Non-League Games - Week 2 (April 28, 2012)

Final Scores

Minnesota Dragons 26
1-0 0-0
Minnesota Spartans 7
0-2 0-0

River City Rough Riders 22
1-0 0-0
Twin Cities Titans 12
0-1 0-0

Menomonie Thunderhawks 35
1-0 0-0
Granite City Renegades 0
0-1 0-0

Minnesota Sting 23
1-0 0-0
Chippewa Valley Predators 22
1-1 0-0

Minnesota Sting (0-0 Overall, 0-0 Midwest Premiere Football)
at
Chippewa Valley Predators (1-0 Overall, 0-0 Northern Elite Football)

April 28, 2012 – Carson Park (Eau Claire, Wis.) – 7:00pm Kickoff

LAST MEETING: Teams have never met in league play.

ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY: Teams have never met in league play.

CHIPPEWA VALLEY: 84-30 Overall All-Time, 29-8 NEFL All-Time, 8-1 Non-League All-Time
Last Game: Won 46-14 vs Minnesota Spartans (0-1 0-0 MFA) on 4/20/12 (Non-League)

MINNESOTA STING: 9-12-1 Overall All-Time, 6-3-1 MPFL All-Time, 2-5 Non-League All-Time
Last Game: Lost 24-10 vs Minnesota Phoenix (defunct) on 8/6/11 (MPFL Championship)

NEFL Coaches’ Poll Ranks: N/A
NEFL Power Rankings: N/A

# # #

CHIPPEWA VALLEY PREDATORS – This is the second game of the season for the Chippewa Valley Predators, based in Eau Claire, Wis. The Predators started the season in a 46-14 blowout of the Minnesota Spartans despite suiting up just 35 players. The victory gave Chippewa Valley its 84th all-time victory (out of 114 games played) and Head Coach Martin Adams picked up his 33rd overall career win (third all-time amongst past and present NEFL coaches).

The Predators and Sting have never played. The Sting, in their third season on the field, were runners-up to the Minnesota Phoenix (former NEFL member and now defunct) last year. Both teams are strong contenders for their respective league titles this season. The Predators have not played a team currently in the MPFL since defeating the Minnesota Federals (now the Twin Cities Titans) in a GPFL semi-final game in 2003, and are 2-1 all-time against teams currently in the MPFL.

Quotes from Chippewa Valley Predators Head Coach Martin Adams:

On facing a team that, like the Predators, lost their league championship last year: “We know we’re in for a challenge. This is a very good football team that I’ve seen on film and saw last year. They can play some ball.”

On what could improve from last week to this week: “We gave up over a hundred yards rushing, and that’s something that we need to fix. There are a lot of tough teams in the league that can run the ball, and that’s the key for them against our defense.”

MINNESOTA STING – This is their second year in the six-team MPFL. The Sting play their home games at East Ridge High School in Woodbury, Min. The Sting went 5-2-1 in the MPFL regular season in 2011 (second place) and lost to the Minnesota Phoenix in the MPFL championship game. The Phoenix will not play any games in 2012, leaving the Sting as the top returning member of the MPFL. The Sting face another NEFL opponent next week, the other half of last season’s Elite Bowl in the NEFL, the St. Paul Pioneers. The Minnesota Sting, Rochester Giants and Menomonie Thunderhawks will be the only three teams to face both the Predators and Pioneers this season.

