Post by 50yardfan on Feb 27, 2011 12:08:27 GMT -5
The Tri-Cities Fever put on a show for their fans Saturday night and in doing so, hopefully made a statement to the rest of the Indoor Football League.
The Fever opened the 2011 season Saturday night with convincing 76-28 victory over the expansion Arizona Adrenaline in front of a lively crowd at Toyota Center.
It is the first time since the 2006 season that the Fever has opened the season with a win.
"We wanted to come out and make a statement," said Fever receiver Joey Hew Len. "We wanted to show people that we are a pretty good football team."
Coach Adam Shackleford added, "We want to be put in the conversation around the league that Tri-Cities is a good football team and should be considered one of the top teams in the league."
The Fever (1-0) definitely looked the part against an overmatched Arizona (0-1) team.
The Fever raced out to a 38-0 second-quarter lead behind starting quarterback Houston Lillard, and continued to play well from there.
Lillard, who led the Fever to the playoffs last season, was an efficient 9 of 15 passing from 115 yards and four touchdowns. He gave way in the second half to rookie Antwon Young, who was 8 of 12 passing for 83 yards and two more touchdowns.
Hew Len had a big night on offense. The lone returning receiver from last season caught six passes for 102 yards and three touchdowns, including a 43-yard catch-and-run that put the Fever ahead 45-8 right before halftime. He also ran two times for 13 yards and another touchdown.
"We got off to a little bit of a slow start tonight, but we all seem to be getting on the same page," Hew Len said.
The Fever offense had most of its scoring drives start inside Arizona territory thanks to a big defensive and special teams efforts.
The Fever forced Adrenaline quarterback into four interceptions and forced two fumbles. The first fumble came on the second play of the game. Arizona quarterback Jaime Cota had the ball slip out of his hands and Jason Beauchamp recovered the loose ball in the end zone to give the Fever a quick 7-0 lead.
"It's always big when you can get a score like that," Shackleford said.
Defensive back Dennis Rogan seemed to have his hands in a little bit of everything Saturday night. The rookie from the University of Tennessee had three interceptions.
"We just wanted to come out and play well," said Rogan.
And that they did.
But well enough for the rest of the league to take notice That might take some time and a couple more wins.
"We just need to stay hungry," Hew Len said. "We can't get caught getting complacent."
The Fever opened the 2011 season Saturday night with convincing 76-28 victory over the expansion Arizona Adrenaline in front of a lively crowd at Toyota Center.
It is the first time since the 2006 season that the Fever has opened the season with a win.
"We wanted to come out and make a statement," said Fever receiver Joey Hew Len. "We wanted to show people that we are a pretty good football team."
Coach Adam Shackleford added, "We want to be put in the conversation around the league that Tri-Cities is a good football team and should be considered one of the top teams in the league."
The Fever (1-0) definitely looked the part against an overmatched Arizona (0-1) team.
The Fever raced out to a 38-0 second-quarter lead behind starting quarterback Houston Lillard, and continued to play well from there.
Lillard, who led the Fever to the playoffs last season, was an efficient 9 of 15 passing from 115 yards and four touchdowns. He gave way in the second half to rookie Antwon Young, who was 8 of 12 passing for 83 yards and two more touchdowns.
Hew Len had a big night on offense. The lone returning receiver from last season caught six passes for 102 yards and three touchdowns, including a 43-yard catch-and-run that put the Fever ahead 45-8 right before halftime. He also ran two times for 13 yards and another touchdown.
"We got off to a little bit of a slow start tonight, but we all seem to be getting on the same page," Hew Len said.
The Fever offense had most of its scoring drives start inside Arizona territory thanks to a big defensive and special teams efforts.
The Fever forced Adrenaline quarterback into four interceptions and forced two fumbles. The first fumble came on the second play of the game. Arizona quarterback Jaime Cota had the ball slip out of his hands and Jason Beauchamp recovered the loose ball in the end zone to give the Fever a quick 7-0 lead.
"It's always big when you can get a score like that," Shackleford said.
Defensive back Dennis Rogan seemed to have his hands in a little bit of everything Saturday night. The rookie from the University of Tennessee had three interceptions.
"We just wanted to come out and play well," said Rogan.
And that they did.
But well enough for the rest of the league to take notice That might take some time and a couple more wins.
"We just need to stay hungry," Hew Len said. "We can't get caught getting complacent."