Playoff Game Preview: Roughnecks at Tri-Cities Fever
June 17, 2011 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
West Texas Roughnecks News Release
MIDLAND, TX. : It's the start of the 2011 Indoor Football League Playoffs and the West Texas Roughnecks (10-4) will be making their longest road trip of the season to face the Tri-Cities Fever (10-4) in a first round match-up out of the Intense Conference on Monday, June 20. The Roughnecks enter the post-season riding a three-game winning streak and recently coming off a 37-24 win over the Amarillo Venom in the regular season finale. It is the Roughnecks seventh trip to the playoffs in their eighth season of play, and this particular match-up will feature the IFL's top-rated defense in the Roughnecks versus one of the top-rated offensive units in Tri-Cities.
Offensively for the Roughnecks, QB Arkelon Hall is back at his starting position after returning to action in the Roughnecks win over Amarillo. Hall recorded one touchdown pass in the win and he will lead a Roughnecks offense against a Tri-Cities defense that allows 41 points per game, including 150.8 yards passing per game. Receivers Josh Floyd, Wilson Kimble, and a healthy Ryan Bugg will be key targets in the passing game for Hall. Floyd finished first in the IFL in all-purpose yards (1,906) during the regular season as Kimble finished with 13 touchdown receptions. The key for the Roughnecks offense will be the play from the offensive line in giving protection to Hall and opening lanes for the running game. Look for RB Evin Jones to be a key factor in the offense as he recorded 16 rushing touchdowns during the regular season including two against Amarillo last week.
The Tri-Cities Fever enter the post-season with the number two rated offense in the IFL featuring QB Houston Lillard, who threw for 2,517 yards and 68 touchdowns during the regular season. The Fever hold a strong receiving corp featuring Joey Hew Len and Oliver Young. Hew Len leads the team with 72 receptions for 848 yards and 25 touchdowns as Young recorded 59 receptions and 20 touchdown receptions during the regular season. RB/WR Dennis Kennedy will be an important factor as he leads the team in rushing yards and touchdowns with eight, and Kennedy caught 40 passes with nine touchdown receptions during the regular season.
The Roughnecks defensive unit will look to get pressure on QB Houston Lillard up front on the defensive line featuring Jeramie Richardson, Jermaine Blakely, and Ronnie Mason. The linebackers will play a key role against the rushing attack, however the key match-up will be the Roughnecks secondary versus the Fever receivers. Look for Anthony Beck, Marrio Norman, Derrick Boyd, and Clarence Wright all to play essential parts in defending the pass. The Roughnecks defense enters the playoffs ranked first in yards allowed per game and first in total interceptions.
Game Time / Location: 7:05 p.m. (PST) / 9:05 p.m. (CST) kickoff - Toyota Center, Kennewick, WA
Broadcast: 95.1 BOB FM (6:40 p.m. (PST) / 8:40 p.m. (CST) pregame show start time)
Online: BOB FM - www.boblivesintexas.com / B2 Networks - www.b2livetv.com
Next Game: The winner of the first round playoff match-up will face either the Colorado Ice or the Fairbanks Grizzlies in the Intense Conference Semi-Finals
Indoor Football League Stories from June 17, 2011
- 2011 IFL Year End Awards - Amarillo Venom
- 2011 IFL Award Winners Announced - IFL
- 2011 IFL Playoffs Round One Preview - IFL
- Vidswap.Com Week 17 Players of the Week Named - IFL
- Week 17 IFL Recap - IFL
- Green Bay Blizzard Named 2011 IFL Franchise of the Year - Green Bay Blizzard
- Playoff Game Preview: Roughnecks at Tri-Cities Fever - West Texas Roughnecks
- Fever Players Nominated for League MVP - Tri-Cities Fever
- 2011 IFL Playoffs Begin this Weekend - IFL
- 2012 Season Tickets Available for Renewal - Sioux Falls Storm
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