With one game left on its American Indoor Football (AIF) regular-season docket, the River City Raiders look for an important road win this weekend and potentially gain post-season placement.
Photo Credit: Karl Lund
The Raiders (4-1) meet the Chicago Blitz (3-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Odeum Expo Center in Villa Park, Illinois.
River City recorded a 62-13 home exhibition win over Missouri Rampage last Friday at Family Arena that extended the team’s perfect local record to five games. Since the contest was against a non-AIF-affiliated squad, the result did not apply to the Raiders’ standing in the 10-team AIF Northern Division hierarchy that currently sits in a third-place tie with Philadelphia (4-1).
Friday’s win saw four touchdown passes from quarterback Tarean Austin while running backs Tyler Batts and Lennies McFerrin as well as receiver DeJuan Bolden each recorded a pair of end zone trips.
The Raiders’ crushing blow in the romp over the Rampage was a stubborn defense, anchored by Haylon Jacobs, Gary Henderson, Kyle Walker, Keenan Mace, Tim Hamm-Bey and Bernard Quinn, that propelled a 49-0 stretch run.
Photo Credit: Karl Lund
Saturday’s road opponent, the Chicago Blitz, also competed in a non-sanctioned game this past weekend, a 73-6 duke over the Memphis X Sounds. Quarterback Andre Locke threw for eight touchdowns in the contest while receiver Bryant Pascascio snared five end zone catches.
Previously between the two competing squads, River City topped Chicago at Family Arena, 47-34, on April 23. Change of venue and vocal support might help the Blitz, currently fifth in the AIF Northern Division, but the Raiders are ready to play spoiler in the Windy City.
For more info on the River City Raiders, go to indoorraiders.com.
Arch City Sports will have a recap of this game posted on Sunday.
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Arch City Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews.
