Week 10 Game Preview: ORLANDO RAGE (8-1) @ CHICAGO ENFORCERS (4-5)

ORLANDO RAGE (8-1) @ CHICAGO ENFORCERS (4-5)
Sunday, April 8, 2001 – 7:00 p.m. (ET) at Soldier Field
TV: UPN

Orlando Rage Team Notes
OUTLOOK
The Orlando Rage, who have cliched home field advantage throughout the playoff, travel north to Soldier Field to take on the Enforcers. Orlando comes off a 29-24 win in Birmingham.

GAMEPLAN
The Rage’s offensive running game, led by Michael Black and Derrick Clark, had its most productive outing in three games against Birmingham. And with RB Brian Shay coming back from a knee injury, look for the Rage to establish the run on Chicago’s last-ranked defense. With QB Brian Kuklick starting his third game, he will continue to throw downfield to wideout Dialleo Burks, who caught a 52-yard TD reception from Kuklick. Kuklick also looks to WRs Mario Bailey and Kevin Swayne, who both combined for 10 receptions last week. The defense, led by LB James Burgess, DE James Roberson and DT Bill Duff, will focus on containing RB John Avery and/or RB LeShon Johnson, who rushed for 103 yards against New York/New Jersey last week.

NEWS AND NOTES
QB Brian Kuklick upped his record to 2-0 as a starter by directing the Rage on two touchdown drives in the final three minutes of the game in last week’s 29-24 come-from-behind win over the Bolts… RB Michael Black provided a spark to the running attack by picking up 41 yards on just five carries (8.2 average)…The Rage finished the game with 105 yards rushing – the first time the team has topped the century mark in four games… In 23 “Red Zone” opportunities this year, the Rage have put points on the board on 20 occasions – including 16 touchdowns – for a scoring success rate of 87.0%… Trailing by nine points with less than three minutes remaining on Saturday, the Rage rallied for a 29-24 win. It marked the fourth time this season that Orlando has rallied from a 4th quarter deficit for a victory… DT Bill Duff had a huge game with four tackles, a sack, one pass defense and two quarterback pressures.

OFF THE FIELD
WR Kevin Swayne was the director of youth alliance program for the Greater Des Moines, Iowa YMCA. He also coached varsity basketball at Iowa Christian Academy in Des Moines.

Chicago Enforcers Team Notes
OUTLOOK
Winners of its last three games, the Chicago Enforcers fight for their playoff lives against Orlando, after a dramatic, 23-18, come-from-behind victory over New York/New Jersey. The Enforcers can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Orlando or a Hitmen loss to Birmingham.

GAMEPLAN
Although RB John Avery is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game, the Enforcers have confidence in feeding the ball to RB LaShon Johnson, who rushed for a season-high 103 yards against a tough Hitmen defense. This week’s XFL Offensive Player of the Week winner QB Kevin McDougal will face a fifth-ranked Orlando defense. Look for him to use his scrambling ability to get outside the pocket and throw to receivers Aaron Bailey and Junior Lord. On defense, Chicago leads the league in interceptions. Led by XFL Defensive Player of the Week winner LB Jamie Baisley and DE Aaron Humphey, the Enforcers will attempt to stop Orlando’s resurgent running game and put pressure on Rage QB Brian Kuklick, who is starting only for the third time this season.

NEWS AND NOTES
For the second week in a row, the Enforcers have swept the offensive and defensive player of the week honors. QB Kevin McDougal again received the offensive honors (he also won in week five), while LB Jamie Baisley took the defensive award… The Enforcers, along with Orlando and Los Angeles, are all 4-1 over the past five weeks, which is the best record in the XFL in that time frame… RB John Avery has proven in nine weeks to be one of the XFL’s premier players. In only eight games (he missed the first NY/NJ game with an injury), Avery has 1,046 total all-purpose yards for an average of 130.8 yards per game… Since quarterback Kevin McDougal was inserted into the starting lineup, the Enforcers are 4-1…. The Enforcers are last in the XFL in pass defense, giving up 202.8 yards per game in the air. However, the Enforcers lead the league in interceptions with 14 as Corey Ivy (5) is first and Dorian Brew (4) is second in the XFL in picks…. TE Tim Martin has emerged as an emergency tackle. Against NY/NJ, Martin started the game wearing number 89 and playing tight end. At halftime Martin changed to 65 and came in at tackle.

OFF THE FIELD
Since Duke won the national championship, Enforcers cheerleader Mylinda won the NCAA tournament pool over Texas Tech head coach Bobby Knight. Mylinda and the cheerleaders will serve as models in the Betsy Johnson fashion show in downtown Chicago Saturday night.

[Demons at Xtreme | Maniax at Outlaws | Hitmen at Bolts | Rage at Enforcers]

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