Wild Look to Melugin to Lead Team vs. Sioux City
April 23, 2009 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Wichita Wild News Release
The Wichita Wild of the Indoor Football League (IFL) will continue their two week road trip this Saturday when they take on the Sioux City Bandits (0-5) in a central division showdown. The game kicks off at 7:05 PM on Saturday and fans can watch the game online at www.b2livetv.com. The Wild (1-3) are coming off an upsetting 52-31 road loss to the RiverCity Rage after defeating the same Rage team at home just one week prior. While the Bandits, who are looking to notch their first victory in the new IFL, are coming off a 53-32 defeat courtesy of the Sioux Falls Storm.
Former Friends University standout Alex Melugin will get his first professional start vs. Sioux City. The Wichita native was named the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year in 2008. The offense for the Wild boasts the top-rated passing offense in the league and wide receiver Tim Riley had a breakout game vs. the Rage. Riley led the Wild in receiving with six receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
The Wild defense was held to their first sack-less game this season vs. the Rage last week. Defensive lineman Justin Montgomery will look to add to his team leading sacks of 2.5 this week by taking advantage of a Bandits offensive line that has surrendered 15 sacks this season. The Wichita defense will enter Saturday?s game ranked 11th in the IFL allowing a total of 44.5 points per game.
Similar to the Wild, turnovers have proved costly to Sioux City. The Bandits have committed 17 fumbles and given away nine interceptions to opposing defenses. However, Scott Jensen has put together a nice string of starts since replacing Michael Spriggs as the starting quarterback. Jensen threw for five touchdowns and no interception with a passer rating of 103.8 in a pair of losing efforts vs. the Sioux Falls Storm.
Sioux City must have a big game from their pass defense which is currently ranked 17th in the IFL, when they go up against the Wilds? number one ranked passing offense in the league. The Bandits have allowed 18 touchdowns through the air and opposing quarterbacks are completing nearly 70 percent of their attempts. Look for the Bandits to rely heavily on Rudy Jones who currently ranks fourth in the IFL with 7.5 tackles per game.
The Wild will return to Hartman Arena on May 2 to face Quincy Carter and the Abilene Rough Riders. To purchase tickets, visit www.stage1tickets.com or stop by the Hartman Arena Box Office in Park City.
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