Raptors ready for Sioux Falls
June 18, 2005 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
HUNTSVILLE-Defense hasn't been a problem for the Tennessee Valley Raptors as of late, but their offense has struggled.
It's a problem that still has Raptors coach Dick Adams perplexed. Tennessee Valley has moved the football with consistency at times only to collapse in the red zone or miss a field goal.
"The effort continues to be there for us and we've given ourselves every chance to make plays and score points," Adams said. "Our offense just has to step up and reward our defense. Now our defense hasn't been perfect and it's still giving up a big play or two that's hurt us, but I can't complain.
"We've got some athletes that work hard each practice. It's just not translating into points. And things aren't getting any easier for us. We've got a brutal stretch ahead."
The Raptors (3-7) close out a four-game homestand against the Sioux Falls Storm tonight at the Von Braun Center. Kickoff is set for 7:30 and the first 1,500 children 18 and under will receive a Raptors Kids Cap.
Sioux Falls, which trails Sioux City by two games in United Indoor Football's Northern Division, is coming off a 61-43 loss at Lexington. Sioux Falls had won four straight games before that setback.
"We match up well with Sioux Falls and they're built a lot like us" with a good defense up front and a mobile quarterback," said Adams, whose team is 3-2 at home this season.
Former Oregon State quarterback Terrance Bryant has thrown for 1,490 yards and 24 touchdowns to lead a Storm offense that ranks third in the UIF in scoring and second in passing offense.
The Raptors trail second-place Evansville (5-5) by a pair of games in the South Division and currently hold the top wild-card spot. The top two teams from the UIF's three divisions earn playoff spots along with the teams that have the league's seventh and eighth best record.
Tennessee Valley was beaten 22-20 by visiting Ohio Valley last weekend after kicker Steven Lee's 45-yard field goal try fell short as time wound down.
"We're not out of it," Adams said. "We've just got to make a run for it. We've got five games left and we're capable of winning all of them if we come out and play at a high level."
Former North Alabama and Alabama A&M quarterback Chris Gunn continues to direct the Raptors' offense, while ex-Georgetown star Luke McArdle and former Michigan State receiver Durocher Miller have seven touchdowns catches each.
Miller is second in the league with 54 receptions and McArdle is fourth with an average of 122.1 all-purpose yards a game.
Tennessee Valley's defense is paced by defensive back Wesley Bynum's 72.5 tackles, while fellow Alabama A&M alumnus Fernandez Shaw has 11.5 sacks.
New face: Adams announced Friday that he had signed defensive back Arnie McPhee, who is coming off a three-year career at NAIA power Northwestern Oklahoma State. He had 142 tackles and 13 interceptions for the Rangers from 2002-04 and should provide added depth to a secondary that's been without Henry Freeman since he suffered a season-ending neck injury April 23 at Ohio Valley.
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United Indoor Football Association Stories from June 18, 2005
- Rough Riders win over Fire Ants - Peoria Rough Riders
- Raptors ready for Sioux Falls - Tennessee Valley Raptors
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