Steady Strand

By DAVID BUCK
Star-Tribune staff writer

Matt Strand is efficient.

Whether he is leading the Wyoming offense or entertaining and protecting his son at practice, the Cavalry quarterback is quick and effective.

The quick-strike Cavs unofficially lead the league in one-play scoring drives, and officially Strand has emerged as perhaps the premier quarterback in the American Indoor Football Association in his first year in it.

"I guess I had hoped to be right at the top," Strand said. "I've been playing indoor football for seven years and I think the experience there should hopefully help me out there.

"With the ability I have and the way our line has been blocking and our receivers catching the ball, everything's been working great. It would be hard to say I didn't expect to see myself at the top."

He hasn't been disappointed, and neither have the undefeated Cavs.

Wyoming coach Dan Maciejczak said if Strand isn't the best quarterback in the league, he is on the short list.

The Cavs had the top offense in the AIFA going into Friday's game against Arizona. Wyoming ranked first in both scoring offense and total offense -- despite having run just 313 offensive plays, the second-fewest in the league.

But it's hard to pile up plays when it only takes one to score -- like half their scoring drives last week against New Mexico.

"With Matt, the biggest thing in this league, and any kind of football, is the less times you turn the ball over, the better chance you have of winning the game, and you know the more points you score, the better chance you will have of winning," Maciejczak said. "I feel comfortable with Matt at the helm that we'll always have a chance to win the football game."

That's mostly because Strand rarely puts Wyoming in position for anything else.

He's thrown just two interceptions this season in 210 attempts, completed more than 63 percent of his passes -- and boasts a tidy touchdown-to-interception ratio of 26-to-1 for the only undefeated team in the AIFA.

"I had two interceptions early on, but we've done a better job as a whole unit of not turning the ball over, and taking advantage of everything and scoring every time we get it," Strand said.

Strand's lack of interceptions could be due to the of size of the 6-foot-4, 260-pounder.

Wide receiver Dante Dudley said it's easy to see Strand's passes because he's so tall. Strand's size, however, doesn't mean a big ego.

"He is not cocky," Dudley said. "He is not one of the those guys that likes to brag or showboat.

"He just gets in there, calls a play, we do what he says and it's pretty easy. He doesn't put any pressure on you. You make a mistake and he taps you on the butt and says, 'Hey, get it next time.'"

Clearly the father figure in the huddle, Strand also brings his real family to work occasionally.

He often picks up his young son Will from daycare and brings him to practice, where he's never far from his dad's side. He stands near Matt in the shotgun position, and when backup quarterback Jamar Culver is in, Will is on his dad's shoulders as the starter talks strategy with Maciejczak.

"With Will, he does a pretty good job of playing on his own," Matt Strand said. "You kind of always have your eye on him a little bit and know where he's at so they don't end up in harm's way."

The older Strand kept the younger one out of it at practice on Tuesday, deflecting an errant ball that was coming at Will. Minutes later he threw a touchdown pass.

It was just another example of his efficiency and a major reason for Wyoming's success this season.



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

Cavalry Tracker

FRIDAY: Arizona Adrenaline at Wyoming Cavalry

LATE GAME: Friday's game had not ended by the Star-Tribune's press deadline.

EFFICIENT QB: Cavs quarterback Matt Strand is one of the best at his position in the league and a major reason for the team's success.

UP NEXT: Utah Saints at Wyoming, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Casper Events Center.