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Randy Bell and the Raptors took the 12-1 Kalamazoo
Xplosion to overtime before falling 33-26 in Kalamazoo in the opening game
of this CIFL season. The rematch in Rockford was also won by Kalamazoo 36-28, a game
in which CIFL MVP favorite Randy Bell missed a lot of the action due to injury.
The Xplosion have a 14 game home winning streak on the line in this one, and
Randy and the Raptors are fully intent on busting that streak and sitting the
Xplosion down for the last week of the season. No worry for the Xplosion owners
though as this same ownership group also owns the 11-2 Saginaw Sting...The Sting
are heavy favorites in the Atlantic Conference Championship game against the 7-5
Lehigh Valley Outlawz to be played on Monday night. If the Raptors and Saginaw win, the Raptors will travel to Saginaw for the championship game on the following Monday. If the Raptors and the Outlawz win, the Raptors will host the CIFL championship game in Rockford next Saturday. If Kalamazoo wins, Kzoo will host the game against the Atlantic Conference winner next Sunday.
Eric Gardner had 82 passing yards in the game in
Rockford as Kalamazoo used the two-headed quarterback monster to good effect in
this one.
JoJo Moore opened the game in Rockford with a
kick return touchdown, the second straight game he opened the game with a TD return.
Kalamazoo coach Mike Sparks and several of the
Xplosion players were really working the refs in the Rockford game, and it seemed
to payoff for them as the game progressed. The Raptors were called for a dozen
penalties last week against Chicago and we don't need to see that repeated in
Kalamazoo tomorrow night.
Rockford will need to contain Brian Dolph who
is a force at wide receiver for the Kalamazoo Xplosion.
 
Left: Rock River quarterback Steve Lafalce winging it against Kalamazoo
in Rockford. Lafalce has yet to beat the Xplosion in two efforts this season.
Steve has been working much better under pressure as the season progresses, and he also seems to be
getting a much better feel for his receiving crew as he has shown steady improvement over the
course of the season. Steve is one of the best running quarterbacks in the
league, and he is not afraid to take it into the teeth of a defense for a key
first down or a clutch score. Right: Randy Hutchinson is one of the best QB's in
the CIFL and he is not shy about throwing the football downfield. The Raptors
will need to keep up the solid play on the DLine, and in the secondary, to be
successful against the Xplosion.
The Kalamazoo Xplosion field a solid defense
that likes to rip at the ball. Randy and the Raptors will need to play
relatively mistake free to beat the Xplosion in Kalamazoo.
Steve LaFalce has a chance to put the biggest
win on the board the Raptors have ever had. With Luke, Brandon, and Willie all
in post-season form, I fully expect Steve to have a decent day and win this
Great Lakes Conference Championship game against the Xplosion.
Kicker Filip Filipovic was finally dialed in
last week in Chicago. Filip hit on a 37 and 43 yard field goals in the Raptors
rout of the Slaughter. If Kzoo keeps the game close, Filip may have to test the
low air inside Wing's stadium.
 
Left: Since Domonique Dunbar was beaten by Brian
Dolph on this play we have seen some good improvements in the Raptors secondary play.
Dunbar was involved in a bit of an on-field altercation during the Chicago game and
we hope he is able to go against the Xplosion. Right: Kalamazoo DB David Gater is a lock for
the CIFL Defensive Player of the Year award and he has played two solid games
against the Raptors this season. Gater had three INTs in the first game against
us, and 10 tackles in the
second.
If the Raptors defeat the Xplosion in Kalamazoo
we will more than likely travel to Saginaw to face Damon Dowdell's Saginaw Sting in
the CIFL Championship game a week from Monday. Dowdell is in the running for
CIFL Offensive Player of the Year as he has been firing a ton of TD passes to
Nick Body and others all season long.
The Raptors defeated the Sting in a great game
at the MetroCentre earlier in the season even with superstar Nick Body having a
solid game. Fortunately for the Raptors, Randy Bell put 244 all-purpose yards on
the Sting in that one to trump the MVP candidate Body. Body is a legitimate CIFL MVP contender this season, and don't be surprised if we see the award shared by
both Bell and Body.
The Raptors have a great chance of beating the
Xplosion tomorrow night and all of the pressure is on Kalamazoo. If the Billy Cook's
defense plays well, the Raptors win no matter what the Xplosion do. The Raptors
DLine (Matrenga, Jones, and Foxx) are playing solid football, and as long as we
see Dunbar or Patrick Jackson in the secondary along with Cordera Jackson,
Burge, and Hampton, defeating the Xplosion should not be a problem. Monte Smith
has been playing great football and Maurice Simpkins should be ready to go so
the linebacker position will be well covered as well.
LeRoy McFadden's offense will need to keep doing what
they have been doing of late. Take what is there, don't force it, make good decisions, make some adjustments,
and control the ball game on the ground. If Kzoo tries to stuff the run and
contain Stevie, Luke, Brandon, and Willie should be able to get to enough balls
to put the win on the board for the Coach Jones and the Rock River Raptors.
That's my story and I am sticking with it. Go Raptors!
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-MinoltaMan 6-20-2008 9:00PM
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