So Close
April 17, 2006 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
RiverCity Rage News Release
According to RiverCity Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt "the ball just didn't bounce our way tonight, and it's a tough loss to take, but from a fan's standpoint you couldn't have asked for a better game."
Had the ball bounced the right way on the final play of the game on Saturday night, the Rage might have walked away from Savvis Center perfect so far. As it was, a Clay Groefsema pass in the end zone was tipped high in the air by Rage running back Sha-Ron Edwards, and a diving Corey Bethany saw it fall just inches from his grasp. No touchdown, no p-a-t attempt for the tie, no two point conversion attempt for the win, and no longer undefeated in 2006.
The Billings Outlaws used the passing and rushing of quarterback Chris Dixon to defeated the Rage 65-58 and improve to 4-1 on the year. The Rage suffered the first regular season loss since 2004 and fell to 3- 1 on the season and will play the Cincinnati Marshals on Saturday night at the U.S. Bank Arena.
Down 16-0 in the first five minutes (two Dixon TD passes and a safety) and 23-6 at the end of the first quarter, the Rage, according to Wyatt "started too slow and had to play catch-up football most of the night, but I was proud of our players efforts. They never gave up and even grabged a lead in the third quarter. We just couldn't pull the plug."
A Sha-Ron Edwards 5 yard touchdown run and a Groefsema TD pass and two point conversion hookup with Moses Regular pulled the Rage to within 8 at halftime, 44-38. After Groefsema hit Bethany with an 11 scoring strike early in the third quarter, the Rage took the lead for the first time in the game when Sha- Ron Edwards found the end zone on a 3 yard run . But a 15 yard touchdown run from Dixon, coupled with a 22 yard TD air-out to wide receiver Robert Reed offset a Groefsema 2 yard QB sneak for a TD and with the score tied at 58, Ali Culpepper's 17 yard scoot into the end zone with 40 seconds to play gave Billings the win. The Rage drive ended with the tipped pass falling short in the end zone as time expired.
Dixon finished with 13 completions in 21 attempts, good for 175 yards. He found an array of receivers to throw to, finishing up with 6 touchdown passes in the game. A double threat all evening, he rushed 6 times for 55 yards and one TD.
Rage quarterback Clay Groefsema was 25 of 41, good for 229 yards and 4 touchdowns. Rage wide receiver Moses Regular had his best game of the season, hauling in 12 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Rage running back Sha-Ron Edwards rushed for 50 yards on 7 carries, scoring 3 touchdowns.
The Rage still lead the Atlantic North division with a record of 3-1 on the year. Tennessee is second with a record of 2-2, followed by Cincinnati at 2-2 and the Dayton Bulldogs round out the division at 1-2 in 2006.
The Rage will play the Cincinnati Marshals on Saturday night at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati. Kick-Off is 6:30PM CST and can be heard on KJFF Radio1400 and on-line at kjff.com.
The RiverCity Rage is part of the 24 team National Indoor Football League, now in the seventh season of play. 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 in 2006, visit the team website at www.ragefootball.com
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QUOTES FROM RAGE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH MIKE WYATT
On the two forth quarter drives that stalled "We had two drives with the lead in that quarter and should have scored on one or both, but a motion penalty thwarted us and we had to attempt a long field goal. The second one, we just didn't get it in."
On Billings as a team "I said before the game they were a team with few weaknesses that could be exploited, and we found that to be true. Dixon (QB) is a threat as a runner and he finds his receivers well. It was a battle of two evenly matched teams and we just fell short, but I was proud of the way we played, not giving up and even having a chance to win at the end. I also have a feeling that Billings will be heard from again, in the playoffs."
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National Indoor Football League Stories from April 17, 2006
- Discounted Tickets Offered to College Students and Military Personnel - The Marshals
- So Close - RiverCity Rage
- And Then There Were Three - NIFL
- Rage Vehicle Hits the Streets - RiverCity Rage
- Maulers fall to Frenzy - Montgomery Bears
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