OMAHA, Neb. - Three years ago, Dusty Burk was throwing passes for the Omaha Beef. On Saturday night, he returned to the Civic Auditorium - quite triumphantly.

Burk, in just his second game back from a knee injury, scorched the Beef for six touchdowns in a 56-44 win for Bloomington.

The win, which lifted the Extreme to 2-3 in United Indoor Football, put a smile on Burk's face.

"Bloomington is where I went to school, and it's my hometown," Burk said. "But Omaha is just a nice place. They have great fans. It's a great atmosphere."

Burk entertained the estimated 3,000 Beef fans from the outset by finding Reggie Gray on an 8-yard pass just 4 minutes into the game.

Omaha countered with a 3-yard pass from James McNear to Marques Johnson, but Beef kicker Ted Retzlaff missed on the extra point try.

Burk then fired an 8-yard scoring pass to Glenn Johnson on the Extreme's next possession, and it was 14-6 with 4:10 left in the first period.

"I felt comfortable today," Burk said. "I have a lot of gifted receivers, and that helps."

Omaha, now saddled with a three-game losing streak, took advantage of Burk's lone miscue by returning a tipped pass 24 yards for a touchdown that put the Beef up 20-14. Omaha pulled within one on its earlier possession when Lawrence Pullen hauled in a 13-yard pass from McNear.

Burk's 1-yard run tied the game at 20 with 11:27 left in the first half, but the Beef went back up 27-20 on a 7-yard pass from McNear to Covell Crosby.

Then Burk went back to work with TD passes of 16 and 5 yards to Johnson and Rocky Harvey.

On a long night of indoor football, the most bizarre play came at the end of the half when Omaha attempted a field goal with no time left. It was blocked and Evan Triggs plopped on the ball for another Extreme score, and it was 40-27 at the break.

The Extreme defense limited Omaha to just 17 points the rest of the way.

Burk's final touchdown passes came in the second half - 26 yards to Johnson and 29 yards to Gray.

Burk said the Extreme continue to improve each week. Asked how far they could go, he hesitated before answering, "We'll just have to wait and see."