Savvis Center Set For Battle Of Division Leaders
Published on May 4, 2006 under National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
RiverCity Rage News Release
Geared up for what RiverCity Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt calls "two of the tougher games on our schedule this season," the Atlantic North division leaders will get the first one this Friday night at Savvis Center. The Beaumont Drillers come to St. Louis for the team's third road game in as many weeks. The Texas-based team leads the Pacific South division of the NIFL with a record of 4-2. The Drillers are 3-0 at home, 1-2 on the road, and 4-1 in the division. Head Coach Alan Hafford's team split the last two road games, losing at Wyoming two weeks ago, before defeating the Twin City Gators in Monroe last weekend by the score of 48-40. Hafford says the stretch away from Texas has been tough. "Our trip to Wyoming, in particular, was rugged and most of the guys had not experienced anything like that before. We got beat up pretty bad, but managed to come back and win against the Gators. We know we face one of the better teams in the league this week, and we'll need a great effort from everyone to get the job done."
The Rage is 5-1 on the season, 2-1at Savvis, a perfect 3-0 away from home, and in the division. With a big game up in two weeks against Lakeland, Wyatt says all the concentration is on the Drillers, and there's no danger of his team looking past Friday night's contest. "Two big games are ahead, but the most important one is this weekend. The Drillers are a solid team, balanced with both the rush and the pass, and it's a team that can score points. We can match them score for score, but we'll need another big game from the defense this week, we'll need to force a turnover, and stop their special teams. We played a complete game against Arkansas last weekend, and we'll need another one Friday night to get win number six."
Statistically:
Scoring Offense: Rage is 2nd overall, averaging 61.6 ppg Beaumont is 9th, with 45.6 ppg
Scoring Defense: Rage ranks 8th, giving up 41.8 ppg Beaumont is 14th, with 45.4 ppg
Total Offense: Rage is tops in the NIFL with 430 rushing yards, 975 passing yards, and 43 touchdowns Beaumont is 11th, 330 rushing yards, 741 passing yards, and 29 touchdowns
Both teams are prolific in the all important Red-Zone, with the Rage leading the NIFL, scoring on 35 of 39 chances, good for 89.7%. The Drillers are right behind, capitalizing on 23 of 28 opportunities, good for an impressive 82.1%
They'll ground it out on Friday, as Drillers running back Roland Hayes is tied for the league lead in touchdowns (17), leads the NIFL in scoring (106 pts), and is the number seven rusher overall, averaging 59.2 yards per game. The Rage is led by Illinois State product Sha-ron Edwards, who ranks third in rushing (67.4 yards per game), has scored 13 TD's, and is seventh overall in scoring with 82 points in 2006.
Rage reserve quarterback Anthony Fisher will make his second start in place of the injured Clay Groefsemsa. Fisher, says Wyatt, "executed a great game plan last week against Arkansas. He complimented the strengths of the other players, mixed the plays well, read the defense and was on target with his passes. He didn't have to go out and win the game by himself with big plays. He got great protection from our offensive line and found the end zone three times. For a first start, it was all I could ask."
For the Drillers to win, Hafford says his team will "have to shut down the Rage passing game, control Edwards, and control the football." Two of his biggest concerns are "their speed and their man-to- man ability on both sides of the line. Give any of their receivers that first step and it's a quick six points. Their D-Line can rush the passer, and the backs stay with the other team's receivers well. They say it's a big game for them. Well, it's even bigger for us."
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QUOTES FROM RAGE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH MIKE WYATT (On Beaumont and the game on Friday)
"They come in with a winning record and lead their division, plus they have three of the best players in the league in Roland Hayes (running back), Damone Scott (quarterback) and Shane Winchester (linebacker). They're a disciplined football team and don't hurt themselves with turnovers. This is a tough test for us, and a game I've looked forward to for a while. We'll need to be ready from the opening kick- off. We can't afford to fall behind this team like we did against Billings two weeks ago (16-0 in the first 5 minutes of the game). We need to come out firing away, and have the home crowd behind us early on."
Friday night's game will feature Aflac Rally Towel Giveaway, free to the first 1500 fans through the gates. It's also Bite Me Bass Club Jersey Off The Back Night with scratch-off tickets being sold at Savvis. And it's RiverCity Rage Scout Night, with all scouts and their families receiving General Admission tickets for just $5
The RiverCity Rage is part of the 24 team National Indoor Football League, now in the seventh season of play in 2006. Tickets for all Rage home games at Savvis Center can be purchased on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or at Savvis Center box office. For all information on the RiverCity Rage, visit the team website at www.ragefootball.com
National Indoor Football League Stories from May 4, 2006
- Copperheads win comes in Big fashion - Texas Copperheads
- ThunderBolts-Gators Preview - Lakeland ThunderBolts
- Savvis Center Set For Battle Of Division Leaders - RiverCity Rage
- Bulldogs' venue to change - Dayton Bulldogs
- Bulldogs game against Osceola postponed - Dayton Bulldogs
- Commentary: NIFL daily buzz - OSC Original by Jerry Hewitt
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