Fighters Giving Full Team Effort
June 10, 2022 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Frisco Fighters News Release
When enjoying as much success as the Fighters have to this point in the season, it's easy for a group to get ahead of itself. Some overlook lesser opponents, with their focus fixed on greater achievements.
Not this team.
"We're looking to go 1-0 each week," quarterback T.J. Edwards said ahead of last Saturday's 55-24 trouncing of Bismarck. "We're trying to do everything we can each week to make sure we're in Vegas at the end of the year."
Edwards stressed that Frisco is zeroed in on whoever is next up on the schedule, no matter their record. After getting their payback against Arizona, the Fighters have remained on a roll by overpowering Vegas and Bismarck, neither of which has more than four wins to this point in the campaign.
"Every game is important to me," Edwards said. "Every game is something that I need to get better ... I just stack my games on each other and use each game to improve."
The passing timeshare of him and Blake Sims has kept defenses honest. When taking snaps, the former adds another element to a ground game that has racked up 102.6 yards per game and a total of 41 scores. Both marks are tops in the league.
The tandem has combined for 27 touchdown strikes. Sims grades out with third-best efficiency rating in the league, behind Tucson's Daquan Neal - who recently worked out for the Indianapolis Colts - and the Rattlers' Drew Powell.
"It's very challenging for an opposing defense with them having to plan against me and Blake, they're not able to know what we're using coming in," Edwards said.
Strength up front has been a key factor, as well. Running back Justin Rankin paces the league with 566 yards rushing yards. Frisco's defense is the stingiest on the ground, giving up only 48.3 yards per contest and a league-low 17 rushing touchdowns. The unit also has 20 sacks.
"It's great having Justin next to me," Edwards said. "And then the defense, we're souped up from the defensive line all the way to the secondary.
"They make everything easier for us. It's a good collective group."
After completing 10 of 14 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns against the Bucks, Edwards looks to keep things going in the team's matchup with Duke City Saturday. The Fighters have beaten the Gladiators both times they've met this year.
"Everyone is excited about our near-future," Edwards said. "We've got a lot of good things going on right now ... It's a great atmosphere around the Fighters."
Indoor Football League Stories from June 10, 2022
- Storm Look for Third-Straight Win - Sioux Falls Storm
- Fighters Giving Full Team Effort - Frisco Fighters
- Storm Look for Third-Straight Win - Sioux Falls Storm
- Pirates Look to Rebound against Blizzard - Massachusetts Pirates
- Tucson Hosts Bay Area - Tucson Sugar Skulls
- Battle for First Place in the Western Conference - Northern Arizona Wranglers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
