Indoor Football League: Roughnecks fall in first round

KENNEWICK, WASH. The West Texas Roughnecks coughed up a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter Monday at the Toyota Center and were bounced out of the Indoor Football League playoffs 61-49 by the Tri-Cities Fever.

With 12:56 left in the game, Arkelon Hall hit Wilson Kimble for a touchdown that gave the Roughnecks a 43-34 lead, but Tri-Cities quarterback Houston Lillard, the IFL’s second-leading passer, came roaring back by leading five fourth-quarter touchdown drives.

Lillard, who tossed seven touchdown passes in the game and didn’t throw an interception against the IFL’s top pass defense, finally completed the comeback when he hit Steven Whitehead for his third touchdown catch of the game with 1:23 left. A moment later, Fever defensive back Dustin Bell picked off Hall to help set up Lillard’s final touchdown pass.

Hall completed 25-of-37 passes for 314 yards and seven touchdowns — including four to Kimble — but the Roughnecks (10-5) were penalized 22 times for 158 yards. Tri-Cities (11-4) didn’t turn the ball over and only amassed 38 yards in penalties.