Schedule Change

This weeks game, due to a schedule conflict, will be in Austin. All tickets purchased for the April 10th home game seats will be honored for the May 15th game when the Abilene Ruff Riders take on the Austin Turf Cats in Abilene. With the last game holding such hot action as the Abilene Ruff Riders loose by 2 points, fans might consider watching the game live on the B2 Network over the internet. This match between the Turf Cats and Ruff Riders is sure to hold lots of thrills.GO Ruff riders!

The Riders will try for that elusive first win tonight, when they get a quick rematch with the San Angelo Stampede Express. The first meeting between the two teams two weeks ago was a back-and-forth game at Taylor County Coliseum. Abilene grabbed its second lead of the game with just under 7 minutes to play, then gave up two touchdown passes by Express quarterback Chad Draper to receiver Chris McKinney.

“The guys are still p---ed off and I’ll let them stay that way and let them doing something abou it,” coach Gerald Dockery said of the team’s second loss in a row at home to San Angelo. The Express to a field goal as time expired last season to knock the Riders out of the IFL playoffs.

“It’s a long season. In our division, we’re one game out of first place,” he said. “Sixteen teams out of 25 go to the playoffs and we plan on being one of those.”

Against Arkansas, the Riders rolled out their fifth starting quarterback since relocating to Abilene from Katy, with four-year arena veteran Bart Gloyd taking snaps. Gloyd threw for three touchdowns and Abilene scored the most points it has in three games.

“He did well. He was with us two days. The upside to that was he threw three touchdown passes and went the whole game with no interceptions,” Dockery said. “He’s had a week now to get his timing down with his receivers.”

Arkansas also started a new quarterback in James Pinkney.

“It was a team we’ve never seen, only on film and they changed quarterbacks. He was damn good,” Dockery said. “We’ll see those guys again.”

The game started well for Abilene, with Gloyd going 26 yards to Robert Gill and, one play later, running back Carlos Alsup dashing 17 yards on an option. Alsup had 48 yards.

Gloyd went back to Gill for a 13-yard TD midway through the quarter — Gill’s first TD with the Riders.

Abilene did not score in the second quarter, continuing a problem seen last year.

Gloyd threw TD passes to Fred Howze and Gill again in the second half, with backup Haven Mosely going to Gill for 21 yards for the team’s last score.

Gill had the breakout game the team was seeing, catching five passes for 92 yards.

Abilene had 214 yards but gave up 240.

“We had guys out and had to mix and match. We’ll have players back in their positions,” he said.

While Gloyd provided a needed offensive spark, he also fumbled lost two fumbles and took a safety. Dockery said the safety was the smart move for Gloyd instead of throwing an interception under pressure at his goal line. One fumble was a strip from behind.

“I won’t be made about that. He took care of the ball,” Dockery said.

It was Gloyd’s first action in more than a year; he was away from football in 2009 to heal a shoulder injury.

“It held up. He took some shots,” said Dockery, who got backup Mosely into the game late. Mosely, who was the Game 2 starter, threw a touchdown pass.

“He’s not a bad quarterback, just inexperienced,” Dockery said. Gloyd, he said, made good reads and had quick releases.

The team will welcome back kicker Nich Pertuit, who missed the Arkansas game to attend a free agent workout. Mark Trevino kicked in his place and hit 1-of-2 PATs.

Defensive back James Holland is still out but the team signed DB Brandon Crawford and linebacker/lineman Andrew Gamboa.

“He’s a lot like Rico Brooks,” Dockery said, referring to the Riders defensive standout who remains hospitalized after being shot outside his Abilene apartment.

If Abilene could pick up a road win, it would provide momentum for the team’s three-game homestand, which begins April 10 with the first meeting with the Austin Turfcats.

“That first game, it was penalties and turnovers. We’re not going to have those this time. We held their offense to 21 points,” Dockery said. “They’re going to see a different team.”

BREAKOUT

The Ruff Riders offices moved last week from downtown to 2249 S. Treadaway. The phone number, 677-7277, remains the same.

