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| Credit: Honolulu Star Bulletin |
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| Credit: Indoor Football League |
The 2017 United Bowl topped off the IFL Season, as the top teams of each conference faced off. The Arizona Rattlers traveled to Sioux Falls to face off against the defending IFL Champions, the Sioux Falls Storm.
The Rattlers took the opening kickoff and marched down the
field in 4 plays, taking the opening drive for a score, as the no. 2 rusher in
the league, Darrell Monroe, took it in from two yards out. The Storm would
answer right back, as Korey Williams took the kickoff and ran it back for a
touchdown to tie things up at 7 a piece. From there, it went downhill for the
Storm.
The Rattlers answered back, as Cody Sokol found a wide open
Jamal Miles, who found the endzone after a 34 yard pass, and the Rattlers went
up 14-7. After holding the Storm on downs, the Rattlers were driving as the 1st
quarter ended. On 4th and Goal to start the second quarter, Monroe
found the end zone for the second time in the game. Petre Sawyer missed the
PAT, but the Rattlers were up 20-7.
The Storm took the ball and drove down the field, but could
not find the end zone, and Justin Syrovatka missed a 48-yard field goal
attempt, giving the Rattlers the ball back at their own 5. The Rattlers had no
luck moving the ball either, and had to settle for a field goal attempt. At
least that’s what they wanted the Storm to think, as they tried a fake field
goal. But Storm linebacker Tyler Knight sniffed it out, stopping them and
turning the ball over on downs, giving the Storm much needed momentum and the
ball back on the Rattlers 14-yard line.
But on the Storm’s first play of the drive, Storm
quarterback Lorenzo Brown would get sacked, fumble the ball, and the Rattlers
would pick it up, as Joshua Gordon would return the fumble 29 yards for the
score, putting the Rattlers up 27-7. The Storm’s next drive didn’t fare any
better, as Brown would get sacked two more times, and Syrovatka would try
another field goal. He would come up short, and the Rattlers would return it
back to the Storm 5-yard line. One play later, Sokol nails Anthony Amos for the
touchdown. The Storm would try another field goal for the last play of the
half, but it was no good, and the Rattlers would go into the half, dominating
the Storm 34-7.
The Storm took the opening kickoff of the second half, and
would finally find the endzone on offense, as Brown hit Judd Harrold for 17
yards and the score, putting the score at 34-14. The Rattlers would take over,
and on the second play, Tyler Knight would force the fumble from Sokol, and
Storm defensive back Elijah Fields would pick it up. A few plays later, “Mighty
Mouse” Robbie Rouse would find pay dirt, and the Storm were right back in it,
down 34-21. Three plays later, Sokol’s pass was tipped by Knight, and Brandon
Peguese would pick it off in the endzone, and the Storm only trailed 34-28.
After a missed field goal by Sawyer, the Storm looked to capitalize, going into
the fourth quarter only down by 6.
But the Rattlers would hold on 4th down, as they
would force a turnover on downs at the Storm 9-yard line. A couple plays later,
Monroe would get his 3rd rushing touchdown of the night, and the
Rattlers would go up 41-28. Another mistake by the Storm would cost them, as
Brown would fumble on a jet sweep, and the Rattlers would recover. Although
they wouldn’t find the endzone, Sawyer would put up his first field goal, and
the Rattlers lead 44-28.
The Storm came marching back, as Brown would find Harrold
again for the score. The two point conversion was no good, and the Storm would
trail 44-34. The Storm defense held again, but once again, Sawyer was true
through the middle for 3, and the Rattlers lead 47-34. On the first play of the
drive, Brown would find Mike Tatum, and hit him 40 yards for the score, and the
Storm were back within 6, 47-41.
The Storm would try an onside kick, and even though they
recovered, they were penalized for an illegal block, and the Rattlers would get
the ball at the Storm 11-yard line. Though denied the end zone again, the
Rattlers would get 3 from Sawyer, and lead 50-41 with only 42 seconds left in
the game.
The Storm would try to mount a comeback, but a late pick by
Arkeith Brown would seal the deal, and the Arizona Rattlers were the 2017 IFL
Champions, defeating the Storm 50-41 in United Bowl XIII.
The big factor in this game was mistakes. The Storm had 3
turnovers, one of them coming off one of 4 sacks by the Rattlers defense. 3 of
the 4 sacks, in my honest opinion, came off poor decision making, as Brown held
the ball far too long, and should have just thrown the ball away. The Rattlers
had 2 turnovers, but only 1 sack on Sokol. Both teams were abysmal on third
down, as they combined for a total 2-15 on third down, 1/8 for Arizona and 1/7
for Sioux Falls. Another factor was the kicking game, as Sawyer, who came into
the game first in the IFL in field goal percentage, would hit 3 of 4 field
goals in the game, all 3 were clutch field goals down the stretch. Syrovatka,
on the other hand, was 0 for 3 in field goal attempts, all 3 being in the first
half.
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| Credit: Jacksonville Sharks |
The second half started a little better as Columbus scored to start the game and Jacksonville answered right back on 2 long drives ending the 3rd Quarter at 20-7 Sharks. The 4th quarter started right where the 3rd left off with Columbus and Jacksonville trading scores once again, that was until the final two drives. The Sharks, who with a touchdown could secure the game, but threw a pick into the endzone and the Lions would start with the ball on their own 5. With no timeouts left the Lions drove the ball downfield and ate up a considerable amount of clock. With the ball at the Sharks 5 and just 11 seconds left, the Lions were in position to win the game and the title. The Lions QB Mason Espinosa would fumble the ball and it would be recovered by Jacksonville. The score didn't show everything as the Lions went 22-37 with 1 pick and the Sharks 17-25 with 2 picks. Combine those QB stats with a combined 39 yards rushing and a total of 19 penalties for 121 yards and you realize how bad of a game this really was. But the Sharks came out with the inaugural National Arena League Championship.
That wraps the seasons up in a nice little bow for everyone. The Texas Revolution as CIF Champions, the Arizona Rattlers as IFL Champions, and the Jacksonville Sharks as NAL Champions. This week it's the Best of Arenas Semi-Finals so don't forget to vote either here or on Facebook! Next week will be a special Indoor Football Weekly as we'll bring you Shit Show: Post Season Edition that will cover all the leagues we don't normally cover.
