Cavs suffer first loss of season

By DAVID BUCK
Star-Tribune staff writer

For a third-string quarterback, Keith Poole is as good as a team can get in the American Indoor Football Association.

The Arizona reserve threw four touchdowns and rushed for another to lead the Adrenaline past Wyoming 55-40 on Friday at the Casper Events Center and hand the last unbeaten team in the league its first loss.

"It's amazing," Arizona coach Andrew Moore said. "It's amazing to beat a coach like (Wyoming's Dan Maciejczak). They have an amazing team."

Starting quarterback Chad DeGrenier suffered a heel injury two weeks ago and backup Jason Swanson had a deep thigh bruise, but the Adrenaline didn't have any problems without them.

"(Poole) had four days of practice and no indoor experience," Moore said. "To come from outdoor football to indoor football -- it's a hard transition."

The Cavs didn't respond nearly as well to their toughest test of the season.

Wyoming had blown out teams all season and had outscored opponents 681-242, but the Cavs didn't deliver when they were finally tested with a close game.

Wyoming's offense came into Friday's game as the top scoring offense in the AIFA, but it struggled from the onset. Running back James Jones fumbled on the team's second offensive play, the first of multiple uncharacteristic errors by Wyoming.

Quarterback Matt Strand threw two interceptions, doubling his season total.

"They were making plays when they had to," Maciejczak said. "We did some dumb things.

"I can't count how many dumb things we did tonight. We will fix it."

Renovating their goals won't be one of them.

Maciejczak said going undefeated wasn't a goal for the team. Instead they are focused on securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and winning the AIFA championship.

The Cavs are in the driver's seat for the home-field advantage, but a third-string quarterback kept Arizona alive.

Contact sports reporter David Buck at (307) 266-0596 or

Cavalry Tracker

FRIDAY: Arizona 55, Wyoming 40

RECORDS: Adrenaline (8-2); Cavalry (9-1)

PERFECT NO MORE: The Cavs were the only undefeated team in the American Indoor Football Association going into Friday's game.

POOLE PARTY: Adrenaline quarterback Keith Poole filled in for the top two quarterbacks who were injured and excelled.

david.buck@trib.com.