RUFF RIDERS CAMP WITH KIDS AT THE EXPO CENTER

Local professional football team showing that Kids Come First

ABILENE, TX – (March 23, 2010) The Abilene Ruff Riders hosted a spring football camp for the children of New Horizons on March 20, 2010 at the Taylor County Expo Center. Ruff Rider players and coaches gave instruction on football fundamentals and spoke to the children on the importance of hard work and self motivation. “It gives them a positive perspective and they can see that goals that they set for themselves are attainable”, says Head Coach Gerald Dockery of the Ruff Riders. For the children this was an opportunity of a lifetime to be able to interact with their role models, form relationships and gave them a chance to see that there are people who care about their well being. Following the camp lunch was provided by New Horizons and the children and their families were invited to attend the home game that evening against the San Angelo Stampede Express.

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Abilene Ruff Riders kicker Nich Pertuit kicks the opening kickoff of the second half during the Ruff Riders game against San Angelo on Saturday, March 20, 2010, at the Taylor County Coliseum.

Before Nich Pertuit attempted his first field goal for the Ruff Riders last year — the team’s inaugural season in Abilene, the third-year Wylie boys soccer coach had his eye on the future and his imagination set to overdrive.

A self-described positive guy, Pertuit said the dream was there to kick in the NFL, and the hope was that a year or two in the Indoor Football League would be his ticket.

At that time, such a goal may have seemed like just that — a dream. But a year later, what once sounded like wishful thinking may be a little more realistic.

Pertuit, whose 37 field goal attempts and 61 extra point tries last year were his first since his senior year in high school, will be in Pheonix on Saturday and Sunday to participate in a free agent specialists combine held by 13-year NFL coach Gary Zauner. There, Pertuit and a number of other kickers, punters and long snappers will show their stuff for NFL, CFL and United Football League scouts in hopes of earning a spot with a franchise in one of those leagues.

And though he said he’s not quite sure what to expect, his goals are high as always.

“At first, (kicking) was just a new opportunity,” said Pertuit, who contacted and started working with Zauner last year before reestablished contact to extend an invitation to the combine. “But I’m really competitive, and I’ve one of those guys that anytime I do something like this, I want to the be the best. I don’t want to be OK.

“But I realized how much potential there was when I finally worked with (Zauner). Hearing from a professional coach that you have natural talent, that really was an eye-opening experience. I’ve always said the sky is the limit and let my imagination go. Why not?”

Pertuit’s optimism is not without reason.

He said his leg strength received high marks from Zauner, who thinks the outdoor game might suit him well.

Indoors, Pertuit is forced to take something off his field goals to focus on putting the ball through the uprights, which are just nine feet apart, and leg strength is largely negated on kickoffs, where kicks through the end zone are of little benefit.

For that, and other reasons, the outdoor game intrigues Pertuit, who said he has hit a 65-yard field goal without a wind and a 73-yarder with heavy gusts at his back.

“That’s one of the most fun parts, I don’t have to worry about hitting the ceiling or kicking too far,” he said. “I get to let my leg loose. Outdoors, on kickoffs and field goals, the higher and farther the better as long as it’s straight.

“And really I just enjoy being outdoors. Growing up playing soccer, I’ve always been an outdoors guy.”

But while the opportunity to play on football’s biggest stage is before him, and a contract offer would make his story one worthy of the cinema, Pertuit said he’s taking everything in stride. He loves his life as it is, and is more than happy to return to it if things don’t work out this weekend.

If he impresses scouts enough to earn a contract, as 17 of the 41 kicking specialists did a year ago, he’s prepared to live his dream. But if his “fallback plan” means returning to a busy schedule that includes coaching the Bulldogs, kicking for the Ruff Riders and completing his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Texas Tech, that’s fine, too.

“I always keep a positive outlook and the way I see it, I really have nothing to lose,” he said. “I have a blast at everything I do. I love coaching, I love teaching and I have a great wife (ACU assistant women’s basketball coach, Terri Pertuit). Everything is going pretty well for me.

“I’d like to see how far I can advance, but I don’t really feel any pressure. I’m just having a good time.”

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.