Post by fwp on May 22, 2010 7:54:12 GMT -5
sportsyakima.com/2010/05/playoff-ramifications-loom-for-warriors/
YAKIMA, Wash. — With the season starting to wind down, every game is taking on added significance for the Yakima Valley Warriors.
But Saturday’s 7:15 p.m. home contest holds even more importance if the Warriors hope to nab the AIFA West Division’s third and final playoff spot.
That’s because that final postseason slot is currently occupied by Saturday’s opponent, the Wasilla Arctic Predators, with Yakima Valley sitting in fourth place.
“It’s a big game for us,” Warriors director of football operations Michael Mink said. “We need to get back into third place, and a win would do that for us. Plus, it gives us a 2-1 season series edge with them.”
Wasilla is 3-3, with Yakima Valley at 3-5. The teams have split the first two meetings, with the road team winning both games, including the Predators’ last-seconds 66-63 win on May 1 in the SunDome.
Yakima Valley must find a way to contain quarterback Damion Ward, who didn’t play in the teams’ first meeting, but who went 28 of 42 for 330 yards and eight touchdowns in Wasilla’s May 1 victory.
“We’re going to offer some quick combinations to try and chase Ward. He’s pretty quick,” Mink said.
Yakima Valley has been working with different defensive combinations this week, notably moving linebacker Prince Hall to defensive line, and defensive back Travis Motley to linebacker to improve its quickness up front.
Also, the Warriors added two more defensive players — Michael Gottlieb, a 6-foot-5, 249-pound linebacker from the University of Washington, and Jerell Norton, a 6-1, 205-pound cornerback out of the University of Arkansas.
That makes five new defensive faces in the past three weeks. Mink said it’s “been tough” getting all of them acclimated into the system, but said the changes were needed because “we’re trying to make this the best team we can.”
NOTES: The Warriors are offering a ticket special Saturday, with 2-for-1 pricing on all lower level seats. … Saturday is police and firefighters appreciation night. … Yakima Valley heads out for three consecutive road games after this week. The Warriors will have just two home games remaining — June 19 vs. Ogden and June 26 vs. San Jose.
YAKIMA, Wash. — With the season starting to wind down, every game is taking on added significance for the Yakima Valley Warriors.
But Saturday’s 7:15 p.m. home contest holds even more importance if the Warriors hope to nab the AIFA West Division’s third and final playoff spot.
That’s because that final postseason slot is currently occupied by Saturday’s opponent, the Wasilla Arctic Predators, with Yakima Valley sitting in fourth place.
“It’s a big game for us,” Warriors director of football operations Michael Mink said. “We need to get back into third place, and a win would do that for us. Plus, it gives us a 2-1 season series edge with them.”
Wasilla is 3-3, with Yakima Valley at 3-5. The teams have split the first two meetings, with the road team winning both games, including the Predators’ last-seconds 66-63 win on May 1 in the SunDome.
Yakima Valley must find a way to contain quarterback Damion Ward, who didn’t play in the teams’ first meeting, but who went 28 of 42 for 330 yards and eight touchdowns in Wasilla’s May 1 victory.
“We’re going to offer some quick combinations to try and chase Ward. He’s pretty quick,” Mink said.
Yakima Valley has been working with different defensive combinations this week, notably moving linebacker Prince Hall to defensive line, and defensive back Travis Motley to linebacker to improve its quickness up front.
Also, the Warriors added two more defensive players — Michael Gottlieb, a 6-foot-5, 249-pound linebacker from the University of Washington, and Jerell Norton, a 6-1, 205-pound cornerback out of the University of Arkansas.
That makes five new defensive faces in the past three weeks. Mink said it’s “been tough” getting all of them acclimated into the system, but said the changes were needed because “we’re trying to make this the best team we can.”
NOTES: The Warriors are offering a ticket special Saturday, with 2-for-1 pricing on all lower level seats. … Saturday is police and firefighters appreciation night. … Yakima Valley heads out for three consecutive road games after this week. The Warriors will have just two home games remaining — June 19 vs. Ogden and June 26 vs. San Jose.