Ice Freeze Outlaws

May 2, 2008

Fort Collins, Colo. –

The Colorado Ice (3-5) got revenge over the visiting Billings Outlaws Friday night at the Budweiser Events Center, defeating them by a final 39-37 decision.  The Outlaws beat the Ice by a two-point margin on April 10, 2008, in Loveland, Colo. when Billings K Aaron Galvan hit a field goal at the buzzer to pull ahead 28-26. 

Colorado put the first points on the board when QB Ryan Clement connected with Wr George Hill for a 23-yard score, but newly signed kicker Max Green missed the extra point.  Billings took their first lead on a five yard pass from QB Chris Dixon to WR Willie Austin.  They would hold that lead all the way into the third quarter.  Dixon would add another seven when he hit WR Anthony Candler from 17 yards out to end the quarter up 14-6.

The two teams combined to add 30 points in the second quarter.  Galvan opened with a 20-yard field goal before Clement tallied a touchdown on the ground.  Billings answered with two passing touchdowns to WR Robert Reed and Candler.  The Ice would end the half on another Clement-Hill hookup, down 30-20.

Colorado came out energized for the second half, holding the Outlaws to just seven points, zero in the third quarter.  The Ice offense posted 19 points during the second half, taking their first lead on a pass from Clement to WR Brian Sump to go up 33-30 after RB Cody Wood added a rushing score.  Billings got their only score in the second half on a run by RB Eddie Linscomb but Hill would finish it for the Ice with a 41-yard kick return.

Clement led the offense, going 12-of-21 for 145 yards and three scores.  He also added two yards and a touchdown on the ground.  Sump top the receiving corp with 49 yards and a score, but Hill was the star with three catches for 35 yards and two touchdowns with the additional kickoff return.  LB Ryan Palmer tallied 8.5 total tackles with one for a yard loss.  DL Kurt Kissner had the only pick for the Ice and DB’s DJ Craft and Dorsey Golston would break up four passes among them.

With the win, the Ice have evened the series this season between the two teams.  Colorado will travel to Billings for the final matchup this season on May 31.

Colorado will continue their three game home stand when they host Wichita next Saturday, May 10, for the Mother’s Day game.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT with a pregame tailgate starting at 5 p.m.  RiverCity will visit the Budweiser Events Center the following Saturday, May 17, to wrap up the home series.