Playoff Battle A Chance To Focus
May 14, 2008 - Intense Football League (Intense)
Frisco Thunder News Release
If the Intense Football League were a NASCAR race, the best way to describe it would a two-car lead pack followed by a three-car draft then a pair of two-car drafts at the tail end of the lap. The Frisco Thunder's currently in that second pack and those cars are running three-wide entering the back stretch.
With post-season seeding starting to come into play, the Thunder (5-4) is a three-way battle with the CenTex Barracudas (5-3) and Alaska (4-3) for the third-seed in the six-team post-season. A half-game and percentage points separate the difference from third and fifth. Odessa (3-5) and Katy (2-5) are battling for the sixth-seed.
Thunder head coach Troy Esprit feels that being in a tight playoff race is beneficial.
"It's good in a sense that the players and coaches are seeing we need to buckle and get that complete game," said Esprit, whose team faces San Angelo Saturday.
Louisiana (7-0) and Corpus Christi (7-1) have a bit of separation from the field. The third-seed may be a coveted position. That team would avoid facing the unbeaten Swashbucklers -- if currently positions hold -- until Intense Bowl IV on July 19, and Frisco played its best game of the season when it crushed the Hammerheads 72-31 on April 13.
STATS, SHMATS: The Thunder takes exception to the claim the IFL is the least competitive of the four indoor leagues, because it IS the exception.
The IFL's margin of victory of 27.4 points trails United Indoor Football (15.5), Continental Indoor Football League (18.9) and the American Indoor Football Association (25.9).
Yawn.
"That stat doesn't tell the tell," Esprit said. "I've been in some non-competitive league so I think this league has been truly competitive this year. "
The Thunder has had three games decided by four points or less, including two with no time remaining in regulation.
"That's a credit to our guys," Esprit said.
GLENN ON THE GO: Add LB Chris Glenn to the Thunder players leading an IFL stats category. His three-sack effort against CenTex moved him into the league lead with seven. LaMont Finley (five).
``I thought that's where he'd be even before the season started," Esprit said of Glenn. ``He's very capable of holding on to that lead."
Other Thunder league leaders:
Wes Cooper: Total Offense (236.4 ypg); Passing Yards (236.6) TD passes (51)
Ricky Madison: Rushing Yards (230) and TD (11)
Richard Morris: Receptions (76), Receiving Yards (888) and Receiving TDs (17, tied)
Dennis Hopovac: Field Goals Made (12) and PATs (49)
Kevin Lenford (inactive): Missed Field Goal return yards (161)
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Intense Football League Stories from May 14, 2008
- Playoff Battle A Chance To Focus - Frisco Thunder
- WR Conner Named IFL Offensive Player of the Week - West Texas Roughnecks
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