Former Wildcats, now Ruff Riders, help Abilene debut professional Indoor Football with win

After two failed semi-professional teams arrived almost as quickly as they left in the 1990’s, professional indoor football made its debut in Abilene Monday night. While the Abilene Prairie Dogs (1995-98) baseball team and the Abilene Aviators (1998-99) hockey team may have failed, perhaps the Ruff Riders’ star power and local football heroes could keep the newest Indoor Football League (IFL) team alive.

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter and a handful of local players helped lead the Abilene Ruff Riders to a 39-24 victory over the Odessa Roughnecks in front of 3,982 fans at the Taylor County Expo Center.

Former ACU players Jerale Badon and Chris Morris each caught two touchdowns apiece from Carter. Badon, who holds ACU’s all-time receptions, yards and receiving touchdown records caught four passes for 91 yards while Morris had six catches for 83 yards.

Badon, who also had two kick returns for 18 yards, scored the first touchdown in team history with 14:06 left in the second quarter putting the Ruff Riders ahead 10-6. In the third quarter, the former ACU WR duo dominated; Morris caught a 22-yard score with 7:01 left, just 2:05 later, Badon caught his second touchdown ball from 26 yards out, and Morris scored on a 12-yard reception with 2:33 left.

Former ACU linebacker Brandon Henry also had a solid game with six tackles (four solo, two assisted) and he came up with a fumble recovery in the quarter on a kickoff that set up perhaps the game-sealing touchdown three plays later when Morris’ second touchdown put the Ruff Riders up 36-16. Henry also had a quarterback hurry.

Speaking of quarterback hurries former defensive lineman Willis Hogan (pictured) led the game with three as Abilene’s starting nose guard. Near the end of the first half, Hogan also intercepted a pass and returned it for a 6-yard touchdown, however, the play was called back due to a procedure penalty on the Ruff Riders.

Other than former Wildcat offensive lineman Matt Raesner who didn’t play, there is one more ACU connection for the Ruff Riders. ACU assistant women’s basketball coach Terri Pertuit’s husband and ACU assistant soccer coach Thomas Pertuit’s brother, Nich Pertuit, is the team’s placekicker. Pertuit scored the first points in the team’s history with a 24-yard field goal in the first quarter. He later added a 23-yard field goal in the fourth, and converted on 3 of 5 extra point attempts. Nich Pertuit is also Wylie High School’s Boys’ Soccer Coach.

Other Abilene connections on the roster were Michael Carrillio, the former Hardin-Simmons receiver. Carrillio caught four passes for 27 yards. The two McMurry players, Desmond Sanders and Rashon Lewis each made the 25-man roster, but only 21 are allowed to suit up for games, neither suited out.

As far as family entertainment goes, I personally thought the game was fun, and it was especially fun to see the former Wildcats and Carter in action. Badon is an especially big story because he’s been catching touchdown passes in the city of Abilene for a long time at Abilene High, ACU and now the Ruff Riders.

The new indoor team will also play host to a Saturday home game against the Omaha Beef at 7 p.m.

Abilene Reporter News coverage
Abilene vs. Odessa Box Score
Abilene Ruff Riders web site
Indoor Football League web site