Post by fwp on Mar 27, 2010 6:22:01 GMT -5
www.frontiersman.com/articles/2010/03/28/sports/doc4ba835c6a9dff948194292.txt
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Arctic Predators have not exactly had the luxury of an abundance of practice time.
The Wasilla-based American Indoor Football League expansion franchise has been practicing as a team for less than a month. A half-dozen players, who saw significant playing time during the team’s debut, met the squad just hours before game time, and the Predators are still working toward building a full roster.
With all of that considered, Arctic Predators coach Hans Deemer is feeling fairly positive about his squad’s first game of the 2010 AIFA a season, a 64-12 loss to the San Jose Wolves at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday. It actually went better than the score indicates,” Deemer said by phone.
Danny O’Neill and Monte Purvis each scored touchdowns during the first game in the history of the Predators organization. Deemer said the Predators had several more opportunities to crack the end zone.
“We were in the red zone six times and couldn’t get it in,” Deemer said. “Some of it was late in the game. We had linemen going both ways, and they were tired in that fast-paced game.”
Former Bowling Green State University standout Omar Jacobs, threw for 179 yards and five touchdowns in the San Jose win. Jacobs connected with wide receiver Jayson Boyd on his team’s first two touchdowns. The first came on San Jose’s first play from scrimmage.
O’Neill, who finished with three catches for 40 yards, helped put the Predators on the scoreboard when he hauled in a 25-yard pass from quarterback Earl Mason. That cut San Jose’s lead to 15-6. Down nine points, the Predators were on the verge of scoring twice, but drives were stalled by a botched snap and fumble.
“We could have changed the outcome of the game,” Deemer said.
Purvis, who split time with Mason at quarterback, snuck into the end zone from 1-yard out early in the fourth to give the Predators their second score of the game.
Andre Velezuez, a converted defensive back, led the Predators with five catches for 102 yards in the loss. Velezuez, who played with Deemer when Deemer was the head coach of the Indoor Football League’s Alaska Wild, signed with the team last Thursday.
O’Neill, Purvis, lineman Ron Jacksen, running back Reggie Frazier and Antonio Dishman, the nephew of former NFL Pro Bowl cornerback Cris Dishman, were among the players to meet the Predators in California. Deemer said the new talent had just a few moments to practice with the team before kickoff.
“We had a 20-minute walk-through, warmed up on the field and played the game,” Deemer said.
Deemer also noted the work of a handful of players with local ties. T.J. Crenshaw, a former Wasilla High School football player, and Palmer resident Chris Bolin, a regular on the local rugby circuit, started at linebacker for the Predators. Randy Bendle, a former player at Bartlett, started on the defensive line.
“I thought the local guys did some good things,” Deemer said. “They were solid.”
The Predators now have less than a week to prepare for their first home game in franchise history. The team will host the Yakima Valley (Wash.) Warriors Sunday at 2 p.m. on Sicily’s Field inside the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Arena.
For ticket information, visit www.matsufootball.com.
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Arctic Predators have not exactly had the luxury of an abundance of practice time.
The Wasilla-based American Indoor Football League expansion franchise has been practicing as a team for less than a month. A half-dozen players, who saw significant playing time during the team’s debut, met the squad just hours before game time, and the Predators are still working toward building a full roster.
With all of that considered, Arctic Predators coach Hans Deemer is feeling fairly positive about his squad’s first game of the 2010 AIFA a season, a 64-12 loss to the San Jose Wolves at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday. It actually went better than the score indicates,” Deemer said by phone.
Danny O’Neill and Monte Purvis each scored touchdowns during the first game in the history of the Predators organization. Deemer said the Predators had several more opportunities to crack the end zone.
“We were in the red zone six times and couldn’t get it in,” Deemer said. “Some of it was late in the game. We had linemen going both ways, and they were tired in that fast-paced game.”
Former Bowling Green State University standout Omar Jacobs, threw for 179 yards and five touchdowns in the San Jose win. Jacobs connected with wide receiver Jayson Boyd on his team’s first two touchdowns. The first came on San Jose’s first play from scrimmage.
O’Neill, who finished with three catches for 40 yards, helped put the Predators on the scoreboard when he hauled in a 25-yard pass from quarterback Earl Mason. That cut San Jose’s lead to 15-6. Down nine points, the Predators were on the verge of scoring twice, but drives were stalled by a botched snap and fumble.
“We could have changed the outcome of the game,” Deemer said.
Purvis, who split time with Mason at quarterback, snuck into the end zone from 1-yard out early in the fourth to give the Predators their second score of the game.
Andre Velezuez, a converted defensive back, led the Predators with five catches for 102 yards in the loss. Velezuez, who played with Deemer when Deemer was the head coach of the Indoor Football League’s Alaska Wild, signed with the team last Thursday.
O’Neill, Purvis, lineman Ron Jacksen, running back Reggie Frazier and Antonio Dishman, the nephew of former NFL Pro Bowl cornerback Cris Dishman, were among the players to meet the Predators in California. Deemer said the new talent had just a few moments to practice with the team before kickoff.
“We had a 20-minute walk-through, warmed up on the field and played the game,” Deemer said.
Deemer also noted the work of a handful of players with local ties. T.J. Crenshaw, a former Wasilla High School football player, and Palmer resident Chris Bolin, a regular on the local rugby circuit, started at linebacker for the Predators. Randy Bendle, a former player at Bartlett, started on the defensive line.
“I thought the local guys did some good things,” Deemer said. “They were solid.”
The Predators now have less than a week to prepare for their first home game in franchise history. The team will host the Yakima Valley (Wash.) Warriors Sunday at 2 p.m. on Sicily’s Field inside the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Arena.
For ticket information, visit www.matsufootball.com.