Utah Warriors to Play Biggest Game of the Year
July 18, 2003 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Utah Warriors News Release
The Warrior's successful first year reaches its highest peak tomorrow night as the Warriors face the Omaha Beef in the Pacific Conference Championship game. Utah (12-3) plays at Omaha (12-3) with the Beef holding the #1 seed in the Conference. The winner of this game will play in the NIFL Nation Title Game on August 2nd.
The team has used this week to prepare for, what they know will be, a very challenging game. Omaha is one of the few teams in the NIFL that runs the ball, and runs it well. The Warrior's defense has been criticized all year, but has come up big in the last few games, especially in the win last Saturday over the Sioux Falls Storm. Coach Lee Leslie knows his defense will be needed if the Warriors are to advance to the finals. Kautai Oleveo (U of U), who sat out last week, has returned to the starting lineup and is a key to this defense.
Offensively the team will be lead by last year's MVP Danny Ragsdale (Redlands). Ragsdale is currently the highest rated quarterback in the league and has over 3,500 passing yards on the season. The other part of Utah's success lies in the two-headed monsters in both the wide receivers and running backs. Wide receivers Jason Quinn (Dixie State) and Cory Grow (Illinois State) and running backs Omar Bacon (U of U) and Emmett White (Utah State) are planning on giving the Omaha defense more than they can handle.
Saturday's game can be heard live at 6:05 MST on 1280 The Sports Zone, with Ryan Hatch.
• Discuss this story on the National Indoor Football League message board...
National Indoor Football League Stories from July 18, 2003
- Utah Warriors to Play Biggest Game of the Year - Utah Warriors
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
