The New Mexico Stars will be looking to complete a surprising three-game sweep of the season series against the host Colorado Ice tonight when the teams meet in Indoor Football League action. Kickoff is set for 7 in Loveland.

It would indeed be a surprise sweep considering the Stars are an expansion franchise and the Ice (6-4) is coming off an 11-3 season last year. Not to mention the fact the Stars (2-7) haven’t been able to defeat any of the other league teams in what has developed into a bewildering season.

New Mexico coach Chris Williams says he knows Colorado, in third place in the eight-team Intense Conference, won’t be overlooking his squad – not after the Stars were 46-39 winners on Feb. 26 and 44-41 on April 14, with both games at the Santa Ana Star Center.

	Today New Mexico Stars at Colorado Ice, 7 p.m.

“In their minds it’s going to be, ‘Let’s avenge those losses,’ ” Williams said before Wednesday night’s practice at Highland High School. “But we’re just as motivated.”

New Mexico is coming off what’s becoming somewhat of a trademark game for the franchise. The Stars fell behind early at home against Everett on Saturday, 48-24, only to score three consecutive TDs in the next 10 minutes. Everett didn’t put the home team away until scoring on a kickoff return in the final 2 minutes for a 74-65 victory.

In that game, the Raptors pitched eight TD passes. This week, the Stars face a team that just obliterated the league’s one-game rushing mark when it had 266 in a 59-46 victory against Wyoming. First-time QB Jeremy Sanders, a Baylor alumnus, triggered the outburst in his first start behind center.

The irony there is that the former mark of 199 yards was set two years ago by the Amarillo Venom in a 55-33 victory against the West Texas Roughnecks, who were coached then by Williams. Amarillo’s DonTrell Moore, an ex-Lobo, had 105 of those yards and four TDs. He now plays for Williams.

“We’ve been a little bit susceptible to running quarterbacks this year, so we’re going to have to keep a close eye on him,” Williams said of Sanders, who rushed 13 times for 124 yards and four TDs against the Cavalry. He also threw two touchdown passes.

“It definitely will cause us to focus more on the run. He’s not a pure passer, but we’ve got to be able to watch out for that, too.”

Stalwart Stars defensive tackle Malcolm Tatum spoke confidently about his team’s ability to deal with Colorado’s new-look attack.

“It’s nothing but communication,” he said of being in tune with his teammates. “If we’re all doing our jobs we won’t be worried.

“Last week (Wyoming) probably was caught by surprise.”

NOTE: New Mexico’s next home game is scheduled May 26 against Wyoming at the Santa Ana Star Center. Kickoff is at 7:05 p.m.

On April 20, Wyoming beat the Stars 50-46 in Casper on a last-minute touchdown.
Stars Seek Season Sweep Vs. Record-Setting Ice

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