Sports stats

2008 United Indoor Football League-Wide Awards Announced

June 18, 2008 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF) News Release


Omaha, NE - The 2008 United Indoor Football season has seen talented players led by devoted coaches. Today, the UIF proudly announces their 2008 league-wide awards. Seven very deserving individuals have been honored. The awards were voted on by league coaches and local media (team beat writers and broadcasters).

Chris Dixon, quarterback for the Billings Outlaws, has been named Most Valuable Player/Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year. Dixon, in his second season in the UIF, completed 264 of 385 passes for 2,882 yards and 63 touchdown passes while only throwing 10 interceptions. The yards and touchdown passes are new UIF highs for a regular season. In addition to his passing prowess, he rushed 86 times for 382 yards and seven touchdowns while also catching a touchdown pass thrown by Charles Anthony. Led by Dixon, the Outlaws' offense scored 103 touchdowns on the way to scoring a league-high 725 points. Billings also led the UIF in both passing offense and total offense, averaging 201.4 and 275.1 yards per game, respectively. In addition, Dixon has also been selected for his second UIF All-Star game. This weekend, he and his Outlaws teammates host the Omaha Beef in the first round of the UIF playoffs.

Joe Bevis, linebacker for the RiverCity Rage, is being honored as Defensive Player of the Year. Bevis, also in his second season in the UIF, tallied a league-high 109 tackles while playing in all 14 games. In addition, he tallied 12.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks while also breaking up three passes, forcing three fumbles (recovering one), blocking a kick and recording a safety. Led by Bevis, the Rage defense finished in the top 4 in several categories: scoring defense (3rd, allowing 34.3 points per game), pass defense (2nd, allowing 141.2 yards per game), turnover margin (3rd, +5), rushing defense (4th, allowing 69.9 yards per game) and total defense (3rd, allowing 211.2 yards per game). Bevis was recently selected for his first UIF All-Star game. This weekend, he and his Rage teammates host the Sioux City Bandits in the first round of the UIF playoffs.

Peter Christofilakos, kicker for the Bloomington Extreme, has been named Special Teams Player of the Year. Christofilakos, who is in his third season in the UIF, made 18 of 35 field goals and converted 59 of 68 extra points to score 113 points. The 18 field goals, 59 extra points and 113 total points were each third-most in the UIF. Christofilakos was recently named an All-Star for the second time in his career. This weekend, he and his teammates have a bye as they prepare to host the winner of the RiverCity-Sioux City contest in the Eastern Conference Championship game to be played June 30th at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

Chad Kapanui, quarterback for the Sioux City Bandits, is being honored as Offensive Rookie of the Year. He is in his first season in indoor football and played collegiately at the University of Hawaii. Kapanui completed 227 of 364 passes for 2,402 yards and 40 touchdown passes. In addition, he rushed 52 times for 141 yards and seven touchdowns. Led by Kapanui, the Bandits offense finished in the top 5 of several categories: scoring offense (5th, scoring 41.6 points per game), passing offense (3rd, averaging 165.6 yards per game), rushing offense (2nd, averaging 76.3 yards per game) and total offense (3rd, averaging 241.9 yards per game). He was recently selected for his first UIF All-Star game. This weekend, Kapanui and his teammates head east to St. Charles, Missouri, where the Bandits will meet the RiverCity Rage in the first round of the UIF playoffs.

Travonti Johnson, defensive back for the Billings Outlaws, has been named Defensive Rookie of the Year. Johnson is in his first season in indoor football and played collegiately at the University of Central Florida. He made 62 tackles and four tackles for loss, intercepted a league-high 12 passes (returning three for touchdowns), broke up 12 more passes, forced two fumbles and recovered both of them. Led by Johnson, the Outlaws defense finished in the top 5 in several defensive categories-scoring defense (4th, allowing 35.5 points per game), passing defense (5th, allowing 153.9 yards per game), turnover margin (2nd, +12), rushing defense (2nd, allowing 57.3 yards per game) and total defense (4th, allowing 211.1 yards per game). Johnson was recently selected for his first UIF All-Star game. This weekend, he and his Outlaws teammates host the Omaha Beef in the first round of the UIF playoffs.

James McNear, quarterback for the Omaha Beef, is being honored as Most Improved Player. McNear, in his second season in the UIF, completed 202 of 318 passes for 1,931 yards and 34 touchdowns while only throwing six interceptions. In addition, he rushed 100 times for 530 yards and 11 touchdowns. Led by McNear, the Beef's offense finished in the top 5 of several categories: scoring offense (4th, scoring 42.1 points per game), passing offense (5th, averaging 141.8 yards per game), rushing offense (1st, averaging 96.2 yards per game) and total offense (4th, averaging 238 yards per game). McNear was recently selected for his first UIF All-Star game. This weekend, he and his Beef teammates head west to Billings, Montana, where they will play the Billings Outlaws in the first round of the UIF playoffs.

Steve Warren, head coach of the Omaha Beef, has been named Coach of the Year. Warren, in his first season as a head coach, led the Beef to a 10-4 record. The team saw seven of their players named to the UIF All-Star team and finished the regular season first in the following categories: turnover margin (+18), rushing offense (averaging 96.2 yards per game), rushing defense (allowing only 55.9 yards per game) and red zone offense (scoring on 58 of a possible 69 chances). This weekend, Warren will lead the Beef as they travel west to take on the Billings Outlaws in the first round of the UIF playoffs.

UIF POST-SEASON SCHEDULE

Saturday, June 21st Sioux City at RiverCity 7 p.m. Central

Omaha at Billings 7:05 p.m. Mountain

Saturday, June 28th Omaha/Billings winner at Sioux Falls 7:05 p.m. Central

Monday, June 30th Sioux City/RiverCity winner at Bloomington 7:05 p.m. Central

Saturday, July 12th United Bowl IV

Eastern Conference winner vs. Western Conference winner

Site and Time TBD

Saturday, July 19th UIF All-Star Game

Tyson Events Center - Sioux City, Iowa 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, July 26th Intense Football League champion vs. UIF champion in

National Indoor Football Bowl Championship Game at

United Bowl Champion Time TBD



United Indoor Football Association Stories from June 18, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central