Wyoming lassos Arctic Predators

CASPER, Wyo. — With back-to-back games against the Wyoming Cavalry, Arctic Predators coach Hans Deemer wanted to take the opportunity too see where his first-year American Indoor Football Association team is at.

“This will be a good measuring tool,” Deemer said late last week.

Judging by what happened on Friday, Deemer’s Predators will have a bit to work on as they prepare to host the Cavalry at the Menard Memorial Sports Center April 10.

Wyoming quarterback Matt Strand threw for five touchdowns to lead the Cavalry to a 79-18 win over the Predators at the Casper Events Center in Casper, Wyo., on Friday.

Strand connected with Dante Dudley twice and Jason Tillery three times as Wyoming improved to 3-0 this season. The Predators dropped to 0-3 with the loss.

Predators quarterback Monte Purvis factored in on all three of his team’s scores. Purvis punched in a pair of 1-yard touchdowns and hit Danny O’Neill on an 18-yard scoring pass late in the fourth quarter. Purvis finished 15-of-28 for 113 yards in making his first start at quarterback this season. He also rushed for a game-high 53 yards.

O’Neill led the Predators with 44 yards receiving.

Wyoming held a 16-0 lead until Purvis posted the first of his two touchdown runs with 2:02 left in the first period. Purvis scored again with 42 seconds left in the first half.

Wyoming is one of the top teams in the AIFA, earning a spot in the league championship game in each of the last four seasons.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Wyoming 79, Predators 18

Friday, Casper, Wyo.

Predators 6-6-0-6—18

Wyoming 25-22-16-16—79

First quarter:

Wyoming — Tillery 32 pass from Strand (run failed) 7:54

Wyoming — Strand rouge, 7:32.

Wyoming — Wasche safety, 6:50.

Wyoming — Schleusner 1 run (Charlton pass from Strand) 4:21.

Predators — Purvis 1 run (run failed) 2:02.

Wyoming — Tillery 30 pass from Strand (Tillery pass from Strand) 00:28.

Second quarter:

Wyoming — Strand 20 run (Tillery pass from Strand) 10:24.

Wyoming — Schleusner 2 run (Charlton pass from Strand) 3:23.

Predators — Purvis 1 run (run failed) 00:42.

Wyoming — Tillery 4 pass from Strand (run failed) 00:07.

Third quarter:

Wyoming — Dudley 6 pass from Strand (Schleusner run) 10:03.

Wyoming — Schleusner 14 run (Tillery pass from Strand) 2:08.

Fourth quarter

Wyoming —Strand 4 run (Schleusner run) 14:06.

Wyoming — Dudley 5 pass from Strand (Schleusner run) 5:46.

Predators — O’Neill 18 pass from Purvis (run failed) 00:52.

Individual statistics:

RUSHING — Predators: Purvis 13-53, Frazier 6-16, Velazquez 1-1; Wyoming: Schleusner 15-106, Strand 2-23, Tillery 1-7.

PASSING — Predators: Purvis 15-28-0—113; Wyoming: Strand 13-20-0—164.

RECEIVING — Predators: Velazquez 5-9, Mobley 4-42, O’Neill 3-44, Smith 1-19, Frazier 1-(-1); Wyoming: Dudley 5-59, Tillery 4-68, Charlton 3-31, Schleusner 1-6.