Wild Clinch Playoff Berth With Another Giant Win!

PARK CITY - Even though he has played indoor football for six years and for seven teams, quarterback Dixie Wooten admitted that he still had a few butterflies before his Wichita Wild debut. But after his impressive performance on Saturday night, the other teams in the Indoor Football League should probably be suffering from a case of the nerves.

With just one week of practice in Wichita, Wooten exceeded expectations, showing off his arm strength and touch in the Wild's 73-33 victory over the River City Rage at Hartman Arena. The Wild (7-6) clinched a spot in the playoffs for the first time in its three-year history and, with Wooten in charge, suddenly looks like a tough out in the postseason.

"He's up for IFL player of the year for a reason," Wild receiver Clinton Solomon said. "I knew the kid had it in him, it was just a matter of how much confidence he had in himself. And when a guy has a swagger like he does, you know he's got confidence. "He's a special player, and we needed that."

The Wild, which finishes the regular season with a home game against winless Alaska on Thursday, established season highs for points and margin of victory. The only drawback on the evening was the turnout: 2,022 fans showed up, the smallest crowd of the season.

Playoff-bound River City, which released Wooten last week after signing former Arena Football League quarterback John Dutton, who is now injured, dropped to 8-6.

Wooten completed 14 of 20 passes for 171 yards and seven touchdowns, including five to Solomon. To put Wooten's value to the Wild in perspective, consider that former starter Derek Rasmussen had thrown five touchdown passes - in the past four games.

"We had some communication problems, but we'll iron those out," coach Ken Matous said. "Dixie can make a lot of throws, and he knows where to put the ball in this game."

It didn't take Wooten long to establish himself. In the second quarter, he completed five of eight passes for 72 yards and four TD passes, allowing the Wild to take control of the game.

"The first quarter was OK, but I was still kinda getting used to things," said Wooten, who has thrown 48 touchdown passes to seven interceptions this season. "In the second, I started to make the right reads and the right throws."

"I feel like I played OK, but I missed some throws. I can play a lot better next week."

The Wild's defense harassed River City backup quarterback Maurice Avery, who has been the team's top receiver, much of the night. He threw four touchdown passes but completed just 10 of 35 passes. Wild defensive backs Randy Kelly and Andre Brown both returned interceptions for touchdowns. Brown led the team with six tackles.

Notes - Kelly continues to provide big plays. He returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown for the Wild's first score. Assistant coach Troy Black started yelling "Pick six!" right when Kelly picked off the pass at the goal line, and he went untouched for the TD.... The Wild defense was solid but gave up an embarrassing touchdown on the last play of the first half when Avery lofted a pass to the end zone, where Darnell Tarnell hauled it in for a 41-yard touchdown.... A special teams concern resurfaced: The Wild botched three extra points.... Running back Darius Fudge was limited to 14 yards on 11 carries, but he scored his league-leading 24th rushing touchdown.