PARK CITY, (Kan.)— Big hits were delivered in a match resembling a heavy-weight championship bout, as the Bloomington Extreme (9-6) fell in the first round of the IFL play-offs to the Wichita Wild (10-5) Saturday night. Electricity filled Hartman Arena as the excitement kept Extreme and Wild fans alike on the edge of their seats.

Rocky Hinds started at quarterback for the Extreme, but after only completing 3-of-8 passing for 22 yards and a single touchdown, Luke Drone took over command. Drone saw more success by passing 18-of-26 for 196 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. The rushing game never got going for the Extreme. Drone led the ground game by putting up a meager 14 yards on eight carries and one touchdown. John Cooper topped the wide receiver core with 10 catches for 110 yards and three touchdowns.

Dixie Wooten started at quarterback for the Wild, completing 15-of-22 for 191 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Darius Fudge controlled the ground game with 86 yards and three touchdowns on 18 touches. Clinton Solomon was the standout wide receiver with four catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns.

Bloomington struck first blood with a quick, 6-yard score from Hinds to Johnny Gray, 7-0. Wichita had an impressive runback by Randy Kelly that went all the way to the end zone, but a block in the back call nullified those seven points.

A fumble by Bloomington set off a scuffle at mid-field, but Bloomington retained possession. Hinds drove the ball down to the 15-yard line, before the Wichita defense held. Pete Christofilakos then drilled the first field goal of the game, 10-0.

Wichita responded quickly with a deep strike from their 15-yard line to Hurtiss Chinn that landed the Wild close to the goal line. Dixie Wooten scored first for the touchdown for Wichita on a three-yard quarterback keeper, 10-7.

Bloomington does little with their next possession and turned the ball over. A few long passes by Wooten brought the Wild down within the goal line. A blown coverage allowed Wooten to literally walk into the end zone and give Wichita the lead, but a blocked extra-point keeps Wooten’s score to just six points, 13-10.

A deep pass to John Cooper put Bloomington on the Wichita 11-yard line, but the Extreme settled for another Christofilakos field goal, knotting things up at 13-13 with 7:56 remaining in the second quarter.

Time was not wasted as Wooten completed a 30-yard pass to Clinton Solomon that gave Wichita the lead once more, 20-13.

An explosive return by Bernard Payton puts the Extreme in Wichita territory, but Christofilakos was called upon once more to put the ball through the uprights, 20-16.

Darius Fudge was the next Wild player that extended the Wichita lead with a 19-yard run, 27-16.

With minutes remaining in the second half, Luke Drone threw up a 30-yard prayer to Cooper, and God smiled upon them, as he pulled down the pass in the end zone, 27-22.

After holding Wichita in their territory, The Extreme were given a chance to take the lead before halftime. Drone took advantage of great field position and barreled into the end zone, putting the Extreme up 29-27 to finish the half.

On the opening drive of the second half, Wichita took the ball the length of the field with Fudge running the ball into the end zone from three yards out, giving the lead back to Wichita, 34-29.

Bloomington answered right back when Drone connected with Cooper for a 21-yard score in the back of the end zone to give the lead back to Bloomington, 36-34.

The third quarter fireworks keep flaring as a long pass by Wooten was caught by Solomon put Wichita within the Bloomington five-yard line. Wooten finished the drive with a run into the end zone, 41-36.

In a crucial moment, Bloomington turned over the ball on a fumble, opening the door for Wichita to increase their lead. That is exactly what happened when Wooten found Solomon in the end zone for another score, 48-36.

A blocked Bloomington field goal gave Wichita a chance to seal the game. Wooten got the job done, getting into the end zone for his fourth rushing touchdown of the night, 54-36.

An exciting break for the Extreme, as John Cooper breaks free on a crossing pattern and nearly took the ball all the way to the end zone. Cooper got the call again and scored in the back of the end zone, but the two-point conversion attempt fails, 54-42.

Fortune favors the Extreme with three minutes remaining in the game, as they recover a fumbled ball along the wall. Bloomington wasted no time marching down the field. A Drone pass to Cooper in the end zone brought Bloomington within one possession of the Wichita, 54-48 with only :50 seconds remaining in contest.

An onside kick was Bloomington’s only option, but they are unable to recover the ball, giving the Wild possession at the Bloomington five-yard line. Fudge scored another touchdown in the closing seconds, sealing Bloomington’s fate, 61-48.

Central North Division Standings
Team	W	L	Pct.	PF	PA	GB
Green Bay	10	5	.667	725	584	-
Bloomington	9	6	.600	545	496	1
Chicago	7	8	.467	623	582	4
La Crosse	3	11	.214	355	565	7

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