Warriors Host Billings in Season Finale
June 24, 2004 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Utah Warriors News Release
WEST VALLEY CITY, UT â Heading into the final regular season game of the year, the Utah Warriors need a win to clinch the final playoff position in the Pacific Conference. Their opponent, the division rival Billings Outlaws, also need a win to clinch the top seed in the Pacific Conference. With a loss the Warriors can still get into the playoffs if the Wyoming Cavalry lose one of their final two games. Billings needs to win one of its final two games to secure the top seed in the Pacific Conference. They are also tied for the top seed in the entire league, and would currently host the NIFL championship game, Indoor Bowl IV.
Utah and Billings met March 27 at MetraPark in Billings, Montana, with the Outlaws coming out victorious, 40-30. Utah is 2-1 all-time against the Outlaws after sweeping the two games last season. In the previous meeting this season, Billings used an 18-3 second quarter to take control of the game. Billings out gained the Warriors 317-125, including a 274-89 advantage in the passing game. Warriors back-up quarterback Cole Cooper made his first start in that game, but he went just 3x6 for 43 yards and one touchdown before leaving with a concussion. Three ex-Warriors played a big part in the win for the Outlaws. Quarterback Danny Ragsdale went 31x54 for 270 yards and five touchdowns, four of which found Cory Grow. Grow finished with 15 catches for 139 yards. Jason Quinn also added five catches for 46 yards.
Utah enters this game loser of five straight, but only once in that stretch have they lost by more than 10 points. They also dropped one of those games in overtime and one by just two points. Last week the Warriors trailed 63-46 with 11:15 to play and rallied but came up short, eventually falling 63-56. Show Me ran out the final 2:40 after Utah got within seven to win the game.
Billings enters the game on a 2-game win streak and three of its last four. Last week they beat the Wyoming Cavalry 58-21 in Billings. Ragsdale is out for the remainder of the regular season so he won't play in the game this week. The Outlaws resigned Albert Higgs three weeks ago and last week he went 29x33 for 312 yards and seven touchdowns.
Emmett White enters this game on a roll. He has been named the Pacific Conference offensive player of the week for two straight weeks. In that stretch he has 15 catches for 253 yards and five touchdowns. He has also rushed for 67 yards and five touchdowns during that stretch. White needs 173 yards receiving for 1,000 on the season and just 138 to set a team record of 965.
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