Twin Cities Titans (0-0 Overall, 0-0 Midwest Premiere Football)
at
River City Rough Riders (0-0 Overall, 0-0 Northern Elite Football)

April 28, 2012 – Veterans Memorial Field (La Crosse, Wis.) – 4:00pm Kickoff

LAST MEETING: River City 42, Twin Cities 14 on 8/26/06 (MAFL)

ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY: Tied at 1-1
7/9/2005 – Twin Cities Titans 29, River City Rough Riders 0
8/26/2006 – Winona/La Crosse Rough Riders 42, Twin Cities Titans 14

RIVER CITY ROUGH RIDERS: 36-56 Overall All-Time, 1-6 NEFL All-Time, 7-7 Non-League All-Time
Last Game: Lost 37-0 vs Rochester Giants (0-0 0-0 NEFL) on 7/16/11 (NEFL)

TWIN CITIES TITANS: 28-23 Overall All-Time, 0-0 MPFL All-Time, 0-1 Non-League All-Time
Last Game: Lost 53-8 vs Central Minnesota Thunderbirds on 9/10/06 (MAFL)

NEFL Coaches’ Poll Ranks: N/A
NEFL Power Rankings: N/A

# # #

RIVER CITY ROUGH RIDERS – This is the first game of the season for the River City Rough Riders, based in La Crosse, Wis. The Rough Riders begin their tenth season overall and second season in the NEFL. The Rough Riders finished last season with a record of 3-6 overall, and 1-6 in the NEFL. Head Coach Dan Bridges took over on an interim basis in the offseason, one of six head coaching changes across the league. Bridges is also the team’s general manager and owner.

This is the first meeting for the Crush against the Terror. The Crush are 3-0 all-time in league play against teams currently in the MPFL, with all three wins coming against the Minnesota Phoenix (formerly the Oakdale Outlaws).

Quotes from Rough Riders Head Coach Dan Bridges:

On the results of their scrimmage two weeks ago: “We can compete at a higher level in the NEFL. If everyone comes ready to play and eliminate the mistakes, we will turn some heads this season.”

On facing a newly-formed team: “I think this is more of a challenge for the coaching staff. Yes, we don’t know about the Twin Cities Titans, [but they also] don’t know about us. If the guys just execute the plays that are called, we will be fine. It is a matter of the coaches being able to adjust on the fly.”

TWIN CITIES TITANS – This is the first year in the six-team MPFL for the Titans. The original incarnation of the team won the 2005 Mid-America Football League championship. The Titans disbanded after the 2006 season, and re-formed for the 2012 campaign. The Titans have faced several current NEFL teams in their history, from their days in the Great Plains Football League (2002-2004) and the Mid-America Football League (2005-2006). The Titans, defunct from 2007 through 2011, were known as the Minnesota Federals from 2002-2003 when they played in the GPFL. The majority of their roster is comprised of former Minnesota Phoenix players, as the Phoenix disbanded after winning the MPFL championship last season.

Minnesota Dragons (0-0 Overall, 0-0 Northern Elite Football)
at
Minnesota Spartans (0-1 Overall, 0-0 Midwest Football Alliance)

April 28, 2012 – Hopkins High School (Minnetonka, Min.) – 7:00pm Kickoff

LAST MEETING: Teams have never met in league play.

ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY: Teams have never met in league play.

MINNESOTA DRAGONS: 30-9-1 Overall All-Time, 12-4-1 NEFL All-Time, 5-0 Non-League All-Time
Last Game: Lost 24-10 vs St. Paul Pioneers (0-0 0-0 NEFL) on 7/30/11 (NEFL Playoff Semifinal)

MINNESOTA SPARTANS: 0-1 Overall All-Time, 0-0 MFA All-Time, 0-1 Non-League All-Time
Last Game: Lost 46-14 vs Chippewa Valley Predators (1-0 0-0 NEFL) on 4/20/12 (Non-League)

NEFL Coaches’ Poll Ranks: N/A
NEFL Power Rankings: N/A

# # #

MINNESOTA DRAGONS – This is the first game of the season for the Chippewa Valley Predators, based in Minneapolis. The Dragons begin their fifth season of football and third season in the NEFL after losing in the playoffs both of the past two seasons to eventual champion St. Paul. The Dragons finished last season at 6-2-1 in league play and 7-2-1 overall, splitting three games with the Pioneers.

