Wildcatters Aim At Reversing Losing Trend In Peach State
July 7, 2010 - Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)
Lafayette Wildcatters News Release
LAFAYETTE, LA (JULY 7, 2010) - The Lafayette Wildcatters (6-5) of the Southern Indoor Football League will begin their 2010 playoff run when they travel to take on the Columbus Lions (8-3) this Thursday night.
After ending the Swashbucklers 33-game home winning streak back on June 26th and successfully earning the overall third seed, the Wildcatters must now focus on ending the losing trend that both Louisiana clubs have endured this 2010 season. Both the Bucs and Lafayette went a combined 0-5, with the Catters suffering three of those five defeats including a 54-26 loss back in late April.
With that loss, the Wildcatters began the season 0-3 and have since made a dramatic turnaround of which includes winning six of their final eight games. Big advocate for the clubs turnaround can be centered on the quarterback-wide receiver tandem of Juan Joseph and Clyde Edwards. It's no coincidence that Lafayette's play improved when Joseph, who began the season as the back-up, began starting under center. Since taking over in mid-May, he has led the club to a 5-1 record passing for 29 touchdowns and over 1,300 yards.
Edwards, most recently named to the All-SIFL First Team, finished second in the league in both receptions (76) and receiving yards (978). Clyde was the only Wildcatter receiver to finish the year in double digits in touchdowns (22) and in the last matchup against Columbus he torched the Lions secondary grabbing 10 receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
In their past two games, Lafayette has fallen behind by 21 and 20 points respectively including when the Lions jumped out to a 36-19 halftime lead. Playing behind the entire second half, the Catters scratched and crawled their way back to within two as Columbus held off a furious rally when a potential game-tying 53-yard Comiskey field goal at the end of regulation fell short sealing the 58-55 Lions victory.
Immense grounds for the Catters first half struggles were due to the constant pressure on quarterback Juan Joseph. He was sacked four times and the play up front by the Lions defensive line directly caused both of Juan's two interceptions.
Sorely missed in the last match-up, All-SIFL defensive back Clarence Pendleton is expected to make a return to the line-up after missing the final two games of the regular season. Columbus offense rolled out 338 combined yards becoming the first and only club to escape the Cajun Dome with a victory.
"No doubt we have to work on some things to help us get off to a better start," says Lafayette Wildcatters Head Coach Skip Foster. "They did some nice things scheme wise in that game and were hoping having Clarence back in the secondary will slow them down."
Lafayette Wildcatters travel to take on the Columbus Lions this Thursday night kicking off the SIFL Conference Semi-Finals. The winner of Thursday's contest will take on the winner of the Louisiana/Albany game on Saturday for the SIFL Championship Game.
For more information from around the Southern Indoor Football League, log on to www.southernifl.com.
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Southern Indoor Football League Stories from July 7, 2010
- Wildcatters Aim At Reversing Losing Trend In Peach State - Lafayette Wildcatters
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