Huge Shakeup in Top 5 of IFL Coaches Poll
Published on May 15, 2013 under Indoor Football League (IFL) News Release
Richmond, VA - Another week during the IFL regular season equals another action packed slate of games with spectacular finishes. The results have IFL fans scratching their heads as they try to gain a grasp of which IFL teams are going to separate from the pack and claim one of four coveted playoff positions. Below are the rankings for Week 14's IFL Coaches Poll.
Idle in Week 13 and benefiting from losses by the previous week's top two teams, the Colorado Ice move from #3 to #1 in this week's Poll. The Ice now sit alone atop the Intense Conference standings with a 6-3 record. Colorado hopes that a week of rest will be the edge they need to defend home turf against the red hot Tri-Cities Fever this weekend.
After beginning the season 4-0 and claiming the #1 spot in the first two Coaches Polls, the Cedar Rapids Titans dropped 4 of 5 games, barely clinging to a spot in the Top 5. On Saturday night, the Titans earned the biggest win in franchise history, overpowering the Sioux Falls Storm 52-18. The Titans jump 3 spots from #5 to #2 in this week's Poll. QB Charles McCullum led the way for an offensive unit that scored 52 points agains the #1 defense in the IFL (only the 2nd time the Storm have given up 50+ points). For his 6-touchdown performance, McCullum was named Offensive Player of the Week. The team now sits at 6-4 and in the driver's seat to claiming the top spot in the United Conference. Revenge is on the mind of the Titans this weekend as they head to Green Bay to take on the Blizzard, the team which gave the Titans their first loss of the season in Week 7 (41-38, 2OT).
Following a 42-30 win over the Texas Revolution, the Chicago Slaughter (7-4) move up 1 spot to #3. With the win, Chicago becomes the first team to reach 7 wins on the season and holds a 1=8E2 game lead over the Titans and Sioux Falls Storm in the United Conference standings. Chicago's strong defensive effort was led by Defensive Player of the Week DL P.J. South (9 tackles, 2.5 sacks). Up next for the Slaughter is a trip to Sioux Falls to play the Storm at the "Storm Shelter". This matchup has IFL Game of the Week written all over it.
The Nebraska Danger take a big fall from #1 to #4 in this week's Poll following a 53-47 loss to the Green Bay Blizzard. In one of the most remarkable finishes in IFL history, the Danger gave up a 7 point lead in the final seconds of the game resulting in the loss. Trailing 47-40 the Blizzard drove down the field to tie the game at 47 with a 1-yard TD run from RB Lucian Walker. The ensuing kickoff return set up Danger Kicker Joe Houston with a 43-yard FG attempt to seal the win. Unfortunately for the Danger, Blizzard DB Kenny Viser blew through the line, blocking the attempt, which was then recovered and returned for a Blizzard touchdown by LB Derek Earls, clinching an improbable comeback for Green Bay. Nebraska will look to shake off the disappointing loss when they travel to take on the Wyoming Cavalry this weekend.
The Sioux Falls Storm (6-4) round out the Top 5 in this week's Poll. #2 in last week's Poll, the Storm fall 3 spots after the 52-18 loss to the Titans. The 34-point rout marks the worst defeat for the Storm since June 6, 2009, a 70-35 loss to the Billings Outlaws. Nothing went right the Storm on Saturday as their #1 ranked defense gave up huge plays through the air and on the ground and QB Terrance Bryant failed to get the offense into the end zone before being pulled from the game for backup Martevious Young. Sioux Falls looks to rebound this weekend against the Slaughter.
For the third consecutive week, spots 6-9 remain unchanged, belonging to the Green Bay Blizzard, Texas Revolution, Tri-Cities Fever, and Wyoming Cavalry. The Blizzard (4-5) have now won 3 straight and 4 of their last 5 to get back into playoff contention. The Revs (4-6) loss to the Slaughter may result in the team being on the outside looking in come playoff time. The Fever (4-6) won their third straight game as well, knocking off the Cavalry 33-16. This weekend's game against the Ice is "make or break" for the Fever. The Cavalry are the lone team eliminated from playoff contention thus far. They will look to play the role of spoiler this weekend against the Danger.
The Indoor Football League was created in 2008 from a merger between the Intense Football League and the United Indoor Football Association. Its teams are located from Kennewick, Washington to Chicago, Illinois. For more information about all things IFL, please log on to www.goifl.com or call the league office at (804) 643-7277.
Indoor Football League Stories from May 15, 2013
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