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UIF Sioux Falls Storm

Storm Head to Colorado to Face Ice

June 1, 2007 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Sioux Falls Storm News Release


Sioux Falls, SD - The Sioux Falls Storm of United Indoor Football (UIF) will head to Loveland, CO to do battle with the Colorado Ice (5-4) for the second time this season. The game, Saturday at the Budweiser Events Center, will be between the top two teams in the Western Conference.

The Ice is 4-1 on their home turf, with the lone loss coming to the Storm. The Storm and Ice met for the very first time back on May 5 with the Storm winning 49-20. The game is scheduled for an 8:35 p.m. Central kickoff. The game can be heard live on KELO 1320 AM Radio or by logging on to www.siouxfallsstorm.com and clicking on "Listen Live."

The Storm offense is having a terrific season, scoring the most points per game in the UIF with 48.8 points per game. As good as the offense has been, nobody has had a better season than third year running back Marques Smith. Smith has rushed for 430 yards and 19 touchdowns; he's also caught 19 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown. Smith also became the Storm's all-time leading rusher in franchise history when he surpassed former Storm running back Justin Bivins on May 19 vs. Omaha. Quarterback Terrance Bryant has led the team to the number two ranked total offense (247.1 ypg) and number three ranked passing offense (168.6 ypg) in the UIF. Bryant has thrown for 1,383 yards this season and has an impressive quarterback rating of 99.9. Wide receiver Allen Burrell has been a tremendous addition to the team this year. His 36 receptions for 507 yards and 10 touchdowns make him the Storm's leading receiver.

The defense has been dominant thus far allowing the fewest points (27.1 ppg) and yards (190.1 ypg) of any team in the UIF. Blackburn and the Storm defense carried the team to a 33-19 victory over Omaha on May 19. Blackburn earned UIF Week 9 Defensive Player of the Week honors with his 10.5 tackles and game-changing interception in the third quarter. The secondary played exceptional picking off four Beef passes. Defensive back Shannon Poppinga grabbed two interceptions, which brings his season total to five. The defense also held the Beef to under 100 yards passing.

The last time the Colorado Ice was in action, they defeated the Sioux City Bandits 21-12 in Loveland. The Ice's offense thrives off of running the pigskin. They average 85.6 yards rushing per game, which leads the UIF, and have the leading rusher in the UIF in running back Eugene Reed. Reed has rushed for 467 yards on 105 carries this season. Quarterback Matt Guiterrez has replaced Ryan Clement as the starting quarterback. Guiterrez has a record of 1-1 in two starts and is 28-48, passing for 238 yards and two touchdowns in those two starts. Tim Pope is the leading receiver with 24 catches for 252 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Ice has held its own on defense this year as only the Storm has given up fewer points and yards per game this season. Linebacker Ryan Palmer leads the charge for the defense with 55 tackles, which ranks sixth in the league. The pass defense ranks number two in the UIF and defensive back Travis Garcia has been the highlight of the secondary. Garcia leads the team in interceptions with five and leads the UIF in passes defended with 15. Defensive lineman Steve Frye leads the team in sacks tallying four.

The Storm's next opponent will be archrival Sioux City on June 9th. Sioux City will be making its second trip to the Sioux Falls Arena this season. The game will be "Blizzard's Birthday Celebration." Tickets can be obtained by visiting the Sioux Falls Arena box office, 1201 N. West Avenue, or any Ticketmaster outlet.

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