Indoor Football League Week 17 Preview
Published on June 30, 2009 under Indoor Football League (IFL) News Release
THURSDAY, JULY 2 - ALASKA WILD (0-12) @ WICHITA WILD (7-6), 7:05 PM
The first ever BATTLE OF THE WILD sees the Alaska Wild heading to Kansas to face the Wichita Wild. Alaska is coming off their most recent defeat at the hands of Fairbanks, and still are searching for that illustrious first victory of the season. In that game, IFL Fan's Choice MVP Candidate Demarcus James returned yet another kickoff for a touchdown to bring his season total to eight. The defensive back also leads the team in tackles this season with 47.5. With just two games remaining, look for Alaska to try and pull out all the stops.
Wichita officially clinched their spot in the IFL playoffs last weekend by defeating the RiverCity Rage 73-33. The game marked the debut for new Quarterback Dixie Wooten, ironically a former Rage player. The QB tossed for 171 yards and seven touchdowns and helped the Wild to their best offensive performance of the season. Wooten, who is a candidate for IFL Fan's Choice MVP, has now thrown for 48 touchdown passes this season. He isn't the only star on this talented team however. RB Darius Fudge and WR Clinton Solomon have been equally as impressive for Wichita. Fudge leads the IFL with 788 rushing yards and 24 TD on the ground while Solomon has hauled in 20 touchdown passes to go along with 913 yards. The team seems to have their offense clicking at the right time, and may be the most dangerous team heading into the post-season.
SATURDAY, JULY 4 - ODESSA ROUGHNECKS (3-9) @ ABILENE RUFF RIDERS (6-6), 7:00 PM
The Roughnecks head to Abilene to square off against the Ruff Riders for the third time this season. Abilene won both of those two contests. Odessa is fresh off a division win against Corpus Christi last weekend and hopes to ride that momentum into the remaining weeks of the season. Wide Receiver Jimmy Conner has been about as dominant a player as you could ask for in 2009. The IFL Fan's Choice MVP candidate leads the entire IFL in receiving yards with 977 and also is averaging 6.75 catches per game. But he couldn't be that star player without a great Quarterback throwing him the ball. Dennis Gile averages nearly 200 yards through the air per game, and has tossed 31 touchdowns thru 12 games.
Abilene has suffered back to back division losses, yet still remains on the verge of clinching a playoff spot in the Lone Star Division. You can be sure Coach Dockery will have his players amped up for this contest. Leading his troops on defense is IFL Fan's Choice MVP candidate Joey Longoria. The Ruff Rider defensive back just seems to have a knack for the ball and has intercepted nine passes on the year. On offense, Abilene QB David Bowie will look to Rookie sensation Fred Howze each time he drops back to throw. The Wide Receiver has found the endzone 16 times for the Ruff Riders this season and averages close to five catches per game. Look for this contest to be the intense battle that Texas football is known for.
SATURDAY, JULY 4 - ROCHESTER RAIDERS (8-4) @ EL PASO GENERALS (10-2), 7:00 PM
The Raiders head into El Paso to take on the Lone Star Division leading Generals this weekend. Rochester has won their last five games in a row and show no signs of letting up. Last weekend against Maryland, the Raiders put up 64 points of the IFL's best defensive unit. Quarterback Perry Patterson was lights out, throwing for six touchdown passes and added one via the ground. In total he completed 17 of 28 passes for 149 yards. His primary target all year has been IFL Fan's Choice MVP Candidate Rob Mager. The Wide Receiver has caught 22 touchdown passes on the season to go along with his 800 receiving yards. On defense, one player had been about as dominate of a player as you could think of. In just six games, DE Eddie Bynes had recorded 17 sacks, for an average of almost three per game.
The El Paso Generals have the top passing attack in the league and, just like Rochester, are lead by a standout Quarterback/Receiver combo. QB Tommy Jones and WR Deangelo Woodie, both Player of the Year candidates, have been virtually unstoppable week in and week out. Jones leads the IFL in passing yards and passing yards per game to go along with his 58 touchdown passes while Woodie is tops in the league in All-Purpose yards. Through the air, Woodie has caught 19 touchdown passes and totaled 955 yards. Both of these teams figure to make a lot of noise come playoff time. But in this game, look for which defense can neutralize their opponents potent aerial attack.
SATURDAY, JULY 4 - SAN ANGELO STAMPEDE EXPRESS (4-8) @ CORPUS CHRISTI HAMMERHEADS (6-7), 7:05 PM
The IFL Game of the Week has the San Angelo Stampede Express heading to Corpus Christi to take on the Hammerheads in a very important game that could determine each teams playoff fate. San Angelo is fresh of a very impressive win against second place Abilene last weekend. In that game, RB Voncarie Owens rushed for 57 yards a two scores, while Quarterback Sonny Cumbie tossed for another three scores. The Stampede Express had all phases of their game clicking in this game as well. Kicker Tommy Staples connected on all three of his field goal attempts hitting from 32, 24, and 28 yards. San Angelo needs to take the game against Corpus this week to have a shot at the post-season. It will be tough, but the Stampede Express seem to excel when they have their backs against the wall.
After four straight victories, the Hammerheads suffered an unlikely defeat at the hands of Odessa last weekend. They hope to get back to their winning ways in front of their home crowd this weekend. A win this weekend, would almost guarantee Corpus the third seed in the Lone Star Division, and a first round road playoff game. Redford Borel has been a force this season on the ground. The Running back has found the endzone 13 times this season and hopes to add to that total this weekend. The defense has been the Hammerheads driving force though this year. Defensive backs Jason Lee and Wali Munin continue shut down receivers and have combined for 11 interceptions.
Indoor Football League Stories from June 30, 2009
- Indoor Football League Week 17 Preview - IFL
- Storm WR James Terry to Co-Host Kurtiss Riggs Show - Sioux Falls Storm
- IFL Announces Move Into Richmond - IFL
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