Post by 50yardfan on Jul 18, 2010 19:55:32 GMT -5
Wyoming enters AIFA title game with work to do
trib.com/sports/pro/article_cf6f28ce-db40-53b1-9317-a66460dd166e.html
The Wyoming Cavalry are in an unfamiliar role in a familiar setting.
The Cavs (14-1) will play in their fourth consecutive league title game when they travel to Baltimore on July 25 for the American Indoor Football Association championship.
Unlike in years past, however, the Cavs are decided underdogs against the unbeaten Mariners.
And the reasons extend beyond the Cavs' 0-3 record in league title games.
"There's a reason why they're undefeated," Cavs coach Dan Maciejczak said of the 15-0 Mariners. "They're a good football team and they don't make a lot of mistakes. They don't have a lot of holes on their team.
"Their quarterback is really poised and the [offensive line] does a great job of protecting him. And when you flip it around to the other side, their defensive line gets after the quarterback … every down and every play."
Baltimore, which beat Harrisburg 63-15 to win the Eastern Conference championship, leads the AIFA in scoring offense (60.7 points per game) and scoring defense (27.1 ppg). More impressively, the Mariners are +43 in turnover margin, with 57 takeaways and just 14 turnovers. Wyoming is second at +16.
"They are an aggressive defense that likes to create turnovers," Cavs quarterback Matt Strand said. "It's going to be important for us to limit our mistakes and not put ourselves in those turnover situations."
Outside of a four-turnover game against Wenatchee Valley on June 26 -- Wyoming's only loss -- Strand and the Cavs' offense have excelled in holding on to the ball.
Strand threw just nine interceptions on the season while connecting for 71 touchdowns. His 62.4-completion percentage (222-of-356) and 2,823 yards passing were both league bests.
Strand and his receivers –- Dante Dudley, B.J. Charlton, Jasonus Tillery and James Everage -– know they'll have to be up to the challenge of facing the Baltimore secondary.
The Mariners picked off 43 passes during the regular season, paced by Armar Watson with 13. Richard Johnson, Desmoind Maul and Jermaine Thaxton combined for 21 more.
"They're ball hawks," Dudley said. "When the ball is up in the air they make plays. We're going to have to be careful with what we do because they present some challenges."
The Mariners' defensive line and linebackers can also cause havoc. Baltimore led the AIFA with 45 sacks.
"Their defensive line goes non-stop every play," said Cavs offensive lineman Robbie Klinetobe.
Offensively, the Mariners are equally impressive.
Baltimore scored at least 50 points in all but two games and running back Isaiah Greer pounded his way to 30 touchdowns. In addition, quarterback E.J. Nemeth threw for more than 2,500 yards and 58 scores.
The receiving corps, while neither as experienced nor as productive as Wyoming's, still had four receivers grab at least six touchdown passes, led by Scorpio Brown with 24.
"They like to run a lot of deep routes with their outside receivers," Cavs defensive back Antar Brame said. "They've got some tall receivers so we expect them to throw a lot of jump balls."
But as difficult as the task looks, the Cavs know it isn't impossible.
Five days of intense film study have left them impressed with, but not in awe of the Mariners.
"The best thing for us is the sky is the limit," Maciejczak said. "We're not predicted to win this game, but we've been here before. We're just going to go out and play football and see what happens."
Dudley, who has played in the past three title games with the Cavs, added that the film sessions have also revealed areas in which the Cavs can take advantage.
"Baltimore is a great team and they present some challenges," Dudley said. "But everybody has a weakness; we just have to hit them at the right time.
"That's why we play the game."
Contact sports reporter Jack Nowlin at (307) 266-0528 or jack.nowlin@trib.com.
Cavalry Tracker
AIFA BOWL IV: Wyoming takes on Baltimore for the American Indoor Football Championship on July 25.
RECORDS: Cavalry (14-1); Mariners (15-0).
LIGHTS, CAMERA …: Wyoming has spent the past week breaking down film of the Mariners.
