From Outlaws to Marshals
April 19, 2006 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
RiverCity Rage News Release
The RiverCity Rage of the National Indoor Football League will look to get back on the winning track this Saturday night when the team meets the Cincinnati Marshals at 6:30pm at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati. It's the second meeting of the season between the two teams. The Rage won the first game in St. Louis 76-34.
The Rage is atop the Atlantic North Division of the NIFL with a season record of 3-1, while the Marshals are 2-2 in 2006. Last week's loss at Savvis Center to the Billings Outlaws was, according to Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt, "just that, a loss that we can't get back or do anything about. I've told my players that we can get caught up with the Billings game and end up with another loss in Cincinnati. Our job is to let last week go, and concentrate on getting the Rage where it belongs, and that's in the âwin' column."
With the first game combination of Clay Groefsema to Hurtis Chinn (9 completions, 6 touchdowns) reverberating through the Marshals secondary, Cincinnati signed Pierre Wright and is set to ink a defensive back recently released from the Colorado Crush of the AFL. Wright stepped up with two interceptions last week against the Dayton Bulldogs, and Wyatt says he's not surprised by the signings. "Teams do what needs to be done, but I know Coach Carpenter didn't do this simply to defend against us, regardless of what happened last game. And it still all comes down to the play on the field once the game begins, and Hurtis has faced AFL competition, so he'll be ready, we'll be ready."
The Rage held a slim 20-13 halftime lead in the first meeting between the teams, before blitzing Cincinnati with a second half passing attack, outscoring the Marshals 56-21 in the last two quarters of play. Cincinnati ran 48 plays to the Rage 51, led in time of possession 30:48 to 29:12, but Wyatt says, despite the offensive fireworks, "the defense stepped up and shut them down in the second half. You can score a lot in this league, but if you're just trading touchdowns, you've more often than not still got a game on your hands. The defense has to make an impact and for us, this game, it did. We even converted two fourth quarter interceptions into touchdown drives, so it played out with helping ourselves on both sides of the ball."
Marshals quarterback Deontey Kenner was 13 of 26 for 104 yards, but his 3 touchdown passes were offset by 3 interceptions, all which resulted in Rage scores. Ray Jackson was the Cincinnati rushing leader with 14 rushes, good for 76 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Rage was led by quarterback Clay Groefsema, who completed 16 of 22 passes, good for 177 yards and 6 touchdowns (all to Hurtis Chinn)
Saturday night's game can be heard on KJFF Radio 1400 and on line at kjff.com
The RiverCity Rage is part of the 24 team National Indoor Football League, now in the seventh season of play. Tickets for all Rage home games can be purchased on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or at Savvis Center box office. For information on the RiverCity Rage in 2006, visit the team website at www.ragefootball.com.
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National Indoor Football League Stories from April 19, 2006
- From Outlaws to Marshals - RiverCity Rage
- It's Fun! It's Free! It's JPD - RiverCity Rage
- Dixon helping Outlaws charge to top of NIFL - Billings Outlaws
- Bulldogs QB Antonio Davis in the Spotlight - Dayton Bulldogs
- River Sharks Second half Surge Leads to a Victory - Tennessee River Sharks
- Arkansas Stars shoot into Civic Center for a win - Arkansas Stars
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.
