Wild not concerned with road record

That's the road record of the Alaska Wild, which hasn't won a game away from home since they joined the Intense Football League in 2007.

Two weeks ago, it looked like the Wild might catch a break and host a first-round playoff game due to scheduling problems at the CenTex Barracudas' home field, the Bell County Expo Center.

But the IFL's owners voted to move the game back a week to give third-seeded CenTex its rightful home-field advantage, leaving Alaska with long odds in its first playoff game.

But that's the least of head coach Hans Deemer's worries heading into today's 4 p.m. match-up at the Expo Center.

"We don't even listen to that stuff," Deemer said of the team's inability to win on the road. "We just think about winning, period."

Winning will be a bigger challenge than normal for the Wild, who will be battling through injuries and inexperience. Alaska brought just 17 players to Texas, fewer than the 20 Deemer would normally take.

In IFL games, there are eight players on offense and defense.

Missing in action will be:

• Keith Smith: Originally a wide receiver, the versatile Smith had filled in admirably at quarterback (team-best 22 touchdown passes) for the Wild, who have suited up five different signal callers due to injuries. He's out with a hip injury.

• Thomas Ford Jr.: The team's top rushing (10 TDs) and receiving (40 yards per catch and 11 TDs) threat went down with a hip injury in the season finale loss to in-state rival Fairbanks on June 28.

• Andre Velasquez: The Wild's speediest deep threat on offense (40 yards per catch and 10 TDs) and top kick returner (three returns for scores) is sidelined with a foot injury.

• Mao Tosi: One of the interior anchors of the Wild's defense, the former East standout and ex-NFL player was hurt at his day job and couldn't make the trip.

• George Noga: Along with Tosi, the former Hawaii standout and CFL veteran wreaks havoc on opposing lineman (with 14 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks) but Noga couldn't make the trip due to work commitments.

So today's team won't necessarily resemble the one Anchorage fans saw go 5-2 at Sullivan Arena.

"It'll be completely different," Deemer said. "But as a coach, I can't lay around and say poor me. It doesn't matter that we have 17 guys if those guys want to win."

At quarterback Deemer will rest his hopes on Darnell Lovett, who joined the Wild for their 88-13 road loss to defending champion Louisiana on June 21, completing 7 of 22 passes with two picks. He made strides in Alaska's 68-66 loss to the Fairbanks Grizzlies on June 29 with four rushing touchdowns.

"He ran a little bit more than I want him to, but we did end up with 66 points up there, we just didn't take care of business in other places," Deemer said.

Lovett will be throwing to a new set of receivers.

Nian Taylor, second on the team with 41 catches for 405 yards and 10 scores, will start. He'll be joined by former Bartlett standout Pierce Blewett and Lavone Nelson, a 6-foot-3 indoor veteran who has been injured most of the season.

Having two weeks off due to CenTex's home scheduling issues allowed Deemer to get Lovett more reps with the trio of wideouts.

"It helped us because we had to plug in more receivers too," Deemer said. "To get your timing down there is only so much you can do in four days of practice. (Lovett) looks a little more comfortable. He's coming into his own, so we're hoping for a breakout game."

Even if the offense comes through, how will the Wild replace the fearsome twosome of Noga and Tosi up front?

"We're not," Deemer said with a laugh. "We're going to rotate guys through and use certain people in certain situations to mix it up."

Those include former Bartlett standout and 2001 Daily News Boys Athlete of the Year Tui Alailefaleula. Alailefaleula, a former University of Washington player who spent time with the New York Jets and Giants but did not play, has been with the team since late May.

Adding to all that adversity, Deemer and the team flew into Dallas on Friday and made a 136-mile trek south to Belton in five mini-vans because the rental car agency was out of 15-passenger vans. They'll be staying in three different hotels due to lack of available rooms.

That aside, Deemer said his players are ready for action today and focused on a win after two good weeks of practice.

"The guys looked like they were preparing themselves to win a playoff game instead of playing a regular-season game. There was more intensity," Deemer said. "It's a shot at being part of history: The first professional football playoff win for Alaska."

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ALASKA WILD

5-9

at

CENTEX BARRACUDAS

8-6

WHEN: Today, 4:05 p.m.

WHERE: Bell County Expo Center (Belton, Texas)

RADIO: FM-96.3 KXLW

LAST MEETING: CenTex 54, Alaska 7 in Belton, Texas on May 24

TRENDS: The 2-year-old Wild qualified for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. ... The Barracudas, in their third Intense Football League season, are in the postseason for the second time after finishing the 2007 season 2-12, tied for last with Alaska.

WHO'S HOT: Alaska quarterback Darnell Lovett scored four rushing touchdowns in the Wild's 68-66 road loss to the Fairbanks Grizzlies. ... The Barracudas are 6-1 in the friendly confines of Bell Expo Center with the lone loss coming at the hands of defending champion Louisiana. Their average margin of victory at home is 21.2 points.

WHO'S NOT: Alaska has never won on the road since joining the IFL including this season's 0-7 mark. ... CenTex has lost two in a row coming into today's game.