience as both a receiver and defender for the Thunder. He is second to Brown in receiving on the squad and also second on the team in tackles. If that isn't enough he has returned a team leading 13 kickoffs for 208 yards and a 16.0 average.
The Fever are sitting fourth in the NIFL in rushing. Leading the Fever's one two rushing punch is Paris Moore and Jay Bailey. Moore has 329 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground so far, while his backfield mate Bailey has scraped up 109 yards and 4 scores. Both backs are averaging right at 4.7 yards per carry. "In my opinion you are not going to find two backs the caliber of these two on another team in the NIFL," said Whitsett. "Bailey is a former Division I-AA rushing champion and All-American. He could probably be the featured back almost any other team in this league. We just happen to have Paris Moore also."
Catching passes from the six different quarterbacks the Fever has put on the field so far are a group of receivers Whitsett calls "a perfect combination." Quincy Jackson is the leader of that combination, at least statistically. He has hauled in 25 passes for 316 yards and a 12.6 average per catch. He has found the endzone 8 times. " Quincy has the whole package," says Whitsett. "He can run any route, he can be physical, he can play with finesse, whatever he needs to do to get the job done he can do it." Not far behind Quincy is George "please don't call me a possession receiver" Carter, a rookie from Linfield College in Oregon. Carter has caught 13 passes for 195 yards and a team leading 13.9 yards per catch. "George has some speed, some real speed," said Whitsett. "You don't expect it when you see him, but the kid is a sub 4.5 40 guy and will get by some very fast defensive backs that you don't expect him to get by." Rounding out the rest of the talented receiving core are Thomas Ford, Jarvis Dunn, and Kevin Heard. "Kevin is your savvy veteran that understands the angles of the game," says Whitsett. "Thomas Ford is still learning the receiver position, but he is very good after the catch when he can become a runner." Dunn has been out the past few weeks with what is diagnosed as a high ankle sprain. Whitsett is not sure when he will be back, but is looking forward to when that time comes. "Jarvis is a very talented football player. He has yet to really get on track before his injury and I am looking forward to him getting back out here and becoming a big part of this offense."
Defensively the Fever are ranked number two in the NIFL in Red Zone defense. The Fever are allowing teams to score in the Red Zone at just a 44.1% rate (15-34). The only team that is better is the Lakeland Thunderbolts 38.5% (10-26). "That is something we take a lot of pride in," said Whitsett. "The field is smaller and we know how hard it is to score in the red zone in this game, so we really work hard on taking advantage of the lack of space the offense has to work with."
Linebacker Ron Childs leads the team in tackles with 25 and is second in sacks with four. Defensive end Michael Hodges leads the team in sacks tackles for loss with 4.5, Defensive back Antar Brame leads the Fever in interceptions with 3, while Emery Beckles and Sullivan Beard each have two.
The Fever host the Big Sky Thunder Saturday night, May 6th at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are still available at the Toyota Center Box Office or by calling TicketsWest at 1-800-325-SEAT.
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National Indoor Football League Stories from May 6, 2006
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- Fever vs. Thunder Preview - Tri-Cities Fever
- RiverCity defeats Drillers in defensive battle - Beaumont Drillers
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