Sunday, Jun. 29, 2008

Fever playoff hopes take another hit

HERALD STAFF

BOISE -- The Tri-Cities Fever slipped into the offensive doldrums in the second half, and that was enough for the Boise Burn to all but end the Fever's playoff hopes.

Tri-Cities wasted a good start with three second-half turnovers in a 52-34 arenafootball2 league loss to the Burn on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 4,462 at Qwest Arena.

"It's frustrating," said Fever coach Cedric Walker.

At 4-9, the Fever is mathematically still alive for the playoffs, but will need to win its last three games and hope several teams lose their last three games.

It was the Fever's fourth straight loss -- its second four-game losing streak this season. It was also Tri-Cities' third straight loss by 18 or more points.

The Fever have a bye this week and then return home to play Amarillo on July 14 in the final game of the season at Toyota Center.

"We're going to get some new blood in here and finish up the right way," Walker said.

Boise (7-6) has won two in a row and is tied for seventh in the National Conference playoff race.

The game quickly got away from the Fever early in the third quarter. Trailing 25-21 at the half, Tri-Cities was unable to field the second-half kickoff. The Burn recovered, and one play later Casey Allen scored on a pass from Royal Gill to push the lead to 32-21.

The Fever's next offensive possession lasted just one play when quarterback Tali Ena fumbled at the Fever's 13-yard line. Travis Tofi recovered for the Burn, and Boise was in the end zone three minutes later when Gill connected with Levi Madarieta for a 4-yard strike to make the score 38-21.

"That right there changed the game," Walker said.

Tri-Cities, which lost 74-28 to the Burn the last time the teams met at Qwest Arena, took a 21-12 lead early in the second quarter when Ena hooked up with Phil Goodman.

Boise then reeled off 26 straight points over a span that bridged the second and third quarters.

"We had ample opportunities to win the game and we didn't take advantage of them," Walker said.