Despite the firing of an old coach and the hiring of a new one, Anchorage's struggling Indoor Football League was thumped 73-38 Saturday by the Colorado Ice in Loveland, Colo., a loss that sent the Wild to their ninth loss in as many games this season.
The team fired coach Floyd Johnson on Thursday, named assistant Sonny Rodriguez his interim replacement, and then traveled to Colorado with neither coach.
Abe Hernandez, who has done a little bit of everything since the franchise debuted in 2007, took on head coaching duties in Colorado, and once there had little to work with -- the team only took 17 players.
The Wild opened the second half by scoring on their second play to trim Colorado's lead to 35-20, but the Ice responded on their next possession to make it 42-20. The home team outscored the Wild 31-18 the rest of the way to deny Alaska, which in three seasons and 19 attempts has never won a road game. The Ice improved to 5-6.
The Wild return home for a 7 p.m. game Thursday at Sullivan Arena against the Rochester Raiders.
Alaska 8 6 12 12 -- 38
Colorado 19 16 14 24 -- 73
1st quarter
Col -- Reed 1 run (Stevens kick)
Col -- safety
Col -- Gibson 3 pass from Scheer (Stevens kick)
Col -- Stevens 46 field goal
AK -- James 45 kickoff return (Mosley run)
2nd quarter
Col -- Stevens 39 field goal
AK -- Wiliamson 14 run (run failed)
Col -- Hill 44 kickoff returns (kick failed)
Col -- Maurice 4 run (Stevens kick)
3rd quarter
AK -- Jones 28 pass from Wiliamson (run failed)
Col -- Maurice 6 run (Stevens kick)
AK -- Blewett 3 pass from Wiliamson ( pass failed), 6-29 4:32
Col -- Maurice 1 run (Stevens kick)
4th quarter
Col -- Stevens 19 field goal
AK -- Jones 30 pass from Wiliamson (pass failed)
Col -- Gibson 10 pass from Scheer (Stevens kick),
Col -- Maurice 12 run (Stevens kick)
AK -- Smith 7 pass from Wiliamson (pass failed)
Col -- Brown 10 kickoff returns (Stevens kick).
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