Billings hands Wild their worst loss of season

They returned to the turf Thursday and got spanked by the Billings Outlaws 72-18 in an Indoor League Football game at Sullivan Arena.

The Wild dropped to 0-8 overall, remained last in the Pacific Division and suffered their worst loss of the season. Billings owns a 9-1 record, best in the Pacific Division, and is close to locking up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs in July.

Six more games remain in the Wild's regular season -- and the schedule isn't in their favor. Four games are on the road, where the Wild are 0-18 all-time.

The Wild had a brief moment of glory when their top player, DeMarcus James, returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The score gave James an IFL-best six returns for touchdowns.

The Wild's 6-0 lead lasted less than five minutes as Billings outscored Alaska 37-12 in the first half. The Outlaws kept the touchdowns coming in the final two quarters, racking up 251 total yards on offense.

It didn't help that Billings quarterback Chris Dixon completed 13 of 13 for 161 yards and four touchdown passes.

Billings 23 14 21 14 -- 72

Wild 6 6 0 6 -- 18

First Quarter

Wild -- James 56 kickoff return (kick failed), 14:47.

Billings -- Safety, 11:57.

Billings -- Markey 4 run (Parseghian kick), 10:22.

Billings -- Purvis 3 pass from Dixon (Parseghian kick), 6:06.

Billings -- Redd 41 pass from Dixon (Parseghian kick), 1:40.

Second Quarter

Wild -- Mason 2 run (pass failed), 7:23.

Billings -- Austin 3 pass from Dixon (Parseghian kick), 2:04.

Billings -- Walton 4 pass from Dixon (Parseghian kick), 0:18.

Third Quarter

Billings -- Dixon 1 run (Parseghian kick), 12:38.

Billings -- Zimmerman 35 fumble recovery (Parseghian kick), 5:55.

Billings -- Tunsil 20 INT return (Parseghian kick), 2:32.

Fourth Quarter

Wild -- Williamson 21 pass from Mason (run failed), 6:40.

Billings -- Rouse 10 kickoff return (Parseghian kick), 6:20.

Billings -- Bazemore 10 fumble recovery (Parseghian kick), 0:46.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Billings: Markey 8-66, Dixon 3-14, Purvis 2-6. Wild: Mason 14-34, Williamson 2-19, Mosley 6-7.

PASSING -- Billings: Dixon 13-13-0--161; Purvis 1-4-0--4. Wild: Mason 13-35-5--125.

RECEIVING -- Billings: Austin 4-43; Redd 3-57; Purvis 2-27; Markey 2-23. Wild: Williamson 5-51; Jones 4-54; Mosley 2-8; No. 23 1-13.