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UIF Sioux Falls Storm

Storm to battle the Bandits for the third time this season

July 15, 2005 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Sioux Falls Storm News Release


The Sioux Falls Storm of United Indoor Football (UIF) will travel to Sioux City, IA, this Friday, July 15, 2005, to take on the North Division leading Sioux City Bandits (12-2) with a 7:00 PM kickoff. This will be the third meeting between the two teams this season and first meeting in the Tyson's Event Center in Sioux City, IA. Thus far the Bandits have the 2-0 lead in the series by defeating the Storm both times they visited the "Storm Shelter" this season. Both teams have already clinched a play-off birth for the 2005 season of the first ever UIF play-offs. The only difference is that Sioux City may be the one or two seed and Sioux Falls could fall anywhere between four and six. With a victory over the Bandits, and with a loss by the Omaha Beef as the travel to play the Tennessee Valley Raptors (Hunstville, AL), the Storm will take the fourth seed and Omaha will receive the fifth. The Bandits have led the North Division for the majority of the season with the Storm (8-7) nipping at their heels the entire way. With the third game in this series still to come, whoever takes this victory will have all the momentum needed to enter the play-offs with a full head of steam.

The first game was on Saturday, April 16, 2005, at the Sioux Falls Arena. The Storm entered the game with a 2-1 record with their only loss to the Omaha Beef and victories over Black Hills and Lexington. The Bandits were on a 3-0 win streak by defeating Black Hills, Tennessee Valley, and Omaha. Right from the get go the Storm looked as if they were ready to play and the Bandits left their game back in Sioux City. Sioux Falls took the first score of the game and kept it for more than ¾ of the contest. Going into the second half the Storm was up 20-18 and came out in the third with more fire and energy than the first half. Sioux Falls out scored Sioux City 13-0 in the third, and gave the Storm a 33-18 lead into the fourth. In the first two and half minutes of the fourth, the Storm took their biggest lead of the night, 40-24. Then the Bandits finally turned on the juice and made a run, over the next thirteen minutes the Bandits managed to score 26 points and the Storm only put up three. With 14 seconds left in the game, the Bandits took their first lead of the game of 44-43 and ended the session with one more TD by Deron Rush to make the final, 50-43.

In the second game which took place on Saturday, June 25, 2005, again at the Sioux Falls Arena, the Storm came in with a 7-5 record and the Bandits were on top of the league with a 10-2 record. This time the Bandits came out with the early lead and the Storm was playing catch-up the entire session. Going into the second half, the Storm was down 9-20, but managed to make a come back by outscoring the Bandits 25-18 in the second half. It was too little to late, as the Storm came within one point just 50 seconds into the fourth quarter, bring the score to 31-32. The Bandits managed to hang onto the lead and win with a 38-34 victory.

In the first game, Sioux Falls had quarterback, Terrance Bryant, as the starter. Bryant threw 13 of 21 passes for 115 yards and one interception. In the second game, Head Coach, Kurtiss Riggs, went with second year quarterback, Rob Fagnan. Fagnan had similar stats of 11 of 21 passing for 120 yards and two touchdown passes, but managed to throw three interceptions in the contest. Jerry Davis combined for 24 carries for 70 yards rushing and three touchdowns in the two games. "Mr. Utility," James Jones had 10 carries for 42 yards and four touchdowns. Jones also had 10 receptions for 99 yards and 10 kick returns for a total of 201 yards. Between the two games, Jones totaled an impressive 342 net yards against the Bandits this season. Defensively, Justin Landis has had the best results stopping the Bandits. Landis has totaled 12 solo tackles and 9 assisted tackles, along with one interception against the Bandits this year. Former Bandit, Trice Crump has chipped in with 9 solos, 4 assisted, and one interception.

The Sioux Falls versus Sioux City rivalry is one for the books. Since both teams have been in existence back in 2001, the teams have split a 5-5 record all the way through the two games this season. The average margin of victory has only been 9.8 points a game, so every meeting has been much like the two this season. Sioux Falls has managed to recruit such players as All-Star kicker, Adam Hicks, running back, Jerry Davis, and defensive back, Trice Crump. All three of these well rounded athletes started their career with the Bandits and have found a new home with the Sioux Falls Storm.

The Storm (8-7) is coming off a much needed and dominating win this past weekend to the Black Hills Red Dogs (1-14) in a 65-14 victory. The Storm was led by running back Marques Smith, who had 23 carries for 105 yards and an amazing 6 touchdowns, which ties the Storm single game record for rushing TD's. Quarterback, Terrance Bryant had a solid game of completing 9 of his 12 throws for 77 yards and no turnovers. Bryant was coming off a solid performance the week before where he was named the UIF offensive player of the week for week 16 when he threw for 219 yards on 20 of 30 passing and four TD's in a tough loss to the Omaha Beef, 49-44.

Individual tickets for Storm home play-off games will be announced soon and will be able to be purchased at the Arena box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or any Ticketmaster location. For information on season ticket options or any questions, please contact the Storm Front Office at 605-332-4225 or visit the team's website at www.siouxfallsstorm.com.



United Indoor Football Association Stories from July 15, 2005


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