Lake Charles LandSharks at Utah Warriors

May 7, 2004 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Utah Warriors News Release


Inside the Series...

This will be the first ever meeting between the LandSharks and the Warriors ... This game was added to the original schedule released by the NIFL, and Lake Charles is replacing the Carolina StingRays in this game ... Lake Charles is in the Atlantic South division.

Series Record -- First Meeting

About this game...

The Utah Warriors enter this game loser of two straight and three of their last five. They are set to face the LandSharks for the first time in franchise history. Lake Charles comes in after a win last week over the Wichita Falls Thunder, 60-47. Utah has never lost back-to-back home games, and have never lost three straight.

Utah will need quarterback Doug Smith to pick up his game. Last week he threw for 180 yards and four touchdowns, but was only 13x25 and had two interceptions and one lost fumble. On the season he has thrown for 1,099 yards and 26 touchdowns with just six interceptions.

Utah's biggest problem the last two games has been their inability to stop its opponent from scoring. To help the problem, Utah signed former NFL defensive back Antwoine Sanders this week. Sanders will see time this week and should help fill some holes caused by injury. Cody Weight is the only Warrior defensive back to play in all seven games this year, and he splits time at receiver.

Emmett White is up to 30 catches this season, well behind his 100 of last season. At his current pace White will finish the year with 60 catches. He is averaging 12.8 yards per catch and 55 yards per game. Mike Rigell has 16 catches for 258 yards in just five games. He has also scored six times.

Omar Bacon leads Utah with 235 yards rushing and has scored 11 rushing touchdowns. He is also second on the team with 17 receptions. He has scored a total of 15 touchdowns and is on pace to score 30 this season. Last year Bacon finished with 38 touchdowns.

Bart Amundson leads Utah with 42.5 tackles, including 1.5 for loss and one interception. Amundson also has one forced fumble and recovered one fumble. Dee McCormick is second with 29.5 tackles, but recorded just 0.5 tackles last week. The team still has recorded just three sacks on the season, giving the opposing quarterback time to throw for an average of 199.6 yards per game.

Lake Charles had lost two straight prior to their win last week. Last season they were a wild card in the Atlantic Conference playoffs, losing in the Atlantic Conference championship game to eventual champion Ohio Valley, 43-41. They agreed to play this game earlier in the week after Carolina had some scheduling conflicts getting to Utah for the game.



National Indoor Football League Stories from May 7, 2004


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