While the Dragons and Spartans have never played, the Spartans feature a handful of former Dragons players who have started their own team based in Minnetonka, Min., where the Dragons used to play their home games. The Dragons now play their home games at the Metrodome, a venue they had originally planned to play in last season. However, the damage to the stadium the previous winter and ensuing repairs forced the Dragons to utilize three different home fields last year.

Quotes from Minnesota Dragons Head Coach Chris Goodwin:

On facing former Dragons in the season opener: “This is my first year with the Dragons, so I don’t have much history with any of their players. I really don’t know any of the Spartan players. The current Dragon players are very excited for the match up. They love the idea of playing against their buddies, and I foresee a very exciting game ahead.”

On taking on a team with virtually no history: “Anytime you are coaching against a team ‘in the blind,’ when there’s no film or playing history, it is a challenge. You will always find out general things about their schemes, but you really need to be prepared for anything. We have set ourselves up well during pre-season practices. We have worked against different offensive and defensive schemes, and we are utilizing schemes that are very adaptable to whatever we might see on Saturday.”

MINNESOTA SPARTANS – This is their first year in existence. The Spartans are a member of the ten-team Midwest Football Alliance, which spans five states (Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Illinois). Former Minnesota Dragon Will Staple is one of the owners of the team. The Spartans lost their first-ever game on April 20 against the Chippewa Valley Predators.

Menomonie Thunderhawks (0-0 Overall, 0-0 Northern Elite Football)
at
Granite City Renegades (0-0 Overall, 0-0 Midwest Premiere Football)

April 28, 2012 – Husky Stadium (St. Cloud, Min.) – 3:00pm Kickoff

LAST MEETING: Teams have never met in league play.

ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY: Teams have never met in league play.

MENOMONIE: 29-48 Overall All-Time, 2-5 NEFL All-Time, 10-8 Non-League All-Time
Last Game: Lost 48-17 to Lake Superior Rage (0-0 0-0 NEFL) on 7/16/11 (NEFL)

GRANITE CITY: 1-6-1 Overall All-Time, 1-6-1 MPFL All-Time, 0-0 Non-League All-Time
Last Game: Lost 49-19 to Minnesota Phoenix (defunct) on 7/23/11 (MPFL)

NEFL Coaches’ Poll Ranks: N/A
NEFL Power Rankings: N/A

# # #

MENOMONIE THUNDERHAWKS – This is the first game of the season for the Menomonie Thunderhawks, based in Menomonie, Wis. The Thunderhawks begin their ninth season of football and second season in the NEFL. The Thunderhawks finished last season with a record of 3-6 overall and 2-5 in the NEFL.

This is the first meeting for the Thunderhawks against the Renegades. The Thunderhawks are 5-0 all-time against teams currently in the MPFL, with three wins coming against the Minnesota Sting, a team they played with in the Northern Power Football League in 2010 when Menomonie won the title.

Quotes from Menomonie Thunderhawks Head Coach Ray Roberts:

On facing a team that split its last three games after starting 0-5: “Like a lot of new teams, they got better as the season went on. It’s similar to [the Thunderhawks] when I took over a few years ago.”

On the similarities between St. Cloud and Menomonie: “They have a great recruiting pool in St. Cloud State and St. John’s, and nobody else is really in the area. They have a great stadium and owner.”

On last season’s inconsistency: “We kept hearing from other players and coaches and the media about how we were the best first-half team that they had faced. Our players and coaches made it a point throughout training camp that we would be more consistent this year.

On how community involvement impacts recruiting: “We look for guys that want to be a part of our community. We have a core of about 20 players that help out in the city and then perform on the football field. Every year, we try to add to that core with guys that not only can help us on the field, but hopefully help us off the field as well.”

GRANITE CITY RENEGADES – This is their second year in the six-team MPFL. The Renegades play their home games at St. Cloud State’s Husky Stadium. The Renegades started 0-5 last year before walloping the Twin Cities Rhinos 56-6 and then tying league runner-up (Minnesota Sting) at 7.