Wild Outscore Odessa 26-12 In Second Half To Pick Up Win
May 25, 2009 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
West Texas Roughnecks News Release
ODESSA, TX. : The Roughnecks winning ways would not continue on Saturday, May 23 as Odessa dropped a tough road game to the Wichita Wild by the score of 61-42. Everything seemed to be heading in the right direction from the very beginning as the Roughnecks defense was able to hold the Wild scoreless from inside the red-zone on their first drive. Odessa capitalized on their next possession as QB Dennis Gile ran in a one-yard touchdown run to give the Roughnecks a 7-0 advantage. Gile's touchdown run was his team-leading eighth of the season. However, the Wild quickly regained the lead after DB Randy Kelly returned a kickoff back 52 yards for a touchdown. Roughnecks special team breakdowns would later continue as Kelly returned a missed Zeke Arevalo field goal back 52 yards for another score giving the Wild a 14-7 lead.
The Odessa defense stepped up once again in the opening quarter as DL Akeem Rettig recorded a safety and the Roughnecks offense got in the end-zone on the ensuing drive as RB David Daniels ran in a three-yard touchdown run to give Odessa a 16-14 lead. Wichita would counter in the second quarter with three scoring plays. QB Derek Rasmussen found Carlos Cavanaugh and Clinton Solomon for touchdown passes and DB Andre Brown intercepted Dennis Gile to return it 40 yards for a score. Odessa kept things close at the half-way point as Dennis Gile found Eric Taylor and Torrey Day for touchdown passes as the Roughnecks trailed at halftime, 35-30.
Turnovers and injuries hurt the Roughnecks in the second half. Wild RB Darius Fudge opened the second half with a seven-yard touchdown run and he would later add a six-yard touchdown run to close out the third quarter. Wichita led Odessa at that point, 48-33.
The Wild defense stepped up in the fourth quarter as DB Randy Kelly intercepted Gile, returning it 30 yards for a touchdown as Darius Fudge picked up another touchdown this time on a screen pass from Rasmussen to make it 61-33, Wichita. Walter Washington entered the ball game for Odessa when Dennis Gile left with an injury. Washington added a 20-yard touchdown run to close the gap as the Roughnecks defense registered another safety. But it was not enough as the Wild held on to win the ball game, 61-42.
Dennis Gile who left the game with a shoulder injury finished with 219 yards passing and three total touchdowns. WR Jimmy Conner led the Roughnecks with six receptions for 67 yards as DB Darren Barnett recorded two interceptions. Wild QB Derek Rasmussen threw for 115 yards and three touchdowns as RB Darius Fudge had 18 carries for 72 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Odessa was hit with several injuries in the ball game including Dennis Gile. OL Courtney Abbott left with a knee injury, RB David Daniels injured his ankle and DL Elex Reed strained a PCL.
Odessa (2-6) returns home this week to face the Colorado Ice on Saturday, May 30 from the Ector County Coliseum, kickoff is scheduled for 7:11 p.m.
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Indoor Football League Stories from May 25, 2009
- Indoor Football Weekly - OSC Original by Danny Burnham
- Abilene Snaps El Paso's Four-Game Winning Streak With 45-35 Win - El Paso Generals
- Wild Outscore Odessa 26-12 In Second Half To Pick Up Win - West Texas Roughnecks
- Wild and Goodwill Partner to Increase Donations - Wichita Wild
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