Cavs hit the road looking for respect

By DAVID BUCK
Star-Tribune staff writer

Wyoming wants more than wins.

Starting with a three-game road trip opening today at Arizona, the Cavalry are out to prove something to teams outside the West Division of the American Indoor Football Association.

"We just want to go this week and prove to everybody on the East Coast that we are a team to be reckoned with out here in the West," Cavs defensive lineman Tyrone Saterfield said. "Everyone in the league that isn't out here in the west bracket does not respect us at all. They don't respect our opponents at all.

"We look to make a statement these three road games. We are going down there with a chip on our shoulder."

Saterfield didn't cite specific sources, but said it was "word around the league" and "he-said, she-said" stuff.

To silence it, all the Cavs can do now is keep blowing teams out and let their margin of victory do the talking.

After five straight games at home, today is the first time they've had a chance to do it on the road since the season opener at Utah.

"It's going to be interesting for us," Cavs quarterback Matt Strand said. "We have a lot of veterans, but anytime you go on the road you don't know what to expect."

The toughest game of the trip should be against the Adrenaline, who are currently second in the division and lost their only game this season at Wyoming.

"We were expecting a closer game," Cavs coach Dan Maciejczak said. "They had some turnovers and their backup quarterback in (last time).

"We had a pretty good lead on them and they scored one more point than we did in the second half. We have a lot to prove as a football team."

Particularly on the road.

After Arizona, the Cavs close out the road trip at Utah and New Mexico. The undefeated Cavs beat each of those teams in Casper, but that doesn't mean any of games will be easy.

"Teams play a lot better at home than on the road," Maciejczak said. "If you look across the league in general, anytime you go on these long trips it seems to even out the score."

If they can handle the long trips, it might send a message even further.

SATERFIELD WILL PLAY: Wyoming defensive lineman Tyrone Saterfield will play today after missing the past three games with a back injury.

"I'm good," Saterfield said. "I have a slight pain, but nothing will keep me out of this game."

Saterfield could have played last week, but Cavalry coach Dan Maciejczak rested the lineman another game to make sure he was healthy for the road trip.

Contact sports reporter David Buck at (307) 266-0596 or david.buck@trib.com

Cavalry Tracker

TODAY: Wyoming at Arizona Adrenaline, 4 p.m.

RECORDS: Cavalry (6-0); Adrenaline (5-1).

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Cavs hit the road for three games -- their first road trip since the season opener.

EARNING RESPECT: Cavs defensive lineman Tyrone Saterfield said teams from the East Coast don't respect Wyoming, but winning these games could help earn some.

SAT' IS BACK: Saterfield will play today after missing the past three games because of a back injury.

LISTEN LIVE: Go to www.wyomingcavalry.com for a webcast of the game.