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Two good offenses square off in possible playoff preview

July 10, 2009 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
El Paso Generals News Release


EL PASO, TX. : Two teams playoff bound in the El Paso Generals and the San Angelo Stampede Express square off in the regular season finale on Saturday, July 11 from the San Angelo Coliseum. El Paso has already wrapped up the Lone Star Division Championship and a first round bye in the IFL playoffs. Arguably, the San Angelo Stampede Express have been the most surprising team in the Lone Star Division this season as they have booked a playoff spot for the first time since 2004. San Angelo will begin their post-season run on the road at Abilene on July 18 but as for right now they wrap up their regular season at home against the Generals.

El Paso is coming off a 51-43 win over the Rochester Raiders last Saturday. The Generals sealed the win when Jermaine Blakely recovered a fumble and returned it back 48 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. El Paso faces a dangerous Stampede Express team that is coming off a 82-75 win over the Corpus Christi Hammerheads. The dangerous factor about the Express is that the offense is clicking at the most crucial part of the season and QB Sonny Cumbie is playing lights out football having thrown for 38 touchdown passes with seven of those TD passes coming against Corpus last weekend.

The key element in this ball game will be the performances of the defense. Both offenses are playing great as of right now and one turnover or miscue could be the difference in the end result of the game. Look for El Paso's defense to pressure Sonny Cumbie especially with Ron Ellington and Naton Stewart. Ellington leads the Generals with 11.5 sacks this season and he is arguably the team's best pass rusher. The problem for El Paso is that Cumbie has a very quick delivery from the pocket and he will look to hook up with receivers Bobby Chase and Tarvarres Williams. Chase is averaging 71 yards receiving a game and he is second on the team with 12 touchdown receptions. Look for running back Voncarie Owens to be the key factor in the running game and on kick returns for San Angelo.

El Paso will try to over-match the Express with their high-powered offense featuring QB Tommy Jones. Jones is on track to throw for over 3,000 yards and as of right now he has 61 touchdown passes. The Generals offer quite possibly the best dual receiving package in DeAngelo Woodie and Lemans Casimier. Casimier has more receptions (69) but Woodie has more yards (1,017), and ironically both have 20 touchdown receptions. San Angelo will have to come after Jones with everything they got and that includes Jonathan Hamm and Clay Harrell. Hamm leads San Angelo with six sacks this season.

The key factor for this game will be generating turnovers and the team in most trouble will be the one whose offense will slow up first. Expect an exciting game that could be very much back and forth on the scoreboard. The Generals will have a bye week before their first playoff game on Sunday, July 26 as San Angelo will travel to Abilene next week for the first round of the playoffs.



Indoor Football League Stories from July 10, 2009


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