Post by CF4L on Jun 23, 2012 9:29:13 GMT -5
www.sedaliademocrat.com/sports/football-44488-outlaws-home.html
Outlaws hope to put on a show in home finale
by Seth Stringer
In terms of its effect on the American Professional Football League standings, the Mid-Missouri Outlaws’ game against the St. Louis Stars on Saturday has no bearing. But that doesn’t mean it’s an insignificant contest. Far from it, actually.
Whether you call it a dress rehearsal, a warm-up or a sneak peek, this weekend’s nonleague contest is not only a chance for the Outlaws to put on a show for home fans in the final game of the season at the Mathewson Exhibition Center, but an opportunity for them to right the ship heading into the season finale in Tulsa at the Oklahoma Defenders.
And what an important contest it will be on June 30.
Tied in the loss column with the Kansas Koyotes (6-4), the 7-4 Outlaws will need a win punch their ticket to the playoffs.
“It’s crunch time,” coach Ben Lyles said. “We have to have a win June 30.”
Based on playoff tiebreakers, the Outlaws will also need a little help from the Kansas Koyotes.
The Koyotes split the season with the Outlaws but hold the tiebreaker based on point differential — they beat the Outlaws 48-42, then lost 33-28. They’ll enter Saturday’s road contest against the 11-0 first-place Sioux City Bandits as serious underdogs, but they also have the luxury of concluding the season at home against the 1-9 Springfield WolfPack.
With the Koyotes almost assured of ending the season with no worse than a 7-5 mark, there’s no room for error.
Understood is the fact the Outlaws can’t afford another effort like last week where they committed nine turnovers at home en route to a 75-10 defeat to the Defenders.
“You can’t turn the ball over like that in this game with the field being so short to begin with,” Lyles said. “We’ve got to clean that up and defensively we’ve got to stop giving up big plays.
“This is the last home game ... and we want to bounce back from that disappointing showing last week,” he said. “We want to put on a show for the crowd.”
So what does Lyles know about the Outlaws’ upcoming opponent? Not much, just that their résumé’s pretty polished
“From what I’ve heard they’re a pretty good football team, pretty good athletes,” Lyles said. “The last I saw they were 9-1, 10-1 I think, so it’s going to be another test for us.”
The Outlaws will benefit from the leadership of quarterback Kyle Middleton, who will spell incumbent Jeremy Spears for at least a few snaps after breaking his collarbone five weeks ago.
“He threw last week in practice a little bit and warmed up before the game Saturday, serving as an emergency option. He looked pretty good. He’s anxious to get out there and before he got injured he was having a great season so we expect him to continue that.”
As for Spears, who went 2-1 under center as Middleton’s replacement, Lyles was proud of the backup whose transition from the wideout was more seamless than most fans expected.
“Jeremy did a great job there and down the road the experience will allow him to be a great asset to us,” Lyles said.
While Middleton is back, the Outlaws are still dealing with injuries. Offensive linemen Micah and Seth Brimer are banged up, defensive lineman Rodney Thomas is out and Dan Tuiono, who shines in multiple roles on both sides of the ball, and Jajwan Shields will be game-time decisions this week.
Outlaws hope to put on a show in home finale
by Seth Stringer
In terms of its effect on the American Professional Football League standings, the Mid-Missouri Outlaws’ game against the St. Louis Stars on Saturday has no bearing. But that doesn’t mean it’s an insignificant contest. Far from it, actually.
Whether you call it a dress rehearsal, a warm-up or a sneak peek, this weekend’s nonleague contest is not only a chance for the Outlaws to put on a show for home fans in the final game of the season at the Mathewson Exhibition Center, but an opportunity for them to right the ship heading into the season finale in Tulsa at the Oklahoma Defenders.
And what an important contest it will be on June 30.
Tied in the loss column with the Kansas Koyotes (6-4), the 7-4 Outlaws will need a win punch their ticket to the playoffs.
“It’s crunch time,” coach Ben Lyles said. “We have to have a win June 30.”
Based on playoff tiebreakers, the Outlaws will also need a little help from the Kansas Koyotes.
The Koyotes split the season with the Outlaws but hold the tiebreaker based on point differential — they beat the Outlaws 48-42, then lost 33-28. They’ll enter Saturday’s road contest against the 11-0 first-place Sioux City Bandits as serious underdogs, but they also have the luxury of concluding the season at home against the 1-9 Springfield WolfPack.
With the Koyotes almost assured of ending the season with no worse than a 7-5 mark, there’s no room for error.
Understood is the fact the Outlaws can’t afford another effort like last week where they committed nine turnovers at home en route to a 75-10 defeat to the Defenders.
“You can’t turn the ball over like that in this game with the field being so short to begin with,” Lyles said. “We’ve got to clean that up and defensively we’ve got to stop giving up big plays.
“This is the last home game ... and we want to bounce back from that disappointing showing last week,” he said. “We want to put on a show for the crowd.”
So what does Lyles know about the Outlaws’ upcoming opponent? Not much, just that their résumé’s pretty polished
“From what I’ve heard they’re a pretty good football team, pretty good athletes,” Lyles said. “The last I saw they were 9-1, 10-1 I think, so it’s going to be another test for us.”
The Outlaws will benefit from the leadership of quarterback Kyle Middleton, who will spell incumbent Jeremy Spears for at least a few snaps after breaking his collarbone five weeks ago.
“He threw last week in practice a little bit and warmed up before the game Saturday, serving as an emergency option. He looked pretty good. He’s anxious to get out there and before he got injured he was having a great season so we expect him to continue that.”
As for Spears, who went 2-1 under center as Middleton’s replacement, Lyles was proud of the backup whose transition from the wideout was more seamless than most fans expected.
“Jeremy did a great job there and down the road the experience will allow him to be a great asset to us,” Lyles said.
While Middleton is back, the Outlaws are still dealing with injuries. Offensive linemen Micah and Seth Brimer are banged up, defensive lineman Rodney Thomas is out and Dan Tuiono, who shines in multiple roles on both sides of the ball, and Jajwan Shields will be game-time decisions this week.