Feverâ??s Season Comes to Close at Nebraska
June 27, 2015 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Tri-Cities Fever News Release
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - The Tri-Cities Fever's return to the Indoor Football League playoffs did not last as long as anyone had hoped as the Fever fell 86-43 in the Intense Conference Championship game Friday night at the Heartland Events Center.
The Fever, which was back in the playoffs for the first time since 2012, finishes the season with an 8-7 record. Nebraska (11-4) advances to its third straight United Bowl where it will play the winner of tonights Sioux Falls-Grand Rapids contest.
The Fever got off to a quick start and trailed only 34-22 at halftime. But the Danger outscored the Fever 52-21 in the second half to pull away.
Tri-Cities, which beat the Danger earlier this season, turned the ball over five times (three interceptions and two fumbles). Nebraska turned those turnovers into touchdowns, and scored on every possession in the second half. The Danger had 13 possessions in the game and scored on all but one of them. That came on their first offensive series of the game that resulted in a Tri-Cities' touchdown.
Darian Barnes scooped up the Waymon James fumble and ran it back 8 yards for a score that gave the Fever a quick 7-0 lead. The Fever then lead again 10-7 in the first quarter after a Brady Beeson 33-yard field goal and then 16-13. But after a 22-yard touchdown pass from Jameel Sewell to Troy Evans to give the Danger a 20-16, the turnovers and mistakes started to pile up.
Dominque Blackman was intercepted on the Fever's next possession as the Danger extended the lead to 27-16. The Fever did get back to within 5 at 27-22, but an Evans TD reception right before halftime extended the league to 34-22. The Danger then scored a touchdown on its first possession of the second half to grab a 41-22 lead as the Fever defense could not slow down Sewell and the Danger offense.
Sewell, the 2013 IFL MVP who has batted some injuries this season, was nearly perfect against the Fever. He completed 12 of 16 passes for 174 yards and six touchdowns. He also ran nine times for 57 yards and another score.
Blackman, who was making his third start, was 21 of 32 passing for 187 yards and three touchdowns. He did throw three interceptions. He also fumbled twice.
He led the Fever in rushing with 9 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown.
Dejuan Miller caught a game-high nine passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns. Steven Whitehead and Dejay Lester had four catches apiece in the losing effort.
Joe Thornton led the Fever with eight tackles. Jake Killeen, who sat out the win over Iowa two weeks ago, had two tackles, both for loss.
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Indoor Football League Stories from June 27, 2015
- Storm Win Conference Championship - Sioux Falls Storm
- Feverâ??s Season Comes to Close at Nebraska - Tri-Cities Fever
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