Beef prepare for Pacific Conference Championship

07/15/03 Beef Press Release

The Omaha Beef (12-3) will host the Utah Warriors (12-3) in the Pacific Conference Championship game this Saturday, July 19, at the Civic Auditorium.  The Beef advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a 72-49 win over the Bismarck Roughriders.  The Warriors advanced with 68-55 victory over Sioux Falls, Utah's first ever NIFL playoff win.

The Pacific Conference Championship game will be between the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the Pacific Conference.  The Beef have a 12-3 record and have won 11 of their last 13 games including a first round playoff win over Bismarck.  Utah is coming to Omaha after going 4-2 in their last six games. 

The indoor war between Omaha and Utah on Saturday night will be a match-up of different strategic tactics.  The Warriors use an aerial assault led by QB Danny Ragsdale who has thrown for over 3500 yards and an offense that features the leagues best scoring offense, total offense and passing offense.  The Warriors use the blitzkrieg quick strike attack and average almost 60 points per game.  Omaha's defense only allows 38 points per game so something will have to give. 

Omaha offers a more balanced attack using a solid ground game including the leagues leading rusher Clinton Childs (884 yards), and a field general in Troy Travis that has a deadly right arm (1525 yards passing) and a quick set of feet (299 yards rushing).  Utah is banged up on the defensive front, star middle linebacker Kautai Oleveo has a high ankle sprain and was held out of the second half win against Sioux Falls.  The two men calling the shots for the game are head coaches Colonel (Collins) Sanders for the Beef and head coach General Lee (Leslie) for the Warriors.

The battle in the Atlantic Conference Championship features the undefeated Ohio Valley Greyhounds (15-0) hosting the Lake Charles Landsharks (13-2).  The Greyhounds and the Landsharks are the top two seeds in the Atlantic Conference.  If Ohio Valley wins they will host the NIFL Championship game.  However, if Lake Charles wins and the Beef take care of the Utah Warriors, the Beef will be hosting the NIFL Championship game on August 2.

The winner of the Pacific Conference Championship game will take on the winner of the Atlantic Conference Championship game in the ultimate indoor war, the NIFL championship game.

Tickets for Saturday's game against Utah are $15 and $10 and can be purchased through the Civic Auditorium box office or by calling the Omaha Beef at (402) 346-2333.