The idea to have Boise and Tri-Cities play four times this season was set up for convenience. Which in theory, with the economy the way it is and given the Fever looking for a new owner to avoid extinction, it made sense.
The teams are about a 5-hour drive apart and have started a nice little rivalry since they both joined the arenafootball2 league in 2007.
Looking back at it now, it was a great move -- if you are Boise.
The Burn has feasted on the Fever this season, winning the first three games by an average of nearly 40 points, and goes for the season sweep tonight at Qwest Arena.
Boise (11-2) is having its best season in franchise history and has already clinched a home playoff game. The Burn has won five in a row against the Fever (2-11) and six of the last seven.
"This is a huge game and I hope they are ready," said Fever coach Pat O'Hara.
As odd as it may sound, the Fever could join the Burn in the playoffs, but Tri-Cities (2-11) needs a road win tonight just to stay in the hunt.
Tri-Cities has lost 10 in a row away from Toyota Center, its last road win coming more than a year ago, winning at Stockton 44-21 on May 24, 2008.
The one thing the Fever does have going for it is it's coming off a win against Stockton two weeks ago.
The team also seems to have figured out its season-long quarterback issues.
Colin Drafts, the fifth starting quarterback for the Fever this season, had a solid start, completing 27 of 36 passes for 288 yards and five touchdowns.
At the same time, the Fever appears to have figured out its defensive rotation and how not to be burdened with penalties.
The Fever forced a season-high four interceptions and five sacks. It also committed a franchise-low three penalties for 23 yards.
But while everything appeared to be clicking June 27 against Stockton, history would say that things will be different tonight -- and not in a good way.
The Fever has been anything but a model of consistency, and has not won consecutive games since Weeks 3 and 4 of last year.
"The guys still feel good (about the Stockton win) and hopefully we can build off that," O'Hara said. "I think if we get some more pass rush, our defense will keep us in the game. We just need to score some points."
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On paper, Dust Devils have NWL title wrapped up
On paper, Dust Devils have NWL title wrapped up
PASCO -- If you look at the Northwest League website, you'll see that the Tri-City Dust Devils have vastly superior numbers to the Vancouver Canadians.
The Dust Devils swept the first half and second half East Division titles, and then went on to sweep Boise in the best-of-3 NWL divisional playoffs.
The Canadians didn't win either half in the West and backed into the playoffs after losing five of their last six regular season games.
Ams face Portland, Spokane this weekend
Ams face Portland, Spokane this weekend
The Portland Winterhawks are climbing the Western Hockey League standings, and just three points separate them from the Tri-City Americans, who have led the U.S. Division pretty much since the start of the season.
The Americans (37-13-1-1, 76 points), second in the Western Conference behind Kamloops (80 points), will look for points when they host Portland (35-15-2-1, 73 points) tonight and play at Spokane on Saturday.
"We are ready for a big win against a top team, and Portland is just that," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller, whose team is 5-1 against the Winter-hawks this season.
Killeen re-signs with Fever
Killeen re-signs with Fever
The Tri-Cities Fever has added some talent to its defense for the upcoming 2012 Indoor Football League season.
Defensive lineman Jake Killeen has re-signed with the Fever. The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder had 36 tackles, ranking seventh on the team, in eight regular-season games last year. He also had three tackles-for-loss and one interception. Killeen played in all four playoff games, recording six tackles.
The Fever also signed former Iowa State defensive lineman Bailey Johnson. Johnson (6-3, 280) started eight games for the Cyclones in 2010, recording 20 tackles, five tackles-for-losses and one forced fumble.
LIVE BLOG: Dust Devils vs. Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, Game 3
LIVE BLOG: Dust Devils vs. Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, Game 3
Here's a quick Dust Devils alumni update: Russell Wilson, who played second base here in 2010 before heading back to the North Carolina State football team, where he started at quarterback.
Well, this year, he's quarterbacking Wisconsin after he was essentially shown the door at NC State when he chose to keep playing baseball in the Colorado Rockies' system. But it's been a great pickup for the Badgers, who beat UNLV tonight 51-17 in the season opener for both teams.
Wilson played most of the game and showed he is a great fit for the offense. As expected, he handed the ball off a lot, but he was also efficient when it came to making passes. Wilson completed 10-of-13 passes for 255 yards and two TDs. He also broke off an impressive 46-yard touchdown run near the end of the first half, getting a couple of great blocks along the way.
Ams off to hot start on home ice
Ams off to hot start on home ice
The Tri-City Americans are hard to beat on home ice, and the start to this season is no different as they have won four consecutive games.
The Americans (6-2-0-0, 12 points), who have won at least 27 games at Toyota Center over the last five years, have a chance for a 5-0 start at home for the fifth time in the last six years, hosting the Brandon Wheat Kings at 7:05 p.m. today.
Brandon has lost three of its last four games with Tri-City, including its last two visits to Toyota Center.
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