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SIFL The Monday After: Fourcade Sees Big Picture At 3-0

May 11, 2009 - Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) News Release


All his years in football have taught John Fourcade many things. One of them is that the only thing a 3-0 start means is that a team won't finish 2-and-whatever.

Combined with Louisiana's loss at Austin, Saturday's 31-23 over Houma moved the Acadiana Mudbugs to a 3-0 mark and into first place in the Southern Indoor Football League standings. The former New Orleans Saints QB is only allowing a little enjoyment when it comes to the start.

``Nobody wins championships by being in the fourth week,'' Fourcade said. ``"It's not how we start but how we finish. Still a lot of football to be played.''

The Mudbugs are one of only two remaining undefeated teams remaining in the four indoor leagues, joining the Continental Indoor Football League's Chicago Slaughter at 9-0.

Beyond The Upset

Austin's 56-53 over the Louisiana Swashbucklers cost Turfcats GM Ron Oswalt his hair and the Swashbucklers the sport's longest active winning streak.

Dating back to 2006, LA reeled off 20 consecutive wins, including a perfect 16-0 in 2008 to win their second Intense Football League title.

Louisiana's streak was beginning to rival that of the Sioux Falls Storm, who won an unprecedented 40 in a row from 2005-208 in the UIF.

Hopes For Houma

After falling behind big in their first two game, the Houma Conquerors enjoyed their first lead of the season Saturday at Acadiana ... and led at halftime ... and led in the third quarter before the Mudbugs pitched a fourth-quarter shutout and scored the game's final two touchdowns.

``For once in this early season, we were able to get into the game early on, and that helped us a lot,'' Houma coach Franklin Thomas told Houma Today. ``I think we were close to playing 60 minutes, something that we haven't done all year long."

The Conquerors are 0-3, but QB Omar Haughbook has the league's best efficiency rating (101.4) and Gerald Landry (20-162) and Clevan White (19-178) are 1-2 in receptions.

STATS AND STUFF:

Three of LA's Sammy Knight's six touchdowns have been off returns. He and Bucs kicker Tommy Hebert are tied for the scoring lead with Acadiana's Anthony Parks at 36 points; that's how important special teams are ... Austin QB Deron Ellis is the league's leading rusher with 134 yards. He also had the league's best passing effort to date when he went 12 of 15 against Louisiana. Runner or Passer? More Bi-polar antics from Austin: The Turfcats and Bucs went from the league's lowest scoring period (0) in the first to the highest (62 combined) in the second.

WEEK 4 GAME MVPS:

GAME 7 -- AUSTIN 56, LOUISIANA 53

OFFENSE -- Darrick Wallace (A) DEFENSE - JR Turner (A) LINE- Joshua Sooter (A) SPECIAL TEAMS -- Sammy Knight (L)

GAME 8 -- ACADIANA 31, HOUMA 23

OFFENSE -- Johnny Williams (A) DEFENSE - Kemmie Lewis (A) LINE- TBA

(A) SPECIAL TEAMS -- Broc Menard (A)

Wallace, Turner, Williams and Lewis were selected as the nominees for the VIDSWAP.com SIFL Player of The Week, which is determined by fan balloting on www.southernifl.com . Voting concludes at 11:59 CST Tuesday.

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Southern Indoor Football League Stories from May 11, 2009


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