Warriors Survive Shootout, Defeat Strom 51-49
March 23, 2004 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Utah Warriors News Release
West Valley City, UT â In a classic indoor football battle the Utah Warriors used a safety to take the lead, then scored a touchdown to seal the 51-49 victory over the Sioux Falls Storm on Monday night at the E-Center. Storm (0-2) quarterback Rich Fuentes fumbled a snap in the end zone and Kautai Olevao fell on him to put the Warriors (2-0) ahead 44-42 with five minutes left. Utah then took the possession following the safety seven plays for 38 yards, capped off by Doug Smith's seven yard touchdown run to put the Warriors up 51-42.
On the Storm's first possession they were held at the Warriors 1-yard line on an impressive goal line stand by the Warrior defense. The Storm then scored a touchdown on their next six possessions, a streak that was stopped by the safety. For good measure they also scored a touchdown on their last drive, the last play of the game.
Smith led the Warriors attack going 15x22 for 177 yards and four touchdowns, all while rushing nine times for 47 yards and the clinching score. Smith was named the game's offensive MVP.
The momentum of the game changed after Utah tied the game at 35 on a seven yard touchdown pass from Smith to Emmett White. Then Utah gambled at it paid off. Pete Garces dribbled the kickoff just passed the 10-yard line and Jeff Main recovered the kick, giving the Warriors the ball back on their own 15. The next play Smith found Cody Weight for a 35-yard touchdown, putting Utah up by seven.
White finished with six catches for 42 yards and two touchdowns and Cody Jamison added four catches for 58 yards and one score. Omar Bacon provided 45 yards on 21 carries, scoring once.
Weight led the team with six tackles to go with his 66 receiving yards. Dee McCormick recorded 5.5 tackles in his first action of the season.
Sioux Falls defensive lineman Nate Fluit led all players with 10.5 tackles, including two for loss and one sack. Sioux Falls had four players with at least six tackles.
Utah travels to Billings next Saturday for a battle with the division rival Outlaws.
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