Showdown At Savvis - Billings vs. Rage
April 13, 2006 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
RiverCity Rage News Release
It's showdown time Friday night at Savvis Center as the undefeated RiverCity Rage of the National Indoor Football League put a 3-0 season mark on the line against the 3-1 Billings team in what Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt calls "our biggest test so far this year."
"We're hitting the toughest part of our schedule and Billings is a great chance for us to see where we are as a football team. They've come off a win just this past Monday against the Lincoln Capitols. The other two wins for them have been against less than stellar teams and the defeat was a close one (3 points) at the hands of the current NIFL champion Tri-Cities Fever. It'll be deep in the game on Friday before we really get a chance to see what kind of team they have and how they stack up against us. No doubt, it'll be a tough challenge and a game we need to win. I'm glad we get them at home."
The Rage enter the game at the top of the Atlantic North division in the NIFL, with wins over the Katy Copperheads and the Tennessee Riversharks on the road, and crushing the Cincinnati Marshals in the home opener at Savvis Center.
It's an offensive show when the Rage hit the turf, led by quarterback Clay Groefsema, 43 of 66 on the year with only one interception and 10 touchdown passes. Wide receiver Hurtis Chinn has 22 catches on the season, good for 306 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's scored one TD rushing, and is the team leader with 12 touchdowns and 72 points in 2006. Running back Sha-Ron Edwards has rushed for 204 yards in the 3 games thus far, with 46 carries and 4 TD's.
Billings brings some impressive players as well, with quarterback Chris Dixon, the second leading passer in the NIFL. When linebacker Travis Salter plays on Friday, fans will see, according to Wyatt "two of the best linebackers in the league, with Salter and Terrell Washington (Rage). Both are aggressive, know how to pressure the quarterback, and really make things happen defensively." Salter's counterpart at LB is Eugene Phillips, who leads the NIFL with 5 sacks on the year.
Kick-off is slated for 7pm and the game can be heard on KJFF 1400 Radio, and on-line at www.kjff.com
Friday night is the âRage for a Cure' game, with proceeds from the game benefiting the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the Washington University School of Medicine. A special pre-game ceremony will honor cancer survivors from the metro St. Louis Area.
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 can be purchased on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or at Savvis Center box office. For all information on the RiverCity Rage of the NIFL, visit the team website at www.ragefootball.com
Quotes from Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt
On facing Billings in the fourth game of the season
"We were 3-0 last season when we went to Tri-Cities and lost. Part of the problem that game was hurting ourselves with turnovers, and we've gotten off to a good start in turnover margin so far this year. We'll focus on that, holding on to the football, not making mental mistakes, not giving the ball away to stop a drive. That's the difference between good and great teams, and we know where we want to be in regards to that. This will be a barometer to go by, and while we need to play that way anywhere, I'm glad we have this game at home in front of our fans at Savvis."
National Indoor Football League Stories from April 13, 2006
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- Bulldogs To Take On Riversharks - Dayton Bulldogs
- NIFL Week Six Preview - NIFL
- Showdown At Savvis - Billings vs. Rage - RiverCity Rage
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