Document text
Heat hopes to turn tide By Kris Henry Southern Oregon and Utah enter tonight�s NIFL Western Division on losing streaks. But that�s where the similarities end. The Heat (1-6) has lost its last four games by an average of 30.75 points, while the Rattlers (2-4) are on a three-game losing skid, the first two by a combined five points and last week�s 50-28 drubbing by the Southern Division-leading Mississippi FireDogs. "We�ve suffered a couple losses to some very good teams," says Utah coach Vince Tauanuu, whose team leads the Western Division with a 2-0 record. The Rattlers enter tonight�s game at the Inferno averaging 45.5 points per game, compared to the Heat�s 25.9 � second only in the 18-team NIFL to the River Cities (W.Va.) Locomotives (21.1). Southern Oregon, however, is coming off its best offensive performance of the season, a 45-point effort against Wyoming. "We�re going to have to have that kind of performance or better to keep up with Utah," says Heat co-head coach Larry Jobe, "and our defense is going to have to play a lot better than they did last week." Both teams have struggled to keep opponents off the scoreboard, with the Heat holding a slight edge in average points allowed (45.9 to 47). Utah�s Achilles� heel has been its secondary, with the Rattlers repeatedly being beaten on the long ball. "Defensively we�re going to have to look at a couple new faces," says Tauanuu. "The long ball is going to hurt us continually until I find something to stop it. At first I thought it was the scheme but now I think we have to make a couple personnel changes or at least hope that we can have people step up and play." What has hurt Southern Oregon�s defense more than anything has been having to continually defend a short field. Between Heat turnovers and lackluster special teams play, the Wyoming Cavalry was forced to start on its side of the field on only six of 16 offensive series in last week�s 69-45 home loss. "Any time you back the defense up against the wall it can only hold that for so long and then something is bound to happen," says Jobe. In spite of the Heat�s struggles, Tauanuu says his team is having no trouble focusing for tonight�s contest. "We�ve got to prepare for them as if they are the No. 1 team because they can come out and hurt you really quick," says the coach. "They�re much better now than they were at the beginning of the season. I think they�re starting to jell as a team, and that has a lot to do with success. If a team is jelling, then down the road they�re going to beat some people." That vote of confidence for the way the Heat is on the right path doesn�t necessarily mean the Rattlers want to become the Heat�s second victim. "We�re desperate for a win too," says Tauanuu. "Every dog has its day and you don�t know whose day it�s going to be. I just hope (tonight) is ours." Utah features a mobile, strong-armed quarterback in Albert Higgs, who also doubles as the team�s placekicker. "He makes a lot of things happen off broken plays," says Jobe, who twice saw Higgs and company upend his former Yakima team. "On the defensive side we�ll have to do a good job of containing him." Higgs has experienced a dip in play during recent weeks, tossing three interceptions last week, but Tauanuu has confidence in his starter. "The key to Albert is just in calming himself down and making his reads," he says. Higgs has a number of weapons in receivers Mike Montoya, Cory Grow, James Owens, Jason Quinn and Greg Hooks. Each averaged double digits in receiving yards last week against the FireDogs, with Grow leading the way with four receptions for 70 yards and three touchdowns. Quinn stands to be a prime target for the Heat on special teams, with the Utah player having returned a kickoff 50 yards for a score last week � his third of the season. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.