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IFL Indoor Football League

Indoor Football League Divisional Playoffs Round 1 Preview

July 14, 2009 - Indoor Football League (IFL) News Release


SATURDAY, JULY 18 - SAN ANGELO STAMPEDE EXPRESS (5-9) @ ABILENE RUFF RIDERS (8-6), 7:00 PM

A good ole Texas shootout kicks off the first ever Indoor Football League Playoffs as the San Angelo Stampede Express make the drive to Abilene to face the Ruff Riders. San Angelo clinched their berth in the playoffs by virtue of beating Corpus Christi in Week 17. The Stampede Express have played much improved football during the second half of the season, due in large part to Quarterback Sonny Cumbie. The strong armed Cumbie averages close to 200 yards per game through the air and has hit for 43 touchdown passes this season. It helps that he has a big targets in Tarvar Williams and Bobby Chase as well. The San Angelo Receivers have combined for 31 touchdown catches and over 1,400 yards this season.

Abilene's season has been full of ups and downs, but don't for a second think that this Ruff Rider squad won't be ready to put it all on the line this weekend. By clinching the second seed in the Lone Star Division, the Ruff Riders get to play San Angelo on their home turf where they are 5-2 this season. Abilene is led in large part by their defense, particularly in the secondary. The IFL's league leader in interceptions, Joey Longoria, is as good of a defensive back as you can find in this league. He not only has a knack for finding the ball, but is also a proven on field leader. Not to be forgotten is Longoria's defensive counter point at defensive back, Henry Russell. Russell is among the IFL leaders in tackles this season, and has also contributed 2 INT's himself.

SATURDAY, JULY 18 - WICHITA WILD (8-6) @ BLOOMINGTON EXTREME (10-4), 7:05 PM

The Divisional Playoff Game of the Week pits Wichita Wild against the Bloomington Extreme. The Wild have been hot of late, closing out their season with three straight victories. Their last loss came against this same Extreme team back on June 6th but that game was played without late season pickup Dixie Wooten who was claimed a few weeks later. Now armed with a stars at all the offensive skill positions the Wild are thinking that they can make a deep run towards the United Bowl Trophy. Look for Wooten to hand the ball to Darius Fudge early and often. The Wild RB is only the sixth player in indoor football HISTORY to rush for over 900 yards and score 30 touchdowns.

Equally as impressive has been the five game winning streak the Extreme finished their season with. They are also extremely happy to be playing in front of their home crowd seeing as they are 6-1 at home this year. All season their defense has kept opposing teams at bay, and they look to do the same against the potent Wild rushing attack. The Extreme Defense allows a league low 28 points per game and is led by the defensive back trio of James Temple, Laroche Jackson, and Etrich Pruitt. The three alone have combined for 26 interceptions and over 160 tackles in fourteen games. This game is sure to go down to the wire. Can the talented Wichita offense solve the electrifying Extreme Defense? We'll find out Saturday!

SUNDAY, JULY 19- COLORADO ICE (5-9) @ FAIRBANKS GRIZZLIES (7-7), 4:00 PM

Colorado ventures to the Great North West to take on the Fairbanks Grizzlies this Sunday. The Ice have had a long layover to rest their injuries and get in some quality practice time before they embark on their quest for an IFL title. Colorado finished their regular season losers of three straight games, but know that in any given game they can pull out a victory. The Ice split their season series with the Grizzlies this season, but have not played in Fairbanks yet this year. Receiver Josh Gibson has been the teams most dynamic player thus far, and is among the league leaders in All-Purpose yards with just under 120 per game. Look for him to be a dual threat on offense as well as in the return game.

The Grizzlies secured their first home playoff game two weeks ago in Anchorage and hope to carry their momentum into this first round battle with the Ice. Viewers of this game will be sure to see Quarterback Justin Rummell look for his favorite target, Lonnie Sanders, for most of the game. The duo have hooked up for 891 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. Rummell in total has thrown for over 2,600 yards and 55 scores. Not to be forgotten on the offensive side of the ball is Denny Kimmell. The Grizzly Running back has averaged almost five yards per carry and has found the endzone eight times. His biggest contribution may come in protection, often helping Rummell avoid crucial sacks and giving him the time to find his receivers.

MONDAY, JULY 20 - RIVERCITY RAGE (8-6) @ ROCHESTER RAIDERS (9-5), 7:00 PM

The RiverCity Rage make their way east to square off against the Rochester Raiders in a rare Monday night Football game. The Rage look to rebound from their three straight losses to close the regular season and make a run towards a championship. The Rage will rely heavily on a pair of Wide Receivers to penetrate the tough Raiders Defense. Hurtiss Chinn and Luke McCardle have combined for over 1,400 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns playing with multiple Quarterbacks this season. On defense the Rage boast one of the leagues top linebackers in Joe Bevis. Bevis is among the league leaders in tackles with 72 and tackles-for-loss with 15. He has also tallied an interception and two sacks on the year.

The Raiders are one of the more balanced teams in the IFL, and have a championship or bust mentality. Rochester took the only meeting between the two squads back on May 16th by a 34-19 score and haven't looked back since. Using a punishing pass rush anchored by Eddie Bynes, Dale Buck, and Steve Flemming, Rochester leads the IFL in sacks with 41. Bynes in particular has 17 sacks by himself playing in only six games. In total, the Raider defensive unit is ranked fourth in the league, letting up less then 185 yards per game. On offense, Quarterback Perry Patterson has his team firing on all cylinders. His favorite target has been Rob Mager. The Rochester receiver had totaled 906 and 26 touchdown catches.



Indoor Football League Stories from July 14, 2009


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