Wild Wears Down Thunder
June 13, 2008 - Intense Football League (Intense)
Frisco Thunder News Release
ANCHORAGE, Ak. (June 12, 2008) -- As Alaska quarterback Keith Smith eluded the Frisco Thunder defense, so to did Frisco' opportunity to clinch a playoff spot.
The 46-25 Wild victory extended Frisco's losing streak to three straight and kept the Thunder (6-7) from sealing the deal on a second consecutive berth in the Intense Football League playoffs.
Frisco can still make the post season by winning its regular season finale at San Angelo on June 28 and either Alaska (5-7), Odessa (5-7) or Katy (4-7) lose one of its remaining games.
With scrambling reminiscent of Fran Tarkenton or Michael Vick, Smith didn't exact ring up style points but was pretty darn entertaining as he ran for three touchdowns and threw for two more.
After a not-exactly crisp first half -- both teams only scored a safety in the second quarter -- Smith rushed for scored on consecutive possessions in third quarter to help Alaska pull away from an 18-9 game.
Frisco's injury-depleted offense continued to struggle as quarterbacks Dixie Wooten and Hunter Simms combined to complete just 11 of 37 passes for 101 yards and six interceptions. Sims' two fourth-quarter touchdowns to Daron Lawrence and a 24-yard scramble accounted for 70 of Frisco's 116 total yards.
Defense and special teams kept Frisco in the game during the first half. Kevin Lenford's 55-yard kickoff return gave Frisco an early 7-3 lead. Thomas Ford caught a 22-yarder from Smith (11 of 31 for 124 yards) and ran for another as Alaska regained the lead at 16-7.
Interceptions by Kedrick Alexander and Shaylon Carter in the second quarter kept Frisco within striking distance.
Lawrence was the game's leading receiver with six catches for 79 yards. Ricky Madison scored a pair of two-point conversions.
NOTEBOOK:
ALASKA AGGIES CHEER THUNDER
ANCHORAGE, Ak. (June 12, 2008) -- Even though it's 3,000 air miles from Texas to Alaska , the Thunder had its share of fans at Thursday's game against the Alaska Wild.
Thirty-two Texas A&M alumni from the Anchorage area showed to cheer for the Thunder, some friends of lineman John Kirk, who played three seasons for the Aggies.
CARTER CONTINUES: Shaylon Carter registered his fourth consecutive game with an interception. He now has five on the season.
DIDN'T HE WIN A GRAMMY?: Among the first-time players Frisco used was wide receiver Quincy Jones. We're pretty sure he's not the famed singer/producer.
LEAGUES OF HIS OWN: With Thursday game, Thunder QB Dixie Wooten played in his third league this season. Wooten played for the Baltimore Mariners of the AIFA and the Conroe Storm of the APFL earlier this year. Wooten is also an NIFL survivor.
WE CAN RELATE: Alaska finished its home schedule with a 5-2 mark, same as the Thunder. Also like the Thunder, both Wild home loses were decided in the final 15 seconds.
PROPS TO THE ANCHORAGE MEDIA: The Wild benefits from perhaps the best media coverage in the IFL. The Anchorage Daily News ran both its advance and game story above the fold in its print edition and at the top of the page online. Also, the game is tape-delayed and aired immediately afterwards on local TV and again on Monday.
IFL PLAYOFF UPDATE
1) Louisiana Swashbucklers (11-0). Clinched first-round bye Monday night at Katy. Regular season finale with Corpus Christi could determine who hosts Intense Bowl IV.
2) Corpus Christi Hammerheads (9-2). Can still host Intense Bowl IV if it wins outs and Louisiana pulls an LA Laker-type lead blowing. Could slip to third.
3) CenTex Barracudas (8-4). Can do no worse than third and could earn a first-round bye if it wins out and a Corpus Christi lose out.
4) Frisco Thunder (6-7). Despite Thursday's loss, a victory against San Angelo on June 28 combined with one loss by either Odessa, Alaska or Katy and the Thunder's in. If Frisco falls in San Angelo, would need Odessa, Alaska or Katy to finish 5-9 to sneak in.
5) Odessa Roughnecks (5-7). Regular season finale with Katy will be huge. Can move up to fourth thanks to season sweep of Frisco.
6) Alaska Wild (5-7). Final two games are on the road and next one is Louisiana. Team is O-for-life on the road. Would need to win out for a shot at the fourth seed. Does hold tiebreaker over Odessa.
7) Katy Ruff Riders (4-7). A lot is hinging on Saturday's game with Corpus Christi.
8-9) Fairbanks (2-9) and San Angelo Stampede Express (2-9) These two teams meet Saturday. Winner of that game needs to win its next two games for a chance at the final spot. Fairbanks would hold tiebreaker advantage over Odessa if the Roughnecks lose out.
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Intense Football League Stories from June 13, 2008
- Wild Wears Down Thunder - Frisco Thunder
- Alaska Wild 46, Frisco Thunder 25 - Alaska Wild
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