Lillard, Fever Fall to Cedar Rapids
April 6, 2014 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Tri-Cities Fever News Release
Houston Lillard has his return to the Tri-Cities Fever spoiled by a focused, efficient Cedar Rapids team Saturday night at Country Financial Field at the Toyota Center.
Lillard, in his first game for the Fever since the 2012 Indoor Football League title game, showed signs of what made him a two-time all-IFL player. But he also showed some rust that comes will not playing in a game in 18 months and doing it with a supporting cast who he has only spent a week with.
Lillard and the Fever could not overcome another slow start and fell to Cedar Rapids 63-43 for its fourth straight loss since winning opening night.
"I wish I had some answers," said Fever coach Adam Shackleford. "Overall, it was not very good tonight."
Lillard, who was greeted with a warm welcome in his return to the Tri-Cities, completed 14 of 26 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw one interception. Overall, not a bad return.
"I am not going to lie, the game was moving fast out there in the first quarter," LIllard said. "It took me a little while to get going. I expected it to happen in second quarter, but it really didn't happen until late in the third quarter."
The Fever trailed all game, but showed some signs of life behind Lillard late in the third quarter and early in the fourth.
Trailing 42-23, Lillard hit Tre Young streaking down the left sideline for a 45-yard touchdown pass-and-catch to cut the margin to 42-31. After another Cedar Rapids score, Lillard connected on another 45-yard touchdown pass, this time to Harry Peoples.
But while the offense started to get in sync as the game wore on, so did the Cedar Rapids offense.
The Titans (5-1) scored touchdowns on all six of their second-half possessions on their way to 42 second-half points.
"We didn't do a very good job defensively," Shackleford said. "We are going to have to make some changes."
The Fever fell behind early as Cedar Rapids scored on the first play of the game on a Spencer Ohm 30-yard touchdown run. The lead grew to 14-3 midway through the first quarter on a Jefferson Hayes 10-yard TD reception from Ohm.
The Fever stayed close thanks to the leg of Brady Beeson. Beeson hit three first-half field goals as the Fever trailed just 21-16 at halftime.
"We felt like we were in it," said receiver Dejuan Miller. "We just had too many field goals instead of touchdowns."
Miller finished with two catches for 10 yards.
Young, in his first appearance for the Fever this season, had three catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. Peoples led all Fever receivers with six catches for 109 yards and a TD.
Keithon Flemming had a strong game rushing for 67 yards on 13 carries and scored three touchdowns.
Lionell Singleton led the Fever with nine tackles. Brandon Rankin had a sack and one tackle-for-loss for Tri-Cities.
"We just have to keep working and getting better," Miller said. "I don't think it's any one thing; it's just a lot of small things."
The Fever has a key game next Sunday at Intense Conference rival Colorado (3-2).
"It's a must-win game for us," Shackleford said.
Indoor Football League Stories from April 6, 2014
- Expansion Pack - Billings Wolves
- Great Expectations - Billings Wolves
- Lillard, Fever Fall to Cedar Rapids - Tri-Cities Fever
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