UIF Week 15 Preview

Published on June 30, 2006 under United Indoor Football Association (UIF) News Release


Omaha, NE - The first three spots in the 2006 UIF post season have the Sioux Falls Storm, Lexington Horsemen and the Rock River Raptors. With three positions left, it's going to be a cat fight for a seed. The Evansville BlueCats, Omaha Beef and Ohio Valley Greyhounds are all currently tied for the final three spots and have the Bloomington Extreme and Sioux City Bandits just one game out of the picture. The Ft. Wayne Freedom, after a big win last weekend, still remain in contention. This week will feature four Saturday night match-ups and one Sunday matinee in Sioux City.

BLOOMINGTON EXTREME (5-8), at SIOUX FALLS STORM (13-0) - Bloomington comes into the game desperately needing a win to stay in the playoff hunt. The Extreme have dropped three in a row and are currently on the outside looking in on the playoffs. Linebackers Winston Taylor and Lamar Baker are the only Extreme players in the top 25 in the league in tackles. Newcomer Quince Holman leads the team in sacks with 4.5, despite only playing in six games. Sioux Falls can secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a victory over the Extreme. If the Storm's turnover margin of +16 stands, it will set a new UIF record. Sioux Falls has only turned the ball over 15 times this season, which is the lowest in the league. Sioux Falls has only allowed 22 touchdowns through the air this season. The next closest team (Omaha) has given up 32. Game time is slated for 7:05 pm CST at the Sioux Falls Arena, "Storm Shelter," this Saturday.

EVANSVILLE BLUECATS (6-7), at OHIO VALLEY GREYHOUNDS (6-7) - Both teams come into this game in the thick of the playoff hunt. Evansville, Ohio Valley and Omaha are tied and would all be in the playoffs if the season ended last week. Whichever team wins this game can clinch a playoff spot with losses by Sioux City and Bloomington. Evansville is on a three-game win streak and have played themselves into great shape for a run at United Bowl II. Aaron Leak and Dale Jennings have proven to be a powerful tandem coming out of the BlueCats backfield. The quarterback-running back combo has combine for 602 yards on the ground and 25 touchdowns. Despite losing their last two, the Greyhounds still have one of the most feared offenses in the UIF. Quarterback Matt Kohn has won the UIF Offensive Player of the Week honor four times this season and is only 145 yards from breaking the UIF record for most passing yards in a season, which is currently held by former Horsemen QB turned GM, Dusty Bonner. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm EST at Wesbanco Arena in Wheeling, W.V.

LEXINGTON HORSEMEN (11-2), at FT. WAYNE FREEDOM (4-9) - With a win, Lexington can clinch a first-round bye in the UIF Playoffs and it is still possible for the Horsemen to secure the #1 seed. It is a longshot, but Sioux Falls must lose both of their remaining games, while Lexington wins both. Then with tie breakers, the Horsemen could edge the Storm. Lexington wide reciever Harry Lewis is on pace to break the UIF record for most pass receptions in a season. Lewis leads the league with 64 receptions. The record is held by Jeremy Dutcher, who caught 72 passes for Fort Wayne last season. Fort Wayne is still in the mix for playoff contention as well. Winning their final two games could put Fort Wayne in a tie for the final playoff spot and tiebreakers could put them in. Freedom wide reciever Adrian Reese is currently tied for second in the UIF in pass receptions with 60. War Memorial Coliseum in Ft. Wayne will host the game and kick-off is slated for 7:30 pm EST.

ROCK RIVER RAPTORS (9-4), at PEORIA ROUGH RIDERS (0-13) - Rock River got another heart-pounding victory over Bloomington last week. The Raptors have beat Bloomington three times this season by a combined 13 points. The Raptors still have an outside shot at the #2 seed in the UIF Playoffs and earn a first-round bye. Rock River must first win their final two games and Lexington must lose their final two in order for the Raptors to secure the #2 spot. Rock River has three receivers in the top 15 in the league. Ade Adeyemo is seventh in the league with 50 receptions, Jeremiah Thompson ranks 13th with 39 and Tyrece Butler ranks 15th with 37. The Raptors scored their most points of the season in their Week 5 victory over Peoria, 70-37. This game marks the home finale for Peoria as they are on the road next week in Sioux City. Carlos Lattimore and Dominic Payne continue to be impact players for the Rough Riders defense. Lattimore is fourth on the team in tackles with 25.5 after playing in only three games. Payne is second on the team in tackles with 32 and is second in sacks with 4.5 despite playing in only four games this season. Game time is 7:05 pm CST at the Carver Arena in Peoria, IL.

OMAHA BEEF (6-7), at SIOUX CITY BANDITS (5-7) - The loser of this game will be in rough shape as they enter the final week of the season. Omaha can clinch a playoff spot with a victory and a Bloomington loss to Sioux Falls. The Beef and the Bandits have played two epic games so far this season with each team winning on the final possesion on the road. The Beef fell in a disappointing loss to Evansville last week in a game where the Beef scored their least amount of points in the season. Quarterback Andy Majors was without one of his favorite targets in Jason Mitchell. Majors threw for only 70 yards and two interceptions in the game. Sioux City quarterbacks have thrown the second most interceptions in the league and could be without Hosea Harris for the rest of the season. Troy Travis played a decent 2nd half last week in replacement of Harris by throwing for 135 yards and two touchdowns. This is the only game not played on Saturday this week. The Sunday matinee will begin at 3:05 pm CST at the Tyson's Event Center in Sioux City, IA.

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United Indoor Football Association Stories from June 30, 2006


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