Post by fwp on Apr 2, 2010 5:00:44 GMT -5
www.frontiersman.com/articles/2010/04/01/sports/doc4bb5706310a57171008326.txt
WASILLA — After facing a pair of expansion franchises during the first two weeks of the American Indoor Football Association season, the Arctic Predators now have consecutive dates against one of the AIFA’s best.
The Wasilla-based first-year professional indoor football team is in Casper, Wyo., today to face the Wyoming Cavalary at 5 p.m. AST.
“They’re good. They made it to the last four championship games,” Predators coach Hans Deemer said of the Wyoming Cavalry, who will make the trip to Wasilla to play the Predators at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center on April 10. “They lost all four (championships), but they were good enough to get there." Wyoming currently sits at the top of the AIFA West Division, tied with the San Jose Wolves, at 2-0. The Predators, along with the Ogden (Utah) Knights, are 0-2.
The Predators could have their hands full with the four-time runners-up Cavalary, but Deemer said these games will help the coaching staff see where the Predators are at.
“This will be a good measuring tool,” Deemer said.
The Predators actually play Wyoming three times this season. In addition to the games over the next two weeks, the Predators will host Wyoming in Wasilla on June 6.
The Predators are coming off a 52-21 loss to the Yakima Valley Warriors in their franchise home debut. Deemer said he saw some good things, but there’s plenty to improve on.
“We’re learning,” Deemer said. “Our youth definitely shows up. We couldn’t overcome some major mistakes.”
The Predators did take a 21-17 lead over Yakima Valley into halftime. Quarterback Damion Ward tossed three touchdown passes during the first two quarters. Andre Velazquez snagged a pair of those touchdowns, including a 47-yarder early in the first quarter.
Those performances were among the good news for the Predators going into their next game. The bad news is Ward is among a handful of players who didn’t make the trip to Wyoming. Deemer said scheduling conflicts with his full-time job prevented Ward from traveling.
Monte Purvis, who saw action under center during the season-opening loss to San Jose and scored on a 1-yard touchdown, will make the start at quarterback. Velazquez, the Predators’ top wide receiver and a starter in the defensive backfield, will be the emergency quarterback, Deemer said.
Wyoming is off to its perfect start after a 54-40 win over Ogden and a 48-46 overtime victory over the Wenatchee Valley Venom last week.
The Cavalary have the league’s top passing offense, an attack led by quarterback Matt Strand. The Chadron State (Neb.) product has completed 38-of-63 passes for 487 yards and eight touchdowns.
Tomasi Kongaika, a former West Anchorage High School and Washington State player, is a Cavalry defensive lineman.
Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.
WASILLA — After facing a pair of expansion franchises during the first two weeks of the American Indoor Football Association season, the Arctic Predators now have consecutive dates against one of the AIFA’s best.
The Wasilla-based first-year professional indoor football team is in Casper, Wyo., today to face the Wyoming Cavalary at 5 p.m. AST.
“They’re good. They made it to the last four championship games,” Predators coach Hans Deemer said of the Wyoming Cavalry, who will make the trip to Wasilla to play the Predators at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center on April 10. “They lost all four (championships), but they were good enough to get there." Wyoming currently sits at the top of the AIFA West Division, tied with the San Jose Wolves, at 2-0. The Predators, along with the Ogden (Utah) Knights, are 0-2.
The Predators could have their hands full with the four-time runners-up Cavalary, but Deemer said these games will help the coaching staff see where the Predators are at.
“This will be a good measuring tool,” Deemer said.
The Predators actually play Wyoming three times this season. In addition to the games over the next two weeks, the Predators will host Wyoming in Wasilla on June 6.
The Predators are coming off a 52-21 loss to the Yakima Valley Warriors in their franchise home debut. Deemer said he saw some good things, but there’s plenty to improve on.
“We’re learning,” Deemer said. “Our youth definitely shows up. We couldn’t overcome some major mistakes.”
The Predators did take a 21-17 lead over Yakima Valley into halftime. Quarterback Damion Ward tossed three touchdown passes during the first two quarters. Andre Velazquez snagged a pair of those touchdowns, including a 47-yarder early in the first quarter.
Those performances were among the good news for the Predators going into their next game. The bad news is Ward is among a handful of players who didn’t make the trip to Wyoming. Deemer said scheduling conflicts with his full-time job prevented Ward from traveling.
Monte Purvis, who saw action under center during the season-opening loss to San Jose and scored on a 1-yard touchdown, will make the start at quarterback. Velazquez, the Predators’ top wide receiver and a starter in the defensive backfield, will be the emergency quarterback, Deemer said.
Wyoming is off to its perfect start after a 54-40 win over Ogden and a 48-46 overtime victory over the Wenatchee Valley Venom last week.
The Cavalary have the league’s top passing offense, an attack led by quarterback Matt Strand. The Chadron State (Neb.) product has completed 38-of-63 passes for 487 yards and eight touchdowns.
Tomasi Kongaika, a former West Anchorage High School and Washington State player, is a Cavalry defensive lineman.
Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.