PROVO — Football, traditionally a big-stadium, bring-your-own-binoculars game, got pretty intimate Saturday night. Playing inside a hockey rink with 50 yards' worth of turf over the ice, the Utah Express lost a 33-21 contest to the Rapid City Red Dogs. The game was the kickoff for both the Express and the nine-team National Indoor Football League.
The field was so close that front-row spectators got to feel the impact of the players into the plastic boards surrounding the field and even smell the game.
It looked like the Express might stink up the field after surrendering the first 12 points of the game in only eight minutes of play. But the failed extra point helped Utah keep momentum and climb back into the game to take a 14-12 lead in the second quarter.
After another exchange of touchdowns, where Rapid City once again failed its PAT, the Express held a 21-18 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Express recovered a Red Dog fumble on the short field and looked poised to score again, but Albert Higgs threw an interception. Rapid City managed a long field goal in the final moments of the half that erased the missed extra points and knotted it at 21.
The second half, however, was all Rapid City. The Red Dogs shut down Utah's passing attack while managing two scores in the second half. The Express came close but never managed to punch the ball in again.
"I think we need to run plays that our quarterback is comfortable with," said Express coach Vince Taunauu. "There's no excuse; our guys played their hearts out. It's our first time out, and we need to work on timing, but we will work it out."
Three hundred or more fans packed the Seven Peaks Ice Arena to watch the contest. They were vocal and excited from start to finish. The league had a few wrinkles to iron out, but officials were confident they could continue to offer fans good entertainment. The Express face Washington April 7 and continue their season until mid-July.
E-mail: lc@desnews.com