Post by fwp on Jun 18, 2009 16:34:55 GMT -5
www.elpasotimes.com/sports/ci_12616488
EL PASO -- The El Paso Generals have four regular-season games left, but their success to this point means they are in the middle of the milestone portion of the year.
Their victory Saturday at Colorado, which improved them to 7-2, was good for a playoff berth. A victory this Saturday at River City (in suburban St. Louis), coupled with an Abilene loss to Corpus Christi, would clinch a Lone Star Division title and a home playoff game.
The Generals have loftier goals than this, but these are some nice little carrots to tide them over while they chase a bigger picture.
"We're happy to be in the playoffs, and we definitely want to keep winning," coach Brian Brents said. "It would be nice to have a playoff game at home. We'd be excited to be in front of our home crowd, and if we win a few more, getting the bye.
"The coaches and players we recruited came in knowing we had high expectations, and they worked hard all year long."
The playoff format in the Indoor Football League puts three teams in each division into the playoffs. Second hosts third in the first round, with the winner playing at the division champion in the second round.
El Paso's magic number to clinch the division -- the number of wins for the Generals plus losses by second-place Abilene -- is two, though with four games to play a division title seems likely, whether it's this weekend or at some point down the road.
At this point, El Paso is happy to have secured a playoff spot.
"It's a big accomplishment for the whole team," said league sack leader Ron Ellington. "It shows hard work definitely pays off. We all came in wanting to go as far as we can go."
El Paso will need some luck in the last month of the season to host the Indoor Football League title game, as Billings (Montana) leads an otherwise weak Pacific Division at 11-1. The winner of that division will play the winner of the Lone Star Division for the right to play the United Conference winner for the IFL championship.......article continues in link.
EL PASO -- The El Paso Generals have four regular-season games left, but their success to this point means they are in the middle of the milestone portion of the year.
Their victory Saturday at Colorado, which improved them to 7-2, was good for a playoff berth. A victory this Saturday at River City (in suburban St. Louis), coupled with an Abilene loss to Corpus Christi, would clinch a Lone Star Division title and a home playoff game.
The Generals have loftier goals than this, but these are some nice little carrots to tide them over while they chase a bigger picture.
"We're happy to be in the playoffs, and we definitely want to keep winning," coach Brian Brents said. "It would be nice to have a playoff game at home. We'd be excited to be in front of our home crowd, and if we win a few more, getting the bye.
"The coaches and players we recruited came in knowing we had high expectations, and they worked hard all year long."
The playoff format in the Indoor Football League puts three teams in each division into the playoffs. Second hosts third in the first round, with the winner playing at the division champion in the second round.
El Paso's magic number to clinch the division -- the number of wins for the Generals plus losses by second-place Abilene -- is two, though with four games to play a division title seems likely, whether it's this weekend or at some point down the road.
At this point, El Paso is happy to have secured a playoff spot.
"It's a big accomplishment for the whole team," said league sack leader Ron Ellington. "It shows hard work definitely pays off. We all came in wanting to go as far as we can go."
El Paso will need some luck in the last month of the season to host the Indoor Football League title game, as Billings (Montana) leads an otherwise weak Pacific Division at 11-1. The winner of that division will play the winner of the Lone Star Division for the right to play the United Conference winner for the IFL championship.......article continues in link.