Warriors ambush Roughriders

05/22/03 NIFL Fan Article by Philip J. Rogich, Syracuse, UT

The Warriors traveled to Bismarck for the first meeting of the year of these teams. This game had the makings of a great game. The two top ranked Quarterbacks in the league, Ragsdale and Schwab facing off. This game also showcased three players facing their former teams. Mike Montoya and Danny Ragsdale both played for the Roughriders last year. Bismarck linebacker Danielle Rollins Kendell played the first game of the season with the Warriors.

The Warriors got the ball first. Emmitt White returned the kickoff for 25 yards. Ragsdale then went to work against his former team. He drove 25 yards with four passes. The drive ended with Ragsdale hitting Omar Bacon for a 4 yard touchdown pass. Chris Schwab (Ragsdale’s former back-up in Bismarck) was not to be out done. He answered back on the next drive with a touchdown pass of his own. The Warriors gave up the ball there next drive on downs, only to get the ball back on a Jason AhYou fumble recovery. The first quarter ended with the teams tied

7-7.

The Warriors drove 45 yards for the score on there third possession. Omar Bacon score his second touchdown of the night on a two yard run. Bismarck then scored on there next possession but the extra point was blocked. The Warriors gave up the ball on downs once more. The Roughriders took advantage of the opportunity and scored, taking there first lead of the game. The Warriors did block the extra point for the second time in the game. Utah scored on it’s last possession of the quarter. The score was on a 2 yard Emmitt white touchdown run. The half ended with the Warriors up 20-19.

The third quarter was a See-Saw battle. The lead changed five times. With the Warriors Scoring two touchdowns and the Roughriders scoring three times. The warriors scores came on two Ragsdale passes. One to Jason Quinn and one to Emmitt White. The third quarter ended with Bismarck up 39-34.

In the forth quarter the Warriors took over. They scored three touchdown before allowing the Roughriders to score. The first touchdown came on a 6 yard Ragsdale to Grow touchdown pass. Omar Bacon then ran in the two point conversion. When Bismarck got the ball Garrett ‘Wild Man" White came up big with an interception and a 20 yard return. This set up a 19 Ragsdale to Quinn touchdown pass. Bismarck got the ball only to be intercepted by Garrett ‘Wild Man" White once more. The interception was overruled by a penalty. The Roughriders had a second chance. To Bismarck’s horror Chris Schwab fumbled the ball. It was recovered by big man Mike Thomas. This was Mike’s first game back from an injury. Utah to drove and scored on a Bacon 3 yard touchdown run. The Roughrider did score two time before the end of the game. Utah scored once more on a Ragsdale to Jeff Main 5 yard pass. This was Main’s first touchdown of the year. He is usually a blocking back on short yardage. The final score Utah 63 - Bismarck 53.

The quarterback competition was pretty even. Ragsdale was 27 of 44 for 281 yards, 6 touchdowns and 2 INT. Schwab was 33 of 50 for 299 yards, 7 touchdowns, 1 INT and 1 fumble.

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