The Abilene Ruff Riders rolled out a new quarterback Saturday night at Verizon Arena.

Unfortunately, so did the home team, the Arkansas Diamonds, and new Diamonds player James Pinkney outdueled the Ruff Riders’ Bart Gloyd, the team’s fifth starter in 18 games, in leading his team to a 53-34 victory.

The loss was third straight to open the season for Abilene.

"We've got to play a complete game," Riders coach Gerald Dockery said.

Pinkney accumulated 139 yards passing and three touchdowns on the night.

The result keeps the Ruff Riders winless and keeps the Diamonds, now 3-1, in the lead in the East Division of the Indoor Football League’s Intense Conference. This was the first time the two teams had played.

The game was close through the first half, with the Ruff Riders trailing only 19-13. But the Diamonds outscored the Ruff Riders 24-7 in the third quarter and cruised to the victory.

The Ruff Riders have another road game Saturday, a bit shorter trip than the Arkansas trip. They will travel to San Angelo to play the Stampede Express, which won 38-27 two weeks ago in Abilene.

Exciting Football and Excited Fans Make the Game

There is nothing better than watching a touchdown run less than 2 feet in front of your face. In the IFL most of the big plays come next to or even on the wall. Many plays will even end in or over the wall. In the game against the Stampede, Jake Helms, the 6'9 360 pound offensive lineman, put his opposition in the air and over the wall in one big block. It looked as if his opponent was attempting a involuntary Fosbury Flop. This triggered a crowd cheer heard throughout the stadium of "Give'm Helms".

Crowd noise plays a big roll in these games. The closer the game the louder the crowd. Team supporters are encouraged to participate with noise and signs. The next home game will be April 10th.

San Angelo continues to frustrate Ruff Riders

• By Greg Jaklewicz

Abilene can’t get over the San Angelo hump.

Stampede Express defender Joe McClendon knocked away a pass intended for Fred Howze in the left corner of the end zone with 1:06 to play to preserve San Angelo’s lead, and the Express went on to a 38-27 win Saturday night at Taylor County Coliseum.

The loss dropped the Riders to 0-2, both losses at home. San Angelo, which beat Abilene for the third straight game over two seasons, evened its season record at 1-1.

After McClendon’s big defensive play, Express quarterback Chad Draper (10-22-157) on third down went deep to a wide-open Chris McKinney for a 32-yard touchdown. It was McKinney’s nifty catch with 4:18 to go put San Angelo ahead for good.

Abilene appeared rusty after a bye week.

“A week off, you think it would be better,” Riders coach Gerald Dockery said. “Too many missed plays and busted coverages. Too many turnovers and penalties. We’ve got to protect the ball.

“Changes will be made.”

San Angelo added to an 18-14 halftime lead when Mike Malone returned the second-half kickoff 50 yards. That lead held until Carlos Alsup scored his second touchdown of the game, a 1-yard run to the right side with 14:09 to play. Nich Pertuit hit the PAT to make it a four-point deficit.

The Riders then caught a break later when the snap on an Express 25-yard field goal try sailed high and was covered by holder Brian Harris at the Abilene 15.

On fourth down from the Angelo 8, Howze leaped high and caught a pass from Haven Mosely, tumbling out of the right corner of the end zone. Officials ruled he held on and the Riders had their last lead, 27-25.

The play was one of the few highlights for Mosely, who was 16-of-33 for 157 yards and two interceptions to go with his two TDs.

“I didn’t play very well. I killed us, especially in the first half. That can’t happen,” said Mosely, who was throwing high in the opening half and was just 5-of-15 for 51 yards.

He couldn’t work magic a second time with Howze, who caught a team-high six passes.

“It shouldn’t have come down to that play. We should have had the game won. I put it all on me,” Mosely said.

McKinney answered Howze’ play with his own nifty 27-yard grab to give San Angelo a 31-27 lead after a failed two-point conversion pass.

Abilene outgained San Angelo 214-176 and dominated the second half offensively until Draper and McKinney twice hooked up late in the game.

Mychal Carrillo, the former Hardin-Simmons standout and 2009 Ruff Riders receiver, caught four passes, including 49-yard catch-and-run touchdown, for the Express.

That came after Abilene almost pinned San Angelo for a safety on a kickoff.

It was that kind of game for the Riders, who had nine penalties, two more scoreless quarters and lost defensive back James Holland for the game with a first-half knee injury.

Dockery was not happy with a taunting penalty after a key second-half play by former Express defender Trae Ivory, who pressured Draper into an incomplete pass.

“This is the second game in a row they did us like that. He wasn’t standing over him,” Dockery said. “We make a big play and that penalty killed us. (The officials) won’t be back.”

Neither team scored in the first quarter, making it three straight quarters that the Riders could not punch it in for six points. Abilene had one first down, that on a personal foul on San Angelo.

It was déjà vu to start the second quarter. San Angelo’s Joe Goosby blocked Nich Pertuit’s field goal try placed at the 1 and Jeramie Richardson of the Express recovered in the end zone for the first points of the game. The extra-point try was blocked.

