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Raptors Sign Former Grey Cup Champion, Defending UIF Rookie of the Year

March 2, 2006 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Rock River Raptors News Release


Rockford, Ill. - With the clock winding down to the start of the Rock River Raptors' 2006 season opener, head coach Rik Richards today announced the signing of two players to his roster. Former Grey Cup Champion, quarterback Ben Sankey (Wake Forest) and the defending United Indoor Football (UIF) league's Rookie of the Year, Luke McCardle (Georgetown) have joined the fold.

Both Sankey and McCardle played for the Tennessee Valley Raptors last season.

"If there is one thing I've learned about offense in the indoor game, it's that everything starts with a solid quarterback," said Richards. "Ben (Sankey) has the skills and presence as a proven leader that I am looking for to guide our offense. Luke McCardle had an outstanding season a year ago and I know that the growth from the first-year to the second is only going to make him a more dangerous threat in our offensive set."

Sankey, a 6-2 and 215-lbs., Chicago native, completed 146 of 247 passes (59.10 percent) for 1,684 yards and 10 touchdowns, with 10 interceptions as the starting quarterback at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., in 1999. He also rushed 165 times for 461 yards for a 2.8 yard per carry average, scoring five touchdowns.

He capped his career as a Demon Deacon in the Aloha Bowl in 1999 as he completed 13 of 22 passes for 188 yards and a TD to be named the game's most outstanding player as Wake thumped Arizona State, 23-3. The win capped WFU's first winning season since 1992.

Following his collegiate career, Sankey signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers in 2000, staying with the organization through the preseason. After his release, he headed north of the border, latching on with the Calgary Stampeders. In 2001, Sankey completed 93 of 156 passes for 1,255 yards and 14 touchdowns, leading Calgary to the Canadian Football League Grey Cup Championship.

Riding his success in Canada, Sankey signed with the Houston Texans in 2002 as a free-agent, again making it through preseason before being released. He returned to Canada for the next two seasons, playing for both the Montreal Allouettes (2003) and Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2004).

Sankey returned state-side in 2005, playing for the Tennessee Valley Raptors. In last season's UIF playoffs, he led the eighth-seeded Raptors in a 57-22 upset-win over top-seeded Fort Wayne, completing 20 of 29 passes for 250 yards and five touchdowns. He nearly pulled off his second upset, tossing four touchdowns against the eventual-champion, Sioux City Bandits, in the semifinals, but a late rally by the home-standing Bandits propelled them to the championship.

McArdle, a 6-0, 190-lbs. receiver who played collegiate football at Georgetown, finished the 2005 regular season with a league-leading 70 receptions for 687 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also returned 52 kickoffs for 1,074 yards and three touchdowns. McArdle ranked third in several UIF statistical categories, including an average of 50.7 receiving yards per game, 135.9 all-purpose yards per contest, and 21.1 yards per kick return. He also ranked fourth in the league with an average of 4.38 catches per outing.

As a senior at Georgetown, McArdle caught 47 passes for 802 yards (17.1 average) and six touchdowns. In 2003, he had 63 catches for a Hoya-record 1,118 yards to go along with 12 touchdowns. He also led the nation with 184.6 all-purpose yards a game. During his four-year career, McArdle caught 153 passes for 2,462 yards and 22 touchdowns, averaged 22.9 yards on kickoff returns and 10.6 on punt returns.

Rock River opens its 2006 season on the road, visiting the Evansville Bluecats on March 25 before returning home to the friendly confines of the Metro Centre to host the defending champs, Sioux Falls, on April 1 at 7:30 pm. For Raptor ticket information call 965-7000.

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