Spokane visits Billings for final regular season game of 2016
June 23, 2016 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Spokane Empire News Release
Spokane Empire vs. the Billings Wolves
(Spokane Empire, Credit: Zach Edwards Photography)
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Empire (12-3) will go on the road for their final regular season game of the 2016 Indoor Football League season to take on the Billings Wolves (7-8) at Rimrock Auto Arena at Metra Park this Saturday, June 25th at 6:00 p.m. PT.
Spokane leads the regular season series over the Wolves 2-1. The lone loss took place in Week 4 in Billings. In their last two matchups in Spokane, the Empire outscored the Wolves 126-69.
Last week, the Wolves posted their highest point total of the season as they defeated the Tri-Cities Fever 67-23 in Billings. With Nebraska losing their Week 18 matchup against the Colorado Crush, Billings has clinched the second place seed in the Intense Conference and will host the Danger on July 9. The winner of that first round game will travel to Spokane to face the Empire in the Intense Conference Championship game.
While both teams have clinched at least one home game in the post-season, this week's matchup is an opportunity to close the regular season out with a victory and momentum going into playoffs.
Spokane's emphasis on Saturday will to not only get a win but to stay healthy as the team suffered another key injury last week. Wide receiver Carl Sims, who played in all 15 games this season and led the Empire with 71 receptions for 822 yards and 20 touchdowns, went down with a broken wrist and will miss the remainder of the season.
The Empire suffered their third overall loss and second of the regular season last weekend to Sioux Falls. After striking first on their opening drive of the game and then stopping the Storm in the red zone to position them to take a two-score lead, Sioux Falls recorded their first of five interceptions on the night. Spokane battled throughout the contest, but turnovers and 13 unanswered points to start the second half would create all the space the Storm needed to cruise on to a 59-35 victory.
Despite the rosters having some turnover for both teams over the past four weeks, statistically, they will face off in similar positions they were back on June 4 in Spokane when the Empire defeated the Wolves 51-41. Spokane is ranked fourth in scoring offense (52.9) while allowing only 44.9 points per game to their opponents (ranked third). Billings has maintained low-scoring affairs throughout the season by limiting their opponents to 41.7 points per game (ranked second) but have struggled on offense as they are ranked eighth in the IFL (40.5).
Cory Murphy will lead the Wolves into their final game of the regular season coming off a nine-touchdown performance last week against the Fever. Murphy completed 14-of-23 pass attempts for 224 yards and three touchdowns while adding 13 carries for 67 yards and six scores on the ground.
After the injury to running back Trevor Kennedy just a few weeks ago, Spokane activated Andrew Pierce from the refuse to report list (RTR). Due to the required activation period from RTR, Pierce is ineligible to play in this week's game but will be eligible for the playoffs in July. Defensive back Josh Ferguson will continue to serve as the primary option in the backfield with quarterback Charles Dowdell, but now with their leading receiver in Carl Sims out for the season, the Empire will look for other playmakers on the roster to step up.
Saturday's game will be available via radio on AM 700 ESPN with Larry Weir on the call. The pregame show will begin at 5:30 p.m. PT. The game can also be viewed online via IFLLive.TV.
Images from this story
 Spokane Empire vs. the Billings Wolves (Zach Edwards Photography) |
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