In Abilene’s opener, the West Texas Roughnecks blocked a fourth-quarter field goal try that was recovered for a touchdown in the Roughneck’s 36-33 win.

The Riders finally got the zero off the scoreboard on their next possession as Carlos Alsup ran 18 yards, Mosely passed 14 yards to Howze and then went to the back of the end zone to Juan Reese for the 6-yard TD. Pertuit missed the PAT, leaving the score at 6-6.

The Riders went ahead for the only time in the half on a 9-yard run by Alsup, who added the two-point conversion. San Angelo answered with a 1-yard TD pass from Draper to Malone that came on fourth down with 2:01 before halftime.

Saturday Update:
The Ruff Riders announced Brooks will be able to watch Saturday night's football game against San Angelo via a special internet feed from the hospital.

Gerald Dockery, the head coach of the Abilene Ruff Riders, told Bigcountryhomepage.com Sports that defensive lineman Rico Brooks is getting better.

Brooks was shot in both legs outside his south Abilene apartment last week. The gunman has not been identified. Witnesses say he was wearing a mask.

Brooks underwent several hours of surgery at Hendrick Medical Center following the shooting. Coach Dockery says the team owes this season to Brooks. Dockery says Brooks probably won't play next year, but is improving and should play again some day.

Stampede Express (0-0) at Riders (0-1)

Kickoff: 7 tonight

Home turf: Taylor County Coliseum

Last season: The teams split two regular season games, the Riders winning 59-20 in Abilene and the Express winning 56-32 in San Angelo. In the playoffs, the Express kicked a field goal with no time remaining for a 39-36 first-round win.

Last week: Abilene opened with another late loss, falling 36-33 to the West Texas Roughnecks on a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown with under 2 minutes to play. San Angelo scored first against Arkansas but then gave up four straight scores in a 33-26 road loss.

Riders on offense: Which offense will show up, the one that scored 30 first-half points against WT or the one that put three points on the scoreboard the next two quarters? The opener produced no true leader — two quarterbacks completed a total of six passes and RB Carlos Alsup had only three rushes. The game is in the hands of Haven Mosely after the team cut backup Kewan Dewberry. Mosely threw for a TD — a 31-yard strike to Juan Reese — and ran for another score in the Riders’ productive first half.

Stampede Express on offense: Former Ruff Riders’ receiver Mychal Carrillo had a big opener catching 10 of his team’s 16 completions for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns. The Express ran 65 plays to 37 for Arkansas, had an 11-6 edge in first downs and outgained the Diamonds 180-113 in total yards. QB Chris Draper threw for three TDs.

Riders on defense: End-linebacker Rico Brooks had one official interception and another returned for six points negated by a penalty. He’s out for the season, which means Anthony Hines or Larry Brown will have be the team’s pressure point on defense. Riders gave up 191 yards — 177 passing to a Roughnecks team known for its rushing prowess. But the team had four picks, forced two fumbles and had a sack.

Stampede Express on defense: Team gave up four rushing touchdowns, three to Diamonds QB Graylin Allison. But overall, the Express surrendered just 113 yards.

RR game plan: Eliminate the turnovers that turned stymied team in second half vs. West Texas. Play with emotion for the injured Brooks and finish — the Riders have been beaten in the final quarter in its last two home losses, not a good display for the home fans.

Saturday Night Weather

Outside Cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Inside mid 72 degrees with 0 wind and hot action. Come in and Play!

Indoor Football League internet radio show titled "This Week In The IFL" starts.

The show is scheduled to start Wednesday evening (March 17) at 8:00 p.m. and it can be heard at www.goifl.com or at www.puskaonpucks.com. This week's show will recap all the action that took place around the IFL in week two. Denis Puska from Puska Media Services will be the host of the new internet radio show which will feature interviews with players, coaches and front office staff representatives from around the IFL. This week's show marks the second show of the 2010 Indoor Football League regular season

Michael J. Redden, Abilene

We appreciate the Abilene Reporter-News’ recent coverage of the Ruff Riders’ 2010 season and the excitement generated for indoor football. With the recent change in ownership, the question has been asked: “Why would three of the partners of this football team be from a local nonprofit?”

I was concerned that my involvement with the partnership had caused confusion between my role with the Abilene Ruff Riders and New Horizons. But over the last couple of weeks I have realized that there is a larger picture that defines my personal goal, “to help children.”

At New Horizons we work extremely hard to establish healthy relationships between children and families. It is just as important to create relationships between children and their role models.

For example, the NFL supports the United Way and the NBA has its own charity called “NBA Cares.” Coach Gerald Dockery and the Ruff Riders understand the importance of giving back to the community, and have worked with New Horizons in the past by hosting football camps and giving tickets to Abilene Ruff Rider games for the children.

It is important for me to note that there is no legal or financial connection between New Horizons and the Ruff Riders, just a personal one. However, all partners have agreed that if the team makes any money, a significant portion will be contributed to support New Horizons.

NOTE: Michael J. Redden is executive director of New Horizons and a partner in Big Country Professional Sports Association LLC, which owns the Abilene Ruff Riders.