May 10, 2008

Fort Collins, Colo. – Colorado Ice (3-6) took a beating from the Wichita Wild (2-7) Saturday night at the Budweiser Events Center by a final 35-31 decision.  This was the first meeting between the Ice and the Wild, United Indoor Football (UIF) league’s newest team for the 2008 season.

The Wild opened scoring in the first quarter on a two yard pass from QB Matt Kelly to WR Carlos Cavanaugh, but K Ziya Gunay’s kick attempt went wide.  RB Cody Wood added six on a three yard run and newly signed University of New Mexico K John Sullivan hit his first PAT attempt.  Each team would add another seven in the first quarter to finish with the Ice up 14-13.

Sullivan hit his first career field goal from 47 yards out in the second to go up by four.  Wichita RB Joe Harris answered with a one yard run, but Gunay missed another PAT.  Wichita led at the half 19-17.

Colorado seemed to come out re-energized in the second half, getting a 22-yard touchdown pass from QB Ryan Clement to WR George Hill, but Wichita responded with a 27-yarder.  The Ice offense was only able to generate one other score in the game, a 45-yard pass to WR Brian Sump to lead 31-26.  Wichita put up nine in the fourth on a 27-yard field goal and an QB rush by Efi Eyo to end it 35-31.

Clement finished with 144 yards and three touchdowns, going 10-of-17.  Sump led the offense with 68 yards and two touchdowns on four catches.  DB’s DJ Craft and Travis Garcia both added a pick while Sullivan finished 1-for-4 on field goal attempts and tallied 315 yards on six kickoffs.  LB Ryan Palmer led the defense with 9.5 total tackles, 2.5 for loss and DB Dorsey Golston recorded eight tackles and three pass breakups.

Colorado will continue their three game home series when they host RiverCity next Saturday at the Budweiser Events Center for a 7 p.m. kickoff.  They travel to Sioux City the following weekend.