2021 IFL Playoffs: Round One Preview

Published on August 26, 2021 under Indoor Football League (IFL) News Release

The opening round of the 2021 IFL Playoffs is set to kickoff this weekend with the top eight seeds looking to start their push for a championship. The two second-round contests will be played the weekend of September 3-5, with the highest-seeded team remaining in the 2021 IFL Playoffs hosting the lowest remaining seeded team and the second-highest remaining team hoisting the third-highest remaining seed. You can keep up with all the playoff seedings and matchups here.

SPOKANE SHOCK AT FRISCO FIGHTERS - SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, AT 7:05 P.M. CT

The Frisco Fighters (10-3) are set to face the Spokane Shock (6-6) for a third time this season in the first round of the 2021 IFL Playoffs at Comerica Center on Saturday, August 28 at 7:05 p.m. CT.

The Fighters are coming off just their third loss of the season against the top-ranked Arizona Rattlers, where they held the former league MVP Drew Powell to only 19 rushing yards. In the Frisco Fighters' inaugural season, they made the playoffs and put up the third-best record in the IFL.

"Having a home playoff game is exciting for the city of Frisco," said head coach Clint Dolezel. "It seems like we've grown fans every week we've played at Comerica Center.

Hopefully it will be a sellout, and that's an advantage. The crowd can get loud, and we can make Spokane struggle on the offensive side because they're having to worry about the crowd while listening to each other; then they'll have some mistakes like offsides and false starts."

This season Spokane jumped out to a fast start, but slowed down due to injuries and ultimately finished as the sixth seed. However, they've started to get healthy at a great time and are expected to be near full strength entering the playoffs.

Frisco will rely on its strong defense to lead it into the playoffs. Charles Williams leads the league in both sacks (11) and tackles for loss (17). The Fighters' defense leads the league in yards per game allowed, rushing yards allowed, rushing yards per attempt, and sacks.

Malik Henry is set to make his fifth start at quarterback for Frisco. In his five games, he's completed 56-of-101 passes and completed eight touchdown passes. Running back

DeMarcus Felton leads the offense with 507 yards on the ground and 22 total touchdowns on the season.

"Now it's win or go home if you lose," said Dolezel.

At the game, the Fighters will be honoring Drew Pearson for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in what will be his first major appearance in the area since being enshrined.

The IFL Game of the Week can be seen live on Stadium on most cable and satellite systems in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, including Channel 47 on AT&T U-verse TV, DISH Network, and DirecTV, Channel 24 on Charter Spectrum, and Channel 99 on Grande Communications. It can also be seen worldwide on Stadium's streaming app and at www.watchstadium.com. Also stream the game on the IFL's YouTube channel or tune into KHYI 95.3 to hear Dave Barnett call the game.

BISMARCK BUCKS AT MASSACHUSETTS PIRATES - SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, AT 6:05 P.M. CT

WORCESTER, MA - The Massachusetts Pirates' Road to the Indoor Football League's United Bowl begins on Phoenix Field at the DCU Center this Saturday night at 7:05

against the Bismarck Bucks. The Pirates earned the second seed in the field of eight teams in the IFL Playoffs going 11-3, the best record in team history. Massachusetts ended its first season in their new league as the hottest team in the IFL with a franchise best eight game winning streak, which is also the longest in the league this season.

They say defense wins championships. If that is true, the Pirates are poised for a title as they gave up the fewest points in the IFL, just 33.1 per game. Massachusetts also allowed the fewest yards per play at 4.1 and yielded the least passing yards per game at 120.9.

High scoring action is a hallmark of indoor football, and the Pirates are no exception as they have scored 50 or more points in each of the last five games.

If fans are looking for star power the Pirates have plenty. Massachusetts is led by quarterback Alejandro Bennifield who was second in the IFL with 37 touchdown passes and third in passing