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| Credit: HistoricOmaha.com |
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| Credit; Indoor Football League |
This week Adam Lamprecht has recapped Week 18 and has given us a playoff preview this week!
Indoor Football League Week in Review: Week 18
Spokane Empire @ Salt Lake Screaming Eagles
The Spokane Empire limped into the final game of the season looking like a completely different team than what started the year. They began 7-2 to start the year, with a very controversial loss to Wichita Falls in OT early on, and looked to be going back to the playoffs. But the train seemed to come off the rails, as they would lose 5 of 6, putting themselves in a precarious 8-7 record, tied with Nebraska who had the tiebreaker.
Salt Lake was looking to play spoiler in their Friday matchup against the Empire, as obvious by the braggadocious, and completely nauseating, play-by-play for the Screaming Eagles. The game began as a back and forth affair, as both teams went tit for tat, leaving Spokane up 32-25 at the half. Spokane would add 3 more in the third, taking a 10 point lead into the fourth quarter. However, somehow, the Screaming Eagles would make a comeback, and score on the final play of the game to win 45-42, albeit very controversially, as Salt Lake had three players in forward motion, which should have been called for a penalty, but was not, thanks to the awful officiating crew in Salt Lake. And with that, Spokane’s season was ended with a giant middle finger from Project FanChise, and probably a giant middle finger to the IFL.
Arizona Rattlers @ Colorado Crush
The second Friday Night Showdown featured the Intense Conference Regular Season Champions, the Arizona Rattlers, facing off with the Colorado Crush, in what could be the Crush’s final game. The Crush gave everything the Rattlers could take, taking them to overtime, before the Rattlers would pick up the win, 47-44. And unless a potential buyer comes forward, it could be the end of Indoor Football in Loveland, Colorado. Which would be a shame as the Colorado Crush, formerly known as the Colorado Ice, began in 2006, playing eleven seasons, more than both of the Colorado teams in the AFL combined, as the AFL’s Colorado Crush lasted 6 seasons (2003-2008), and the Denver Dynamite, a charter member of the AFL, lasted only 4 seasons (1987, 1989-1991).
Wichita Falls Nighthawks @ Nebraska Danger
Besides the Barnstormers/Storm matchup, which will be highlighted in the Playoffs Preview Section, the last game of the 2017 IFL Regular Season was a battle between the Wichita Falls Nighthawks and the Nebraska Danger. For the Nighthawks, it was simple: Win, and you’re in. Lose, and you’re done. The Nighthawks went toe to toe with the Danger for 3 quarters, only trailing 38-31 after 3. But the Nighthawks began to unravel in the fourth, and the Danger, who were already in and had nothing to lose, would strike, as recently acquired QB Drew Powell would lead the Danger to a major upset over the Wichita Falls Nighthawks, 59-44, and ending the Nighthawks season at 12-4.
Indoor Football League 2017 Playoffs Preview
United Conference Championship: Iowa Barnstormers @ Sioux Falls Storm
For the seventh consecutive season, the Sioux Falls Storm host the United Conference Championship. And for the fifth consecutive season, the Storm will battle a team from Iowa. But this time, it’s in the form of another storied franchise: the Iowa Barnstormers.
The Barnstormers make history again this season, as not only is this the first time they make the playoffs in the Indoor Football League, it is the first time they win 13 games in the regular season, with their previous record of 12 regular season wins in 2009 (the last time the Barnstormers made the playoffs) and 1996 (their second year in existence). In 1996, the team went 14-3 overall, and were led by Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner to Arena Bowl X, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Storm, 42-38.
This is the third time these two teams meet this season, and the sixth time overall historically. Last week, the Barnstormers hosted the Storm in Des Moines, looking to earn the right to host the United Conference Championship, and possibly knock out the 10-time defending National Champions from playoff contention. After a rough start for the Storm, the Barnstormers looked to control the tempo, as they went into halftime with a 21-17 lead. Coming out of the half, though, the Storm were able to make some key adjustments behind future IFL Hall of Famer Kurtiss Riggs, and dominated the second half, allowing only 3 points from Iowa, and taking the win, 45-24. Fortunately for Iowa, the Wichita Falls Nighthawks fell to the Nebraska Danger, eliminating Wichita Falls from the playoffs, and allowing Iowa for a chance at redemption. Sioux Falls is currently 6-0 against the Barnstormers, but Iowa is looking to make their first win against the Storm an impacting one.
Intense Conference Championship: Nebraska Danger @ Arizona Rattlers
Arizona, at the beginning of the year, was not looking like a team who would come in from the AFL and run roughshod over the IFL. Two major losses started the year for the Rattlers against Sioux Falls and Iowa, and many were questioning if the Rattlers would even make the playoffs. But Kevin Guy would adjust to the different league, and the Rattlers would go 12-2 over the final 14 games, only losing to Wichita Falls on a late TD, and Spokane.
Nebraska was a team of ups and downs over the course of the season. At times, the Danger looked to be that: quite dangerous. Other times, people were scratching their heads at this team. But the Danger would turn things around, finishing the season 9-7, with a big win over Wichita Falls for the exclamation point.
The Intense Conference Championship will be the third time these two face off in the 2017 IFL Season. Both times, the Rattlers would defeat the Danger, albeit in tight matchups both times, 39-36 and 43-33. And with the addition of Drew Powell, the Danger are looking to be upset-minded and make it back to the United Bowl, where they have come close 3 times to winning the United Bowl crown.
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| Credit: Champions Indoor Football |
Last week Champions Indoor Football played the Northern and Southern Division Championships. Saturday night saw the Northern Division Championship played between the Sioux City Bandits and their arch rival, the Omaha Beef. One of the oldest rivalries in the sport had the teams duke it out in Sioux City for the right to head to Champions Bowl III. The Bandits were the heavy favorites already having beaten the Beef all 3 times in 2017, however Omaha came to stun an upset with a 55-45 win in Sioux City to win the Northern Division Championship and send the Beef to their first Championship in the 2001 Indoor Professional Football League title game. Down South it was an All-Texas affair played on Monday night as the Amarillo Venom hosted the Texas Revolution for the right to host the Omaha Beef the following week in Champions Bowl III. With three very close, very high scoring games between the teams the Southern Division Championship proved to be more of the same as the Revs knocked off the Venom 77-71.
CIF Champions Bowl III will be played on Friday night 6/23/17 at 7 PM CT from the Allen Event Center in Allen, TX as the Texas Revolution host the Omaha Beef.
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| Credit: National Arena League |
The National Arena League also capped of it's inaugural regular season last week in Week 14 with 2 games instead of the original 3 being played. The opener saw a playoff preview between the Monterrey Steel and Jacksonville Sharks in which the Steel knocked off the Sharks 44-37 in Jacksonville. The Columbus Lions traveled to Albany to take on the Georgia Firebirds. The Firebirds tried to keep it close but stood no chance as the Lions took the win 50-34.
Just like the IFL Playoffs the NAL is the same format with four teams making the playoffs. Unlike the IFL the NAL seeds 1-4 overall. In Jacksonville the (#1 seed and 11-1 in there regular season) they host the Monterrey Steel (#4 seed and 7-4). The other Semi-Final features the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (#2 seed and 9-1) host the Columbus Lions (#3 seed and 9-3).
Last week we started the Best of Arenas competition with a Play-In Round. Richmond and Florida, both At-Large participants from the APF, have advanced into the Round of 32. Pick up to 16 teams in this Round to see who advances to next weeks Round of 16.
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