About half way through the 2014 CPIFL season, only 2 games separate the top 4 teams. Two of those teams will do battle tonight at the Bicentennial Center when Salina hosts Wichita.
The Salina Bombers (4-2) head into the heavyweight battle tonight dropping 2 of their last 3 games after a 3-0 start. In 6 games, the Bombers have played 5 different quarterbacks. Despite the revolving door at QB, Salina still averages 52.3 point per game, good for 4th in the league. Salina has also had some problems keeping their receiving corps in tact. Pelton Smalls has not played in the regular season and Corey Ham will miss his 2nd consecutive game tonight. Ricky Roberts has not missed a game in 2014, but has had to battle through a couple different injuries.
Salina is coming off a loss to Sioux City last Saturday, 56-42. The Bombers had problems on special teams, especially in kick coverage where the Bandits started drives in Salina territory seemingly all night. The Bandits Lorenzo Brown was named CPIFL Special Teams Player of the Week for his work in the return game versus the Bombers.
Wichita (6-1) will come into Salina boasting by far the best defense in the CPIFL. The Wild rank #1 in rushing defense, passing defense and total defense. The defending champions enjoy a league leading +17 in turnover ratio. The defensive unit has taken away 11 interceptions and recovered 11 fumbles. Of those 22 takeaways, Wichita has turned 8 of them into defensive touchdowns on quick turnaround plays.
Wichita leads the series 3-0 versus Salina. Wild quarterback Rocky Hinds is the reigning CPIFL Offensive Player of the Week. On Saturday vs. Oklahoma, Hinds passed for 169 yards and seven touchdowns in Wichita’s 67-37 victory. Hinds also added a rushing touchdown. The Champions Bowl I MVP leads the league in touchdown passes with 27 and has thrown the most touchdown passes in CPIFL history with 68.
The Salina Bicentennial Center ticket office opens at Noon today and the arena gates will open at 5:30 pm. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:05 pm. The game can be heard on Salina Post and on 99.9 FM KSKG with Bomber Pregame starting at 6:30 pm.