Warriors Defeat Outlaws, Playoffs Next
June 26, 2004 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Utah Warriors News Release
West Valley City, UT â The Utah Warriors used a 39-10 second half to knock off their division rival Billings Outlaws 53-30. The Warrior defense held the top ranked Outlaw pass attack to just 164 yards, 69 below their average. Mike Rigell led the way for the Warriors with nine catches for 133 yards and scored twice, including a 6-yard score on Utah's first possession. The two teams traded scores until Billings quarterback Albert Higgs found Quentin Cradle in the back of the end zone an the final play of the first half, putting the Outlaws ahead 20-14 at the half.
Dee McCormick intercepted Higgs' first pass of the second half and the rout was on from there. Utah scored on five of six second half possessions while allowing Billings only one scoring drive and a returned PAT attempt. Utah went on a 32-0 run in that stretch to take control of the game. Quarterback Doug Smith finished 18x25 for 170 yards and four touchdowns, and his 27 rushing yards tied a team record with 377 rushing yards this season. Two-time player of the week Emmett White had five catches for 20 yards and 13 carries for 43 yards, while scoring two touchdowns.
Billings quarterback Higgs went just 20x42 for 182 yards and three touchdowns, one week after going 29x33 for 312 yards and seven touchdowns. His favorite target was Cradle who finished with eight catches for 69 yards. Six Outlaws had at least one catch, but none had more than 69 yards. Billings top receiver Cory Grow was held to three catches for 26 yards. Billings ran 56 plays on the night and only 12 were rushing attempts.
The Warrior defense came through with its best performance of the year, holding Billings to just 210 total yards, well below the Outlaws season average. Jeff Main and Jason Ah You both recorded one sack, including one for a safety. Shawn Kojima led the team with six tackles and Cody Weight added five tackles and four pass break-ups. As a team the Warriors had 10 break-ups and eight quarterback hurries. Jason Potter and Bart Amundson each added 4.5 tackles.
Utah now takes the final week off and waits for things to develop in the playoff race. If Wyoming beats Billings next Sunday, both Utah and Wyoming would be 6-8 but Utah holds to tiebreaker with a better record in the conference, giving the Warriors the sixth and final playoff spot in the Pacific Conference. As is sits right now Utah would travel to Kearney, Nebraska to play the Tri-City Diesel on July 10, but there is still a possibility of games at Sioux Falls or against these same Outlaws in Billings.
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