HE SAID IT: "Baltimore is a great team and they present some challenges. But everybody has a weakness; we just have to hit them at the right time." – Cavs receiver Dante Dudley.
trib.com/sports/pro/article_cf6f28ce-db40-53b1-9317-a66460dd166e.html
The Wyoming Cavalry are in an unfamiliar role in a familiar setting.
The Cavs (14-1) will play in their fourth consecutive league title game when they travel to Baltimore on July 25 for the American Indoor Football Association championship.
Unlike in years past, however, the Cavs are decided underdogs against the unbeaten Mariners.
And the reasons extend beyond the Cavs' 0-3 record in league title games.
"There's a reason why they're undefeated," Cavs coach Dan Maciejczak said of the 15-0 Mariners. "They're a good football team and they don't make a lot of mistakes. They don't have a lot of holes on their team.
"Their quarterback is really poised and the [offensive line] does a great job of protecting him. And when you flip it around to the other side, their defensive line gets after the quarterback … every down and every play."
Baltimore, which beat Harrisburg 63-15 to win the Eastern Conference championship, leads the AIFA in scoring offense (60.7 points per game) and scoring defense (27.1 ppg). More impressively, the Mariners are +43 in turnover margin, with 57 takeaways and just 14 turnovers. Wyoming is second at +16.
"They are an aggressive defense that likes to create turnovers," Cavs quarterback Matt Strand said. "It's going to be important for us to limit our mistakes and not put ourselves in those turnover situations."
Outside of a four-turnover game against Wenatchee Valley on June 26 -- Wyoming's only loss -- Strand and the Cavs' offense have excelled in holding on to the ball.
Strand threw just nine interceptions on the season while connecting for 71 touchdowns. His 62.4-completion percentage (222-of-356) and 2,823 yards passing were both league bests.
Strand and his receivers –- Dante Dudley, B.J. Charlton, Jasonus Tillery and James Everage -– know they'll have to be up to the challenge of facing the Baltimore secondary.
The Mariners picked off 43 passes during the regular season, paced by Armar Watson with 13. Richard Johnson, Desmoind Maul and Jermaine Thaxton combined for 21 more.
"They're ball hawks," Dudley said. "When the ball is up in the air they make plays. We're going to have to be careful with what we do because they present some challenges."
The Mariners' defensive line and linebackers can also cause havoc. Baltimore led the AIFA with 45 sacks.
"Their defensive line goes non-stop every play," said Cavs offensive lineman Robbie Klinetobe.
Offensively, the Mariners are equally impressive.
Baltimore scored at least 50 points in all but two games and running back Isaiah Greer pounded his way to 30 touchdowns. In addition, quarterback E.J. Nemeth threw for more than 2,500 yards and 58 scores.
The receiving corps, while neither as experienced nor as productive as Wyoming's, still had four receivers grab at least six touchdown passes, led by Scorpio Brown with 24.
"They like to run a lot of deep routes with their outside receivers," Cavs defensive back Antar Brame said. "They've got some tall receivers so we expect them to throw a lot of jump balls."
But as difficult as the task looks, the Cavs know it isn't impossible.
Five days of intense film study have left them impressed with, but not in awe of the Mariners.
"The best thing for us is the sky is the limit," Maciejczak said. "We're not predicted to win this game, but we've been here before. We're just going to go out and play football and see what happens."
Dudley, who has played in the past three title games with the Cavs, added that the film sessions have also revealed areas in which the Cavs can take advantage.
"Baltimore is a great team and they present some challenges," Dudley said. "But everybody has a weakness; we just have to hit them at the right time.
"That's why we play the game."
Contact sports reporter Jack Nowlin at (307) 266-0528 or jack.nowlin@trib.com.
Cavalry Tracker
AIFA BOWL IV: Wyoming takes on Baltimore for the American Indoor Football Championship on July 25.
RECORDS: Cavalry (14-1); Mariners (15-0).
LIGHTS, CAMERA …: Wyoming has spent the past week breaking down film of the Mariners.
HE SAID IT: "Baltimore is a great team and they present some challenges. But everybody has a weakness; we just have to hit them at the right time." – Cavs receiver Dante Dudley.