Rage face unknown quantity in home opener

March 22, 2006 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
RiverCity Rage News Release


They are still the Cincinnati Marshals, the team that shocked the RiverCity Rage last July in the opening round of the NIFL Playoffs. And like last year, the game is being played at Savvis Center. But that's just about where the likeness ends, as this year the Rage call Savvis ‘home' from the start, and the Marshals team ready to invade St. Louis on Sunday bears little comparison to the team that hustled out of town with an upset victory last year.

"It's a division game, and that's always important," says Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt, "and it's our home opener at Savvis and we need to get that undefeated streak at home started." Then the feeling that's lingered throughout the entire off season clouded his face, and he admitted that, "yeah, we owe them one. Especially here, with the game being played at Savvis Center. My guys, the fans, everybody will be up for this one."

Indeed!! With the Rage coming off an impressive opening game win in Katy last Saturday night, they've had the advantage of playing an opponent while the Marshals have the advantage of having seen game film of that Rage victory. All even-up, according to Wyatt. "We have nothing on them, no film, no common opponent, but they're the Cincinnati Marshals, in our division and coming to play us in the home opener. We'll take it from there!"

With new ownership, new management, a new head coach and only six retuning players from 2005, the Marshals have had to rebound from the loss of top players such as running back Rayshawn Askew, quarterback Brett Dietz, defensive back Ron Carpenter and kicker Jesse Palmer. That's a lot of firepower out the door, but Marshals head coach Steve Carpenter says he's confident those gaps are filled with players ready to pick it up, some with impressive backgrounds.

"We've signed two players with NFL experience and that's always a good start. My starting quarterback, Deontey Kenner, spent 2001 with the Baltimore Ravens and running back Troy Albea played three years with the Indianapolis Colts. And having played last season with the Ohio Valley Greyhounds, he (Albea) is no stranger to the indoor brand of football. I'm feeling good about the guys that have come in the picture, and they'll make an impression on this league. I've talked to both of them, and they're ready to start doing that this Sunday."

Added to the Marshals 2006 roster at wide receiver is Michael Larkin, the all time leading receiver at the University of Miami-Ohio, who played last season for the Louisville Fire in the AFL2. So re-vamped is this Marshals team with new talent that Carpenter says "four players who were on the roster last year couldn't even make the team this season due to the talent level. Yeah, it's a different team, but we'll be in the thick of things all year."

For the RiverCity Rage, it's business as usual from the offensive side of the football. One of the top scoring teams in the NIFL is back on track with the Rage second in NIFL scoring with 69ppg. Quarterback Clay Groefsema's highlight game from last Saturday (20 of 27, 218yds. 4TD's and 74.1pct) finds the team second in pass offense, and number one in rushing offense. The Rage is also the top NIFL team in total offense, running 56 plays last week for 319 total yards, an average of 5.7 yards per play, and racking up 9 touchdowns. Red-Zone offense was an 83.3% rate, with the team finding the end zone 5 of 6 times against the Copperheads defense.

And it should all add up to a stellar rematch this Sunday in the all- important home opener at Savvis Center. "For a lot of reasons, everyone in this organization has waited for this moment for a long time. The players and coaches, and I'm sure, the fans because of the playoff loss. For the owners and the front office management, the Savvis Center has been the focus since the beginning of July, and after all the hard work this past eight months, we'll be able to walk proud on that field with our honoring of America's heroes that afternoon, ready to serve notice to the rest of the teams in the league that this is our house, and ours alone. We're ready!!"

Kick-Off for the Rage/Marshals game at Savvis is set for 3pm Sunday afternoon. The game can be heard on AM 1400 KJFF Radio and audio-streamed on line at www.ragefootball.com and www.kjff.com.

The RiverCity Rage is part of the 24 team National Indoor Football League, beginning the sixth season of play in 2006. For ticket information, log on to ticketmaster.com or purchase tickets for all Rage home games at the Savvis Center box office.



National Indoor Football League Stories from March 22, 2006


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