Post by 50yardfan on Jul 25, 2010 12:53:48 GMT -5
trib.com/sports/pro/article_f6585746-5eca-55f9-bd5e-daef7aa3989e.html
Today's American Indoor Football Association championship game in Baltimore is a homecoming of sorts for Wyoming Cavalry wide receiver Jasonus Tillery.
Tillery, who grew up just two hours away in Newport News, Va., has a great-grandfather from Baltimore and just last year finished serving a 28-month prison sentence in the city.
"I think Jasonus is excited to go back home," Cavs coach Dan Maciejczak said. "He wants to shine."
Tillery has been a bright light for the Cavs all season.
After totaling just two catches for 12 yards in the first two weeks, Tillery burst onto the scene with a three-touchdown game in a 79-18 win over Wasilla on April 2.
As the season progressed, Tillery established himself as one of Matt Strand's favorite targets. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound receiver had five games in which he had more than 100 receiving yards, including a six-catch, 147-yard performance in the Cavs' 57-37 win over San Jose in the Western Division championship game on July 11.
The Cavs, who lost the past two AIFA title games, are hoping for a similar showing in AIFA Bowl IV today against the Baltimore Mariners.
"We've had receivers with speed and receivers with [good] hands," Maciejczak said. "But Jasonus really seems to bring it all together, especially in big games.
"Jasonus gives us that different element that maybe we didn't have in the past."
Tillery is helped by the fact that the Cavs have other talented receivers in Dante Dudley, B.J. Charlton and James Everage, all of whom have the ability to make big plays and take some of the pressure off Tillery.
But there's no doubt the Cavs' offense has an added dimension when Tillery is on the field.
Tillery, who enters the game with 62 receptions for 1,000 yards and a league-best 25 TDs, has definitely caught the attention of Baltimore coach Chris Simpson.
"Jasonus Tillery is a game-breaker," Simpson said. "He's a gifted receiver who had a tremendous season. And he's not easy to press, so he will present a challenge to our secondary."
That's just what Strand is counting on.
"Jasonus is hard to defend," Strand said. "He's got speed, he can jump, and he's got the strength to get guys' hands off him so he can get going again."
Now Tillery gets a chance to do it all in front of the home folks.
Today's American Indoor Football Association championship game in Baltimore is a homecoming of sorts for Wyoming Cavalry wide receiver Jasonus Tillery.
Tillery, who grew up just two hours away in Newport News, Va., has a great-grandfather from Baltimore and just last year finished serving a 28-month prison sentence in the city.
"I think Jasonus is excited to go back home," Cavs coach Dan Maciejczak said. "He wants to shine."
Tillery has been a bright light for the Cavs all season.
After totaling just two catches for 12 yards in the first two weeks, Tillery burst onto the scene with a three-touchdown game in a 79-18 win over Wasilla on April 2.
As the season progressed, Tillery established himself as one of Matt Strand's favorite targets. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound receiver had five games in which he had more than 100 receiving yards, including a six-catch, 147-yard performance in the Cavs' 57-37 win over San Jose in the Western Division championship game on July 11.
The Cavs, who lost the past two AIFA title games, are hoping for a similar showing in AIFA Bowl IV today against the Baltimore Mariners.
"We've had receivers with speed and receivers with [good] hands," Maciejczak said. "But Jasonus really seems to bring it all together, especially in big games.
"Jasonus gives us that different element that maybe we didn't have in the past."
Tillery is helped by the fact that the Cavs have other talented receivers in Dante Dudley, B.J. Charlton and James Everage, all of whom have the ability to make big plays and take some of the pressure off Tillery.
But there's no doubt the Cavs' offense has an added dimension when Tillery is on the field.
Tillery, who enters the game with 62 receptions for 1,000 yards and a league-best 25 TDs, has definitely caught the attention of Baltimore coach Chris Simpson.
"Jasonus Tillery is a game-breaker," Simpson said. "He's a gifted receiver who had a tremendous season. And he's not easy to press, so he will present a challenge to our secondary."
That's just what Strand is counting on.
"Jasonus is hard to defend," Strand said. "He's got speed, he can jump, and he's got the strength to get guys' hands off him so he can get going again."
Now Tillery gets a chance to do it all in front of the home folks.