Raptors ready for UIF playoffs
July 29, 2005 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Tennessee Valley Raptors are taking a cool approach heading into tonight's United Indoor Football playoff game against the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Freedom.
Already handcuffed by injuries and facing the league's top-seeded team, eighth-seeded Raptors coach Dick Adams says that his squad simply has nothing to lose as it gets set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Memorial Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on WUMP-AM 730.
"Our final game of the season was nothing write home about, but that's history now,'' said Adams, whose team capped a 6-9 campaign two weeks ago with a 36-18 home loss to Omaha.
"These guys have continued to work hard and I've seen some good things. We will be missing some familiar faces, but we've brought some new guys in that look pretty sharp. I've said all along that we could beat any team in this league and now we have a chance to prove it against the best. It should be fun."
The Raptors will be playing without fullback/linebacker Keith Glover, safety David Knott and lineman Anthony Harris due to injuries. Newcomer and indoor and arena veteran Derric Coakley will play fullback in Glover's place, while former Vanderbilt mainstay Matt Clay will take Harris' spot on the defensive line.
Prior to the regular season-ending disappointment against Omaha, the Raptors had won three of five games. Quarterback Chris Gunn, a former UNA and Alabama A&M standout, claimed the starting job five games into the season and has rushed for a team-high 250 yards and seven touchdowns. He's also completed 100 of 180 passes for 1,000 yards with 18 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Wide receiver Luke McArdle, out of Georgetown, leads the Raptors with 59 catches for 687 yards and 13 touchdowns and ex-Alabama A&M star Nicholas Wells has 42 receptions for 412 yards and 10 touchdowns.
McArdle is also third in the UIF with an average of 130.9 all-purpose yards a game and third in kickoff returns with an average of 20.7 and three touchdowns.
The Tennessee Valley defense has been led all season long by ex-A&M linebackers Wesley Bynum Fernandez Shaw. Bynum has recovered from a late season arm injury and is second on the team with 77 tackles , while Shaw has 73 tackles, 18.5 for loss and is second league wide with 11.5 sacks.
The Freedom (14-2) rolled to the UIF's best record and has won four straight games, the final two being 44-34 and 41-31 victories during an away and home series against Ohio Valley.
Former Illinois running back Rocky Harvey leads the Freedom with over 1,000 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns, while ex-Northern Michigan quarterback Bryan White has thrown for 35 touchdowns and 1,500 yards. Wide receiver Jeremy Dutcher leads the Freedom with 49 receptions for 645 yards and 16 touchdowns.
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United Indoor Football Association Stories from July 29, 2005
- Raptors roll at Ft. Wayne - Tennessee Valley Raptors
- Sioux City Bandits Post-Season Awards Party at Tailgators - Sioux City Bandits
- Raptors ready for UIF playoffs - Tennessee Valley Raptors
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