Sting Ready for Playoffs
June 2, 2011 - Ultimate Indoor Football League (UIFL)
Saginaw Sting News Release
The Dow Event Center will be rockin' on Friday night. It will be the site of the open- ing game of the UIFL Playoffs. Friday's game will have the feel of a championship game. The Saginaw Sting will take on the Northern Kentucky River Monsters in front of their hometown fans. The postseason match-up features two of the most explo- sive offenses in the league. Throughout the regular season, Northern Kentucky averaged 278.1 yards per game while the Sting averaged 253.1.
The Sting and River Monsters have not played since Week 12, when the Sting won 63-58. The two teams split their season series with each team winning at home. The teams won by a slim margin, prevailing by a single possession in their victories.
The total offensive yards were nearly even in their two games. Saginaw gained 654 yards on offense while Northern Kentucky had 657. Sting receiver Zac Nichols has
been a key receiver throughout the series. Nichols has caught 20 passes for 274 yards and seven touchdowns. His performance at Northern Kentucky where he recorded 181 yards stands as the second highest receiving yards in a single game. Northern Kentucky's top receiver in receiving yards has been Willie Idlette. He has caught twenty one passes for 268 yards.
Several of the league's top defenseman will play in Friday night's game. River Monsters' linebacker Jon D'Angelo leads the UIFL in tackles with 101 while Sting linebacker Phillip Smith is third with 86. Together, Northern Kentucky defensive lineman Tho- mas McKenzie and Luke Scarborough have recorded 24 sacks. They will look to chal- lenge Saginaw's strong offensive line who have only allowed eight sacks all season.
Be part of the excitement as the Sting kick off the postseason on Friday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m. You'll won't want to miss it.
After the final week of the regular season, the playoff match-ups are locked in. Prior to this weekend's games, the third seed in the UIFL re- mained vacant. Saginaw occu- pies the top seed while Eastern Kentucky and Northern Ken- tucky held the second and fourth seed respectively. Last week, Northern Kentucky dropped to the fourth spot after the league announced they had violated league rules, despite finishing the regular season as the UIFL's top team. The River Monsters will now play the Saginaw Sting on Fri- day, June 3 after the Sting overtook their top ranking. The game will be held at The Dow Event Center at 7:30 p.m.
The Johnstown Generals and the Huntington Hammer were fighting for the third seed. Johnstown had beaten the Canton Cougars Saturday night by a final score of 45-12. Their postseason lives de- pended on the outcome of the Sting and the Hammer the following day. Johnstown held the tiebreaker over Hunt- ington. Johnstown could only sit back and wait, hoping for a Sting victory.
On Sunday, the Hammer jumped out to a 16-0 lead. Because the Sting already se- cured home field advantage throughout the postseason, for the second straight week the Sting rested some of their play- ers. Saginaw managed to pull within one possession before the half, scoring 16 to Hunt- ington's 22 points. The Ham- mer knew what was at stake and continued to apply the pressure. Huntington held Saginaw to nine second half points while scoring 27 them- selves. Behind a key perform- ance from Hammer quarter- back Martevious Young in which he threw two touch- downs and ran for three, Hunt- ington topped Saginaw 49-25. Huntington clinched the final playoff spot, ending Johns- town season earlier than they had hoped. Huntington will face Eastern Kentucky Sunday, June 5 for a 4:30 p.m. kick-off.
Young was 18 of 25 for 191 yards. The Hammer's top receiver was Thomas Riley. Riley caught eight passes for 121 yards. Rodney Fritz led the Hammer defense with six tackles and two sacks.
Quarterback Tommy Jones did not suit up for the Sting. Receiver Andrew Beaver filled in as quarterback, completing 12 passes for 130 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, linebackers Phillip Smith and John Jacobs both had eight tackles. Smith had one sack and Jacobs recorded two tackles for a loss.
The four teams will compete for the opportunity to play in the inau- gural Ultimate Bowl I. The host city of the Ultimate Bowl I will be determined following this weekend's first round. The highest seed remaining will enter the history books as the first team to host the championship game.
There is still time to purchase your tickets for the Sting's opening round game against the River Monsters. Tickets are available at The Dow Event Center Box Office. See you at The Dow!
Player Spotlight: Shawn Horetski
Sting defensive lineman Shawn Horetski was born on January 22, 1985. Horetski grew up in Harbor Beach, Michigan and went on to play collegiate football at Saginaw Valley State University. Through- out his football career, Horetski has accumulated honors such as Honorable Mention All State O-D Line and Most Improved Defensive Player.
Horetski loves the competition and the intensity. He says that foot- ball is the greatest game. Horetski joined the Sting organization be- cause they gave him an opportunity to play football again. He had also heard good things about the team from a friend. What he likes most about the Sting is the team chemistry. Professional football has changed his life by giving him a challenge as well as a busy schedule. When asked what advice he would give to a younger football player, Horetski said, "It's the greatest and it's a relief from the real world. Play whistle to whistle. You never know when your done, so you need to play everyday like it's your last."
Off of the field, Horetski has a passion for working out, particularly doing strength competitions. Something most people may not know about him is that he wants to be a teacher and a coach.
Ultimate Indoor Football League Stories from June 2, 2011
- Sting Ready for Playoffs - Saginaw Sting
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
