Fever fails to melt Ice in another big IFL battle
LOVELAND, Colo. -- For the second time this season, the outcome of a game between the Colorado Ice and the Tri-Cities Fever came down to a final play.
On April 23, Fever quarterback Houston Lillard connected with receiver Joey Hew Len on a 25-yard touchdown pass with 14 seconds remaining to give Tri-Cities a 48-42 Indoor Football League victory.
On Friday night, in Loveland, Colo., Lillard tried to lead the Fever to a last-second rally again.
Only this time, his lob pass into the corner of the end zone -- headed toward Hew Len -- was intercepted by Colorado linebacker Prince Hall (a former Central Washington University player).
Hall's catch with 12 seconds remaining preserved a 58-54 Ice victory over the visiting Fever.
"It was a very good game," said Fever coach Adam Shackleford. "It was very similar to the last game, when we had the ball at end. But we didn't win. I told the guys after the game that when I played in college I used to hate when our coaches would say 'We're proud you and the way you played.' Here I am, 15 years later, saying the same thing to the guys."
The lead in this game changed six times and the game was tied two other times.
The Fever took the lead for the last time in the game with 4:21 to play, when Lillard dived in from the 1-yard line, then connected with Hew Len on a 2-point conversion for the 54-51 Fever lead.
With 1:10 remaining, the Ice stopped the Fever offense deep in its own territory, forcing Gary Cismesia to kick a 60-yard field goal attempt.
It was short, but Colorado return man Duane Brooks gathered the ball at the 3 and returned it untouched for the game-winning score and a 58-54 lead with 1:03 remaining.
The Fever offense moved downfield for its final drive before Hall made the key interception.
Lillard finished with 182 yards passing and four TD passes. He also three three interceptions.
Hew Len finished with eight catches for 81 yards.
"The effort was outstanding," said Shackleford. "We both figure if we take care of business, we'll see each other again in the end."
The victory gives Colorado a 10-1 record and the inside lane to the top seed of the Intense Conference portion of the playoffs.
The Fever falls to 8-3, and a Fairbanks victory over Lehigh Valley today would put the second-place Grizzlies in first place in the Pacific Division with a 9-3 mark.
Fairbanks visits Tri-Cities next Saturday at the Toyota Center for what should be the battle for the division title.
This story was originally published May 21, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Fever fails to melt Ice in another big IFL battle."