Tri-Cities Fever beat the Everett Raptors 70-61 Friday night and swept the season series 4-0 (pretty much a nail in the Raptors post-season chances).
"Minor league pro football is a weird universe filled with bounced checks, unpaid bills, empty promises, out-right lies, empty arenas, endless women, endless booze, occasionally drugs, endless trips on rented buses to towns on the outskirts of the Big Time and, for one night a week, a football game." -- Bill Shea
EVERETT — The Tri-Cities Fever held off a hard-charging Everett Raptors team Friday night, winning 70-61 in an Indoor Football League contest at Comcast Arena in Everett.
The victory makes the Fever 9-0 heading into a road game next Saturday at Sioux Falls, the defending IFL champion, which is 8-0 this season.
It will be a rematch of last year’s league championship competitors, a game which the Storm won 37-10.
Saturday’s contest will be the first of two over the next three weeks between these teams. They will meet May 26 at Toyota Center.
But before the Fever could start thinking about Sioux Falls, it had to win Friday’s game against Everett (2-7) — the fourth and final time these teams met this year.
Fever coach Adam Shackleford knew this would be a tough game for his team.
“Everett is a physical football team,” he said. “But you could tell as the game wore on, they were getting worn down and we weren’t. Our three days a week of weightlifting is helping us.”
Still, Raptors quarterback Shane Austin made it a game.
The former University of Hawaii standout was signed last week when Blake Bolles was picked up by the Minnesota Vikings — making Austin the fourth quarterback Everett has used this season.
Austin tossed nine touchdown passes against the Fever defense, which was coming off a stellar effort last week in a 37-20 win over New Mexico.
But Austin also tossed two interceptions — both by Rudell Crim — and they would be the big difference in the game.
Each time Crim made an interception, the Tri-Cities offense scored a touchdown.
“Those were his first two interceptions of the year,” Shackleford said. “The only reason he doesn’t have any more is that people aren’t throwing at him. He just covers his guy.”
Everett had tied the game at 42-all midway through the third quarter. But the Fever bounced back when quarterback Houston Lillard hit Tre Young for a 34-yard touchdown pass and a 49-42 lead.
On the ensuing series, Crim intercepted a pass at the goal line.
The Fever moved the ball downfield, culminating on a 6-yard TD run by Dennis Kennedy — he had four TD runs in the game — for a 56-42 lead.
Everett would never get closer than seven points the rest of the way.
“I’m proud of the way our guys played tonight,” Shackleford said. “We ran the ball well. Houston did a great job of running the offense.”
Especially in the second half, when Fever defensive coordinator Ryan Lingenfelder was ejected by officials for contesting a call too vehemently.
The Fever coaching staff lost its place on the field and had to coach from the bench.
Shackleford — who was tossed from the field in a game last season at Arizona — took it in stride.
“I told the guys the only difference is 3 feet. I’m just doing it on the bench,” said Shackleford. “I gave Houston a play. I’d say ‘This is what I want, and on the next play run this.’ But the kid could call his own game. I trust him.”
Lillard finished with 200 yards passing and five touchdown passes.
Young finished with five catches for 87 yards and two TDs. Newly acquired receiver Sean Creadick had four catches for 45 yards and two TDs.
“You could see as the game progressed he got more confident,” Shackleford said.
NOTES: Young and fellow receiver Steven Whitehead had to play in the defensive secondary after regular starter DeLeon Gause injured his ribs at the end of the first half. … Creadick played in the place of regular starter Edward Berry, who was sidelined with turf toe. Shackleford believes all of his receivers will be ready for next week’s game. … The Storm had a bye this weekend.
"Minor league pro football is a weird universe filled with bounced checks, unpaid bills, empty promises, out-right lies, empty arenas, endless women, endless booze, occasionally drugs, endless trips on rented buses to towns on the outskirts of the Big Time and, for one night a week, a football game." -- Bill Shea
Administrator: #LFL-US Pacific Cup: Seattle Mist 27, Los Angeles Temptation 25 (FINAL) #IndoorScores
Dec 7, 2013 2:03:30 GMT -5
Banana Cat: This board was revised and updated on 7 December in preparation for the 2014 season. If you have any suggestions, let me know.
Dec 7, 2013 6:38:21 GMT -5
Banana Cat: LFL-AU kicks off inaugural season; New South Wales Surge 44, Queensland Brigade 6 (FINAL)
Dec 7, 2013 7:47:46 GMT -5
Banana Cat: LFL-AU: Victoria Maidens 32, Western Australia Angels 26 (FINAL)
Dec 14, 2013 21:58:09 GMT -5
Banana Cat: Seattle Seahawks vs Denver Broncos for the Super Bowl. Who will win?
Jan 22, 2014 22:00:38 GMT -5
CF4L: Grand Island is up 13-0 early on over Lincoln
Feb 10, 2014 20:24:08 GMT -5
CF4L: 19-0 GI after a quarter.
Feb 10, 2014 20:38:55 GMT -5
Banana Cat: Did you go to the game CF4L?
Feb 17, 2014 11:34:51 GMT -5
danger10: Watching first night of IFL Regular season lets go Danger!
Feb 21, 2014 21:21:56 GMT -5
BNDC: Football bandits.
Mar 2, 2014 17:26:50 GMT -5
dubyaessoh: Sure is quiet in here this year!
Mar 14, 2014 19:15:50 GMT -5
halaroo: Does anyone know where I can watch away games for the AIF online?
Mar 22, 2014 9:53:41 GMT -5
Doom: this shoutbox at the bottom noone really sees it is prolly why its always quiet
Apr 12, 2014 19:11:41 GMT -5
Banana Cat: Everyone's on the facebook group now too, which makes it even more quiet. This shoutbox was quiet when it was at the top this past year, so maybe I should just shut it down.
Apr 14, 2014 20:55:38 GMT -5
Bring Back CFL to KC: so what are the guess about chances for indoor football back in kc
Sept 8, 2014 20:19:30 GMT -5
superpicker: Merry Christmas to all.
Dec 25, 2014 9:29:43 GMT -5
superpicker: Happy New Year 2015 to all fans, friends, players, owners, coaches and anyone else involved with the great sport of Indoor Football.
Jan 10, 2015 12:00:39 GMT -5
superpicker: Happy 2016 to all fans, friends, players, owners, coaches and anyone else involved with the great sport of Indoor Football.