Routs or not, Cavs remain level-headed

By DAVID BUCK
Star-Tribune staff writer

Same team, different outlook.

Though the Wyoming Cavalry crushed the Utah Saints 81-29 in both teams' season openers just two weeks ago, Cavs players and coaches know they can't overlook the Saints.

"We took care of that," Wyoming coach Dan Maciejczak said. "We watched the game (film) and we played pretty bad. We made a lot of mistakes from not catching to the ball to not wrapping up on tackling. We blew some coverages, gave some easy touchdowns.

"We have a lot of things to rip the guys pretty good and let them realize that we can't play like that and win a lot of football games."

Utah is an expansion team and had to face a veteran Cavs team in its debut. Now the team has another game under its belt -- a 53-48 loss to New Mexico that came down to a last-second play -- and some new personnel.

"I've heard through the grapevine they have some more players in," Maciejczak said. "They kind of upgraded in some spots."

Maciejczak said he saw improved play from the Saints' defensive line and receivers on tape from their last game.

"Not that I thought they were bad before, just being that it was their first game, I thought we had the upper hand with experience," Maciejczak said. "Now that experience is starting to dwindle away because our experience that we hold only holds true for a little while, then they get game experience also."

Running back James Jones said he thought the Saints would be a lot better than the last time the teams met.

"We expect them to be more in tune to how the game is, to the level that we are at right now," Jones said. "Both teams expect (the level of play) to be higher than it was."

n JONES EARNS HONOR: Cavs running back James Jones was the IndoorFootballFan.com Special Teams Player of the Week for March 31-April 7.

Jones had three kickoff returns for 89 yards. The bulk of his yards came in the third quarter when he returned a kick 51 yards for a touchdown.

"It was just me and the kicker, I was able to get past him," Jones said. "There were guys pursuing me and I thought about slowing down and cutting back. But I saw I was like three yards away, so I said I might as well dive. When I did dive, as soon as I hit the ground I felt the ball crush my ribs and it was instant pain."

Jones also returned a missed field goal 38 yards and attempted a kickoff after regular place kicker Fata Carter left the game with an injury.

n BUMPS AND BRUISES: Wyoming doesn't have an official injury report, but if they did the list of would include ribs, ankles, hamstrings, quadriceps and toes.

"You name it, I think we have it in some shape or form," coach Dan Maciejczak said.

Maciejczak said after practice on Thursday that he was optimistic everyone would be able to play today. He said having the extra day off since last Friday's game helped his team heal.

Jones, who injured his ribs scoring on his kickoff return, said he was back to 100 percent, though he might wear an extra pad protect his ribs.

n 'WORD ON THE STREET': Maciejczak isn't just concerned with the Xs and Os of the game, he also cares about the fans perception of it.

"Word on the street is that we are beating everyone so bad that people are wondering why they should come down to the games," Maciejczak said. "We play good football teams. Right now we are playing well, and I don't want the fans to be discouraged because we beat Arizona the way we did. ... They are a good football team and there is no way we should have beat them by that amount (69-30). So that's my biggest concern right now, that fans are worried about blowouts."

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

CAVS Tracker:

n TODAY: Utah Saints (0-2) at Wyoming Cavalry (2-0), 7:30 p.m., Casper Events Center.

n PREVIOUS MATCHUP: The Cavs beat the Saints 81-29 in the season opener for both teams.

n HE SAID IT: "We watched the game (film) and we played pretty bad. ... We have a lot of things to rip the guys pretty good and let them realize that we can't play like that and win a lot of football games." -- Cavs coach Dan Maciejczak on the first meeting between the teams.