Koyotes earn sixth straight title
Team completes 11-1 season with 62-36 win
By Rick Peterson Jr.
The Capital-Journal
Published Sunday, August 03, 2008
The Kansas Koyotes were overwhelming favorites to capture their sixth consecutive American Professional Football League championship Saturday night against Beaumont (Texas).
And after a slow start, the 11-1 Koyotes lived up to their billing, rolling to a 62-36 win against the Drillers at Landon Arena.
The Drillers, who hadn't played a game since May 31, used an aerial attack keyed by quarterback Tony Eckert to take an early 12-6 lead. But the Koyotes bounced back to take a nine-point lead at halftime and dominated the second half.
"We knew they were going over the top," Koyotes coach Jim Green said. "We talked about that over the week. We knew we were going to have to shut that long pass down and also get pressure on the quarterback.
"We made some adjustments on the front line, and it really did pay off."
Koyotes cornerback Henry Talley, who grabbed two interceptions in the game, including a 27-yard return for a touchdown, said that Beaumont's speed gave the Koyotes problems early on.
"They were a good team, and they had some fast people and we had to adjust to their speed," he said. "We had to get back playing our football so we just made adjustments and made plays off of that."
Mike Steen ran for three touchdowns to key the Koyotes' offense, while Solomon Brittian scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns off kickoff returns.
Steen, who joined the Koyotes this year, said that the season was an exciting one.
"It's just been a lot of brotherly love," Steen said. "We had a lot of people showing up that loved to win.
"We let one slip away (a loss to Iowa) from a perfect season, but we made up for it with a championship, and that's all that matters."
The Koyotes, got a pair of 3-yard first-half touchdown runs from Steen, an 11-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Bolden Jr. to Josh Freeman and the interception return from Talley to build a 27-18 halftime lead.
Eckert hit Jerrod Fuller for a 36-yard touchdown pass on the Drillers' first offensive play. Eckert also hit Roland Hayes for a 15-yard scoring pass in the first quarter and connected with Fuller for a 9-yard score in the second period.
Kansas ended any hopes of a Beaumont comeback with two third-quarter touchdowns then outscored the Drillers 21-18 in a wild final period.
The Koyotes overcame a 239-yard passing effort from Eckert and a 109-yard receiving night from Fuller, who caught four of Eckert's six touchdown passes.
Beaumont 12 6 0 18 — 36
Kansas 6 21 14 21 — 62
Kansas — Steen 3 run (kick failed)
Beaumont — Fuller 36 pass from Eckert (pass failed)
Beaumont — Hayes 15 pass from Eckert (pass failed)
Kansas — Freeman 11 pass from Bolden (Thompson kick)
Kansas — Talley 27 interception return (Thompson kick)
Beaumont — Fuller 9 pass from Eckert (run failed)
Kansas — Steen 3 run (Thompson kick)
Kansas — Steen 2 run (Thompson kick)
Kansas — Bolden 11 run (Thompson kick)
Beaumont — Fuller 16 pass from Eckert (pass failed)
Kansas — Brittian 48 kickoff return (Thompson kick)
Beaumont — Jones 33 pass from Eckert (pass failed)
Kansas — Brittian 29 kickoff return (Thompson kick)
Kansas — Safety, Eckert tackled by Carter in end zone
Kansas — Smith 2 run (run failed)
Beaumont — Fuller 5 pass from Eckert (pass failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Beaumont: Fuller 1-5, Brown 1-5, Hayes 2-1, Eckert 4-minus-30. Kansas: Smith 6-37, Steen 11-36, Bolden 7-34, Wrecke 1-2.
PASSING — Beaumont: Eckert 20-35-4, 239. Kansas: Bolden 5-20-1, 60.
RECEIVING — Beaumont: Fuller 7-109, Franks 5-30, Hayes 4-41, Jones 2-38, Deml 1-21, Beeler 1-0. Kansas: Freeman 2-23, Smith 1-19, Steen 1-12, Allen 1-6.
2008 APFL Championship
Game Webcast
Please click here for the webcast. There will be a $5 charge payable via PayPal.
2008 APFL Championship Game
The race for the APFL Championship is down to two as the Kansas Koyotes, with a 10 – 1 record, learned their opponent for the season’s biggest game this Saturday at the Kansas Expocentre. The Beaumont (TX) Drillers will bring their 9 – 3 record to Topeka for the title tilt at 7:05 PM, Saturday, August 2nd.
The Drillers, formerly of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL), are in their first year in the APFL and their ninth season overall. The Drillers made the playoffs four times in the NIFL, however, this is their first ever appearance in a Championship Game.
The Drillers are led by veteran indoor professional football coach Bryan Blake. Blake in his first year in the APFL has coached for five years in indoor professional football for teams in the af2 and the NIFL. He also played in both leagues prior to becoming a coach.
The Koyotes are led by third year head coach Jim Green. Green has led the Koyotes to their last two Championships as well as an assistant in their very first in 2003. Rookie quarterback Nathan Bolden leads the Koyotes on the field , and the most veteran player on the roster, Justin Wrecke, is Bolden’s favorite target leading the league in touchdown receptions.
APFL Championship Game tickets are on sale now through the Kansas Koyotes office or in person at the Kansas Expocentre box office. Season ticket holders’ seats are being held for their purchase through Tuesday, July 29. All other seats are available for purchase now as well. General admission ticket prices start at $10 for adults and $5 for kids 2 – 12 years of age. Companies or groups with 10 or more interested in special group prices can call the Koyotes office for further information at 785-228-0729
2008 APFL
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
APFL Championship Game tickets are now on sale through the Kansas Koyotes office or in person at the Kansas Expocentre box office. The Championship game is scheduled for Saturday, August 2nd at 7:05pm.
Season ticket holders’ seats are being held for their purchase through Tuesday, July 29. All other seats are available for purchase now. General admission ticket prices start at $10 for adults and $5 for kids. For further information call the Kansas Koyotes office at 785-228-0729
Florida Scorpions in town on Saturday
The Koyotes will be playing this weekend April 26th at 7:05pm in Landon Arena at the Kansas Expocentre. The Florida Scorpions (formerly nicknamed the Knights) will be the opponent. The Scorpions are a transfer from the now defunct National Indoor Football League (NIFL). Ironically, the NIFL was the intended league for the Koyotes until shaky leadership led them to the more regional APFL. The Florida team is a bit of an unknown since this will be their first game in the APFL. However, they are expected to be as most football teams in Florida tend to be – full of plenty of size and speed.
Thanks,
Ted E. Adams
Vice President
Kansas Koyotes, Professional Indoor Football Team
2008 Koyotes Schedule
April 19th Springfield Wolfpack
April 26th Florida Knights
May 3rd Bye
May 10th Nebraska Extreme
May 17th Bye
May 24th Iowa Blackhawks
May 31st at Iowa Blackhawks
June 7th at Springfield Wolfpack
June 13th Missouri Minutemen
June 21st Nebraska
June 28th Bye
July 5th at Florida Knights
July 12th at Iowa Blackhawks
July 19th or 26th APFL Playoffs
July 26th or August 2nd APFL Championship
2008 Koyotes Player Tryouts
January 26th, 2008
Topeka, KS – The Kansas Koyotes are holding their player tryouts for the upcoming 2008 APFL season on Saturday, January 26th. The tryouts will be in two sessions. The 8:00AM session will be an open tryout for new players interested in all positions. The 1:00PM session will be for returning players from the 2007 team and players invited back from the morning session. Team drills will be a part of the afternoon activities.
“We are looking to fill some key positions,” said Head Coach Jim Green. “We will be looking for championship caliber players at all positions at this tryout.”
Players wishing to pre-register for the tryout can contact the Koyotes at (785) 228-0729 or stop by the office at 4121 SW Twilight Drive. The registration fee for the tryout is $40.00 cash or money order ONLY. Players may also register on the day of the tryout. Registration begins at 8:00AM at the Topeka West High School gymnasium at 2001 SW Fairlawn. Participants are to park in the West parking lot off Belle Avenue north of 21st St. and enter at the north gymnasium doors.
“We have our coaching staff in place and are all very anxious to get this season started,” said Coach Green. “In our coaches’ meetings I have felt a great deal of energy and excitement about forming another championship team for Topeka. With several new teams in the league this year, we know we have to continue to improve our talent to keep the winning tradition of the Koyotes.”
Those trying out for the team are urged to wear appropriate attire (t-shirt, shorts, etc.) and shoes for the strenuous exercises and drills associated with the tryout. Regular gym shoes or basketball shoes will be required. Please do not wear black soled shoes. Drinks will be provided at the tryout.
In looking ahead for the next two months, Coach Green stated that strength training and conditioning will start in February and Training camp will start in early March.
“We hope our tradition of winning continues, and Coach Green is committed to help us continue bringing championship football to NE Kansas for years to come,” stated Ralph Adams, Koyotes president and founder.
The Koyotes are going for a sixth straight APFL championship beginning in April. Season tickets are on sale at the Koyotes office for the upcoming 2008 season. The seating sections are filling up fast. The VIP section and home sideline seats are almost completely sold out. For more information call (785) 228-0729.
4121 SW Twilight Dr, Ste 7
Topeka, KS 66614
785-228-0729 |
