Post by 50yardfan on Jun 11, 2011 15:54:23 GMT -5
Marion plays for CIFL title tonight in Cincinnati
www.marionstar.com/article/20110611/SPORTS/106110316/Blue-Racers-focused-third-try
MARION - Focus has been the buzz word in the Marion Blue Racers' camp this week as they prepped for tonight's Continental Indoor Football League championship game in Cincinnati.
The Blue Racers (9-2) will face the defending CIFL kingpin Cincinnati Commandos (11-0) at 7:30 p.m. in the Cincinnati Gardens for the league championship.
During the regular season and in the postseason, the teams have proven to be the elite of the six-year-old league. The Commandos won the regular-season crown and Marion finished in second place.
Cincinnati, however, won both meetings with Marion this spring, 50-44 on March 12 in Marion and 50-20 on May 28 in the Queen City.
The Blue Racers were right there with the Commandos in each contest.
In Marion, they rallied from an early 23-6 deficit to get to within six points and had the ball on the game's final possession.
"Then in the game down there, it was a lot closer than the final score indicated," Marion coach Ryan Terry said of the teams' second encounter. "We were down just 30-20, but a couple of mistakes took us out of it.
"We'll have to play a little better this time. Offensively (against the Commandos this season) we made mistakes and defensively we had some missed assignments, so we'll have to be fundamentally sound this time."
In their first game with Cincinnati, the Blue Racers were hurt in the special-teams department with three blocked placement kicks, one missed field goal, a missed PAT, and a pair of turnovers on kickoffs.
In the rematch, Marion turned the ball over four times.
So how do the Blue Racers plan to turn things around?
"We'll need to come out focused with a great game plan and play Blue Racer football," said linebacker Ray Saunders.
"I think if we can be focused and play how we know we can play, it will be OK," added running back Christen Haywood.
Much of the Blue Racers' focus will be on Commandos quarterback Tyler Sheehan.
Sheehan was 24-of-36 passing for 237 yards in March against Marion and went 14 of 27 for 157 yards in the teams' second hookup.
During a 71-13 rout of Chicago in the Commandos' semifinal playoff game last week, Sheehan connected on 17-of-27 aerials for 194 yards and nine touchdowns.
After seeing the Commandos twice already this season, the Blue Racers know full well what they are up against.
"They are the champs and we will have to take it away from them," Saunders said. "To be the best, you have to beat the best. You have to beat the champs to be the champs."
www.marionstar.com/article/20110611/SPORTS/106110316/Blue-Racers-focused-third-try
MARION - Focus has been the buzz word in the Marion Blue Racers' camp this week as they prepped for tonight's Continental Indoor Football League championship game in Cincinnati.
The Blue Racers (9-2) will face the defending CIFL kingpin Cincinnati Commandos (11-0) at 7:30 p.m. in the Cincinnati Gardens for the league championship.
During the regular season and in the postseason, the teams have proven to be the elite of the six-year-old league. The Commandos won the regular-season crown and Marion finished in second place.
Cincinnati, however, won both meetings with Marion this spring, 50-44 on March 12 in Marion and 50-20 on May 28 in the Queen City.
The Blue Racers were right there with the Commandos in each contest.
In Marion, they rallied from an early 23-6 deficit to get to within six points and had the ball on the game's final possession.
"Then in the game down there, it was a lot closer than the final score indicated," Marion coach Ryan Terry said of the teams' second encounter. "We were down just 30-20, but a couple of mistakes took us out of it.
"We'll have to play a little better this time. Offensively (against the Commandos this season) we made mistakes and defensively we had some missed assignments, so we'll have to be fundamentally sound this time."
In their first game with Cincinnati, the Blue Racers were hurt in the special-teams department with three blocked placement kicks, one missed field goal, a missed PAT, and a pair of turnovers on kickoffs.
In the rematch, Marion turned the ball over four times.
So how do the Blue Racers plan to turn things around?
"We'll need to come out focused with a great game plan and play Blue Racer football," said linebacker Ray Saunders.
"I think if we can be focused and play how we know we can play, it will be OK," added running back Christen Haywood.
Much of the Blue Racers' focus will be on Commandos quarterback Tyler Sheehan.
Sheehan was 24-of-36 passing for 237 yards in March against Marion and went 14 of 27 for 157 yards in the teams' second hookup.
During a 71-13 rout of Chicago in the Commandos' semifinal playoff game last week, Sheehan connected on 17-of-27 aerials for 194 yards and nine touchdowns.
After seeing the Commandos twice already this season, the Blue Racers know full well what they are up against.
"They are the champs and we will have to take it away from them," Saunders said. "To be the best, you have to beat the best. You have to beat the champs to be the champs."