Cavs suffer first defeat

By DAVID BUCK
Star-Tribune staff writer

Humbled and shocked.

Those were two of the emotions going through Wyoming players after the Cavalry's 55-40 loss to Arizona on Friday at the Casper Events Center.

The loss was the Cavalry's first of the year and means that no American Indoor Football Association team will be undefeated this season.

"I want to say that we was on Cloud 9 and thought that if were undefeated, teams would just lay down for us," Cavs running back James Jones said. "But Arizona is not one of those teams and they took advantage of us thinking that way. It was a humbling game."

Wyoming's offense, which was the best in the AIFA going into the game, played its sloppiest game of the season. The usually sure-handed Jones fumbled the ball on the Cavs' second offensive play and quarterback Matt Strand was constantly under pressure and forced to make quick throws all night.

"I don't want to say it was a sign, but I haven't dropped the ball all season," Jones said of his fumble. "When I did, it happened and I figured out then it's not going be a game where I can come and just play."

One of the only things that went right for the Cavs was the Strand-to-Johnnie Young combination. Young caught four passes for 85 yards and three touchdowns.

"It was nice to actually get in and get to play," Young said. "... I came in, got to play my part, and it worked out all right for me."

Young said Wyoming (9-1) was complacent going into the game. The team had only one close game before the loss -- a 72-56 victory at Arizona (8-2) on May 11.

"We played off emotion instead of playing off how we play, our game," Young said. "We just weren't ready. ... We got into a game where the (other) team was actually playing and we fell apart. It was a learning experience."

Next week's game should be less of a learning experience for Wyoming. The Cavs play the Utah Saints, a team they've beaten four times this season by a combined score of 319-64.

WATCH OUT FOR THOSE BOARDS: Wyoming receiver Dante Dudley had a scare after diving head-first into the dasher boards for a pass early in the third quarter. Players and coaches kneeled around Dudley as he lay on the field. About two minutes later the receiver walked off the field without any help. Later in the quarter, Dudley left the Events Center in an ambulance as a precautionary measure.

"I know how that wall feels," Cavs receiver Johnnie Young said. "I've hit it a time or two myself. There is no give and your body just keeps on going right through it."

'THE BEST FANS': When Arizona coach Andrew Moore called, Wyoming fans answered. Adrenaline player Antar Brame had an asthma attack near the end of the third quarter, and didn't have an inhaler. Moore and some Arizona players came to the announcers table and asked the announcer to see if anyone in the stands had an inhaler. Someone did and Brame was soon OK.

"We had a player have an asthma attack and when I asked the audience for a puffer, everybody in this audience that heard me stood up, checked their purse ... asked around," Moore said. "I think you guys have the best fans out here. I think it's absolutely amazing that the fans did this for us."

FAMILY AFFAIR: If fans couldn't tell by the name on the roster, the size gave the relationship away. John Strand played offensive line for Wyoming against Arizona. He is the younger brother of starting quarterback Matt Strand. The Strands are Wyoming's tallest players. John is listed at 6-foot-8, while Matt is 6-4. John Strand filled in for Chase Olsen, who missed his second game with a knee injury.

"He did a pretty good job," Cavs coach Dan Maciejczak said. "He hasn't played football since he got done at Chadron (State). We'll get him better, we'll get our whole offensive line better."

MORE 'HAWKS: Cavs defensive lineman Rodney Wasche wasn't the only player sporting a Mohawk during the game as Arizona offensive lineman Matt Mason also had one.

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

Cavalry Tracker

FRIDAY: Arizona 55, Wyoming 40

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

TASTING DEFEAT: Friday's loss was the Cavalry's first of the season. Going into the game the team was the only undefeated team in the American Indoor Football Association.

HE SAID IT: "I want to say that we was on Cloud 9 and thought that if were undefeated, teams would just lay down for us. But Arizona is not one of those teams and they took advantage of us thinking that way. It was a humbling game." -- Cavs running back James Jones.