Post by 50yardfan on Jun 7, 2011 22:45:43 GMT -5
www.marionstar.com/article/20110606/SPORTS/106060301/Blue-Racers-action-tonight-CIFL-playoffs
MARION - The Marion Blue Racers finished the regular season with an 8-2 record, the second best mark in the Continental Indoor Football League.
But those wins and losses mean little now as post-season play starts at 7:45 p.m. tonight at Veterans Memorial Coliseum against the Dayton Silverbacks.
"It is a new season now," Blue Racers head coach Ryan Terry said. "We have played each other twice, so we both know what each other is going to do."
The Blue Racers won both games, 34-13 at home on March 26, and 31-14 at Dayton on April 9.
"It was a very important piece to the puzzle to have a playoff game in Marion," Terry said. "Now that we have that, we want to win a playoff game in Marion. We want the fans to come out and be rowdy."
The winner of tonight's game will travel to Cincinnati on Saturday for the CIFL championship.
The Commandos, who are the defending CIFL champions, rolled past the Chicago Knights 71-13 on Friday in the other semifinal game.
Both Blue Racers losses this year were against the Commandos, including a 50-20 loss on May 28.
Cincinnati broke the game open in the fourth quarter by scoring 27 points while holding Marion to just seven markers.
"We had our opportunities against Cincinnati," Terry said.
Dayton comes into the game on hot streak, winning its last two games and three of the last four.
"It will be about execution on offense, defense and special teams," Terry said. "The team that has that has the best execution and doesn't turn the ball over will win the game."
THE BLUE RACERS AND SILVERBACKS MET TWICE IN THE REGULAR SEASON:
» When: March 26.
» Where: Veterans Memorial Coliseum
» Score: Marion 34, Dayton 13
» Synopsis: This game was decided in the first half as the Blue Racers raced to a 31-7 lead. Dayton scored on its first possession, but did not score again until the fourth quarter. Josh Harris threw touchdown passes to Mike Tatum of 46 yards and Brandon Williams of 38 yards. Tyler Lorenz kicked field goals of 36 and 43 yards. Bryceson Lawrence recovered a fumble in the end zone for a TD.
» When: April 9
» Where: Hara Arena, Dayton
» Score: Marion 31, Dayton 14
» Synopsis: Dayton scored the first time it touched the ball as Fred Cromartie took the opening kickoff 54 yards for a touchdown. But Marion's defense, which held Dayton to 107 total yard, allowed only one other score. Harris threw two touchdowns passes to Brandon Williams and scored on a 9-yard run while Christen Haywood scored on a run and Lorenz booted a 37-yard field goal.
AT A GLANCE
IF YOU GO
CONTINENTAL INDOOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL
» Who: Dayton Silverbacks versus Marion Blue Racers.
» Where: Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Marion County Fairgrounds.
» When: 7:45 p.m. tonight.
» Tickets: $10 per person, children age 2 and younger will be admitted free.
MARION - The Marion Blue Racers finished the regular season with an 8-2 record, the second best mark in the Continental Indoor Football League.
But those wins and losses mean little now as post-season play starts at 7:45 p.m. tonight at Veterans Memorial Coliseum against the Dayton Silverbacks.
"It is a new season now," Blue Racers head coach Ryan Terry said. "We have played each other twice, so we both know what each other is going to do."
The Blue Racers won both games, 34-13 at home on March 26, and 31-14 at Dayton on April 9.
"It was a very important piece to the puzzle to have a playoff game in Marion," Terry said. "Now that we have that, we want to win a playoff game in Marion. We want the fans to come out and be rowdy."
The winner of tonight's game will travel to Cincinnati on Saturday for the CIFL championship.
The Commandos, who are the defending CIFL champions, rolled past the Chicago Knights 71-13 on Friday in the other semifinal game.
Both Blue Racers losses this year were against the Commandos, including a 50-20 loss on May 28.
Cincinnati broke the game open in the fourth quarter by scoring 27 points while holding Marion to just seven markers.
"We had our opportunities against Cincinnati," Terry said.
Dayton comes into the game on hot streak, winning its last two games and three of the last four.
"It will be about execution on offense, defense and special teams," Terry said. "The team that has that has the best execution and doesn't turn the ball over will win the game."
THE BLUE RACERS AND SILVERBACKS MET TWICE IN THE REGULAR SEASON:
» When: March 26.
» Where: Veterans Memorial Coliseum
» Score: Marion 34, Dayton 13
» Synopsis: This game was decided in the first half as the Blue Racers raced to a 31-7 lead. Dayton scored on its first possession, but did not score again until the fourth quarter. Josh Harris threw touchdown passes to Mike Tatum of 46 yards and Brandon Williams of 38 yards. Tyler Lorenz kicked field goals of 36 and 43 yards. Bryceson Lawrence recovered a fumble in the end zone for a TD.
» When: April 9
» Where: Hara Arena, Dayton
» Score: Marion 31, Dayton 14
» Synopsis: Dayton scored the first time it touched the ball as Fred Cromartie took the opening kickoff 54 yards for a touchdown. But Marion's defense, which held Dayton to 107 total yard, allowed only one other score. Harris threw two touchdowns passes to Brandon Williams and scored on a 9-yard run while Christen Haywood scored on a run and Lorenz booted a 37-yard field goal.
AT A GLANCE
IF YOU GO
CONTINENTAL INDOOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL
» Who: Dayton Silverbacks versus Marion Blue Racers.
» Where: Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Marion County Fairgrounds.
» When: 7:45 p.m. tonight.
» Tickets: $10 per person, children age 2 and younger will be admitted free.