Utah Warriors Week Two Game Notes
March 19, 2004 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Utah Warriors News Release
The Utah Warriors plays host to the Sioux Falls Storm for the first of two meeting this season ... Utah is 2-1 all-time against Sioux Falls, including 2-0 in the E-Center ... The Warriors defeated the Storm 68-55 in the NIFL quarterfinals last season ... Sioux Falls comes into this game after a 41-14 loss to the Omaha Beef last week in Omaha ... Utah returns to the E-Center for a second straight game after defeating the Colorado Venom 63-16 on March 13 ... The two teams will meet in Sioux Falls on May 29.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Series Record ..... Utah leads 2-1
First Meeting ..... April 26, 2003
Last Meeting ..... July 12, 2003
Utah at Home ..... 2-0 (1.000)
Utah on Road ..... 0-1 (.000)
Series Streak ..... Utah win 1
Last 5 ..... Utah 2-1
Last Utah win in the E-Center ..... July 12, 2003 (68-55)
Last Sioux Falls win in the E-Center ..... Never
Warriors PPG vs Storm ..... 53.7
Storm PPG vs Warriors ..... 45.7
ABOUT THIS GAME
The Utah Warriors play host to the Sioux Falls Storm for the first of two meeting during the 2004 season. These two teams met three times last season, including a 68-55 Warriors win in the NIFL quarterfinals. These two teams were preseason favorites in the Pacific Conference based on their performances from last season and the off season moves both teams made. The Warriors are a perfect 2-0 against the Storm in the E-Center. Utah has won four straight at home dating back to last season.
Sioux Falls comes into this game after a disappointing 41-14 loss against the Omaha Beef last weekend in Omaha. The Storm have some questions at quarterback after last weekend. Starter Rich Fuentes finished the game 6x14 for 54 yards and three interceptions. Casey Veenhof moved from receiver to quarterback in the second half and finished 7x17 for 41 yards with two interceptions. Team rushing leader Justin Bivins left the game with an injury after just four carries for 13 yards. Mat Holmlund had five receptions and Corey Walker led the team with 38 yards receiving.
Utah enters this match-up after a convincing 63-16 defeat of the Colorado Venom on March 13 at the E-Center. Warriors quarterback Doug Smith finished 15x22 for 187 yards and five touchdowns. He also had five rushes for 28 yards and one score on his way to being named NIFL Pacific Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Emmett White added eight receptions and scored three times, while Omar Bacon had 13 carries for 25 yards and three touchdowns.
The Utah defense is loaded with talent this season and poses a threat to the Storm quarterbacks. The Warriors recorded six interceptions against Colorado, including two each by Jason Potter and Trevor Bell. Bart Amundson leads the team with 8.5 tackles and he also recovered one fumble. Bell will miss the next few weeks after injuring his knee in the fourth quarter against Colorado.
Nate Fluit leads the Storm defense. Against Omaha, Fluit had 5.5 tackles including five for loss and one sack. Bobby Perkins added 4.5 tackles and two for loss. Todd Tryon had 5.5 tackles while breaking up three Omaha passes.
AIRING IT OUT
Coming off a season in which it was the best team in the league passing the ball, the Utah Warriors continued in that tradition against Colorado. Quarterback Doug Smith finished the game 15x22 for 187 yards and five touchdowns. Emmett White picked up where he led off with eight catches for 75 yards and three touchdowns. Jerome Anderson and Cody Weight also had touchdowns catches, and Anderson had 44 yards.
GROUND ATTACK
Although not known for their rushing game, Utah pulled out an 88-yard performance against Colorado, on 25 attempts. Quarterback Smith led the way with 28 yards, anchored by his 24-yard touchdown scamper. Omar Bacon had 13 carries for 25 yards, plus three touchdowns. Back-up fullback Clay Denton added 19 yards on four carries and White carried the ball twice for 17 yards.
INSIDE BLITZ
Although Colorado ran for 114 yards, the Utah defense held them to just 75 yards passing. The Venom quarterbacks combined to go 8x30 for those 75 yards and had zero touchdowns. Colorado only managed 189 yards of total offense, an average of 3.5 yards-per-play
Bart Amundson anchored the solid defense with 8.5 tackles and one fumble recovery. Although they recorded no sacks, the defensive line and linebackers forced the Venom quarterbacks into rushed throws all game. Those rushed throws led to six interceptions by the Warriors. Jason Potter grabbed two of those picks to go with his three tackles. Trevor Bell also had two interceptions and three tackles before leaving with a knee injury in the fourth quarter. Jeff Main had a solid outing finishing with 5.5 tackles, second most on the team, and adding an interception.
EXTRA SPECIAL
Kicker Pete Garces finished with nine points against Colorado, going 9x9 on PATs. He did miss his lone field goal attempt, although it was a 58-yard attempt.
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