Utah Warriors Host Black Hills Red Dogs This Saturday
April 15, 2004 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Utah Warriors News Release
This is the first of two meeting between Pacific West rivals Utah Warriors and Black Hills Red Dogs. Last season Black Hills, then the Rapid City Red Dogs, handed Utah its first loss in franchise history with a 48-42 win in South Dakota. This season the Red Dogs are off to a 0-4 start and are trying to get things going. Utah returns home after going 1-1 in their last two games, both on the road. Utah won last Friday night 63-56 in Casper, Wyoming against the Cavalry. The Red Dogs lost at home to the Billings Outlaws 39-46 last Saturday night.
Utah is averaging 51.8 points per game this season while allowing just 40.2 to their opponents. The Warriors are being outgained by their opponents 261.8-to-222.8, with the big difference coming in the passing game. Utah opponents are avaraging 199.8 passing yards per game while the Warriors are only throwing for 154.0 yards per game. Black Hills is being outscored 52.5-to-31.0 per game this season. They have allowed more than 45 points in a game three times, including a two game stretch where they allowed 66 points in each. They have allowed their opponets 303.8 yards of total offense per game, and have only managed 171.5 yards of their own.
Utah is led by quarterback Doug Smith and his 539 passing yards. Smith is 3-0 as a starter for the Warriors and has a quarterback rating of 109.29. He missed the Warriors game in Billings with an infection in his throwing arm.
Eric DeGraff has assumed the quarterback position and has been an improvement over Terrance Bryant. DeGraff is 27x49 for 275 yards and five touchdowns in his time at QB. Bryant went 27x52 for 289 yards and only one touchdown. Both have thrown three interceptions.
Last season Omar Bacon ran for 330 yards over the entire season. In four games this year Bacon has 144 yards. He is averaging 2.8 yards per carry and has scored seven touchdowns rushing. Smith has added 87 yards on the ground.
Mike Scott leads the Red Dogs rushing attack with 98 yards and five touchdowns. Scott is averaging 2.7 yards per carry and 24.5 per game.
Eight different players have at least one reception for the Warriors this season, led by Emmett White's 18. White also leads the team with 170 yards and six touchdowns. Cody Jamison has 11 catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Rigell has grabbed eight balls for 84 yards and scored three times.
Mario Patton leads Black Hills with 16 receptions and Ryan Speed leads them with 185 yards. The Red Dogs have four receivers with at least 11 catches and three with two touchdowns each.
Warriors' linebacker Bart Amundson leads the team with his 25.5 tackles, including 16 solo. Amundson also has one interception and one fumble recovery. Jason Potter is second on the team with 20.5 tackles and his two interceptions is tied for the team high. Dee McCormick has recorded 20 tackles since stepping in for the injured Trevor Bell. McCormick also has one interception. Jeff Main has recorded the Warriors only sack this season.
Corey Roberson leads the Red Dogs with 28.5 tackles and James Jones has added 28. Timothy Wright leads the team with four interceptions.
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