Game Preview: Boise Burn at Tri-Cities Fever - SEASON OPENER THIS FRIDAY!

Matchup: Boise Burn (0-0) at Tri-Cities Fever (0-1). Friday, 8:05 (Mtn) kickoff from the Toyota Center in Kennewick, WA. Head-to-head: These two West Division rivals have seen a lot of each other in Boise?s brief 2-year history in the af2. Last season, they played three times with the Burn winning twice. Overall, Boise holds a 3-2 series advantage. Get to know the Fever: Tri-Cities actually has a game under its belt, losing to Central Valley last weekend. Quarterback Joe Ayoob threw for 199 yards and four scores, but he was sacked twice and lost a fumble. Nakoa McElrath was Ayoob?s favorite target, catching 11 passes, two for touchdowns. Defensively, former University of Idaho defensive back Kiel McDonald had six tackles for the Fever. A new era for the Burn: Friday?s game marks the beginning of the Brent Winter era for the Boise Burn. The new head coach spent ten years as an assistant coach and director of player personnel in the Arena Football League and his connections served him well recruiting new players to go along with mainstays Mark Weivoda, Casey Allen, and Levi Madarieta. Under center: Winter still has a decision to make at the quarterback position?will he choose former Boise State standout Taylor Tharp or newcomer Rudy Carlton to start the season opener? Carlton has af2 experience (he threw 32 touchdown passes in 11 games for the Texas Copperheads last season), while Tharp finished up his BSU career with one of the best single-season passing performances in school history. If Winter goes with Tharp, he?d mark the third different opening-game starter in three years for the Burn, each having played collegiately at Boise State (Bart Hendricks, BJ Rhode). Receiver-heavy: Whoever Winter chooses to take the snaps, he?ll have the luxury of a deep and talented group of receivers to throw the ball to. The Burn?s all-time leading receiver, Casey Allen, headlines a group that includes former BSU standout Jerard Rabb and former Central Valley standouts Nichiren Flowers and Jomo Wilson. Brandon Hampton, a defensive back at California of the Pac Ten in college, could also be used at receiver in some situations to utilize his outstanding speed.The Burn kicks off its third season this Friday @ Tri-Cities, with the home opener slated for Apr. 18 versus the Spokane Shock. Season tickets are available by calling (208) 383-0080. For more information and to get a full schedule, visit www.boiseburn.com. About af2 With its 10th anniversary season set to kick off on March 20, af2 serves as a vehicle to bring Arena Football to small-to-midsize cities and as a developmental league with an unmatched history of sending players, coaches and officials to major professional football leagues each year. Log on to www.af2.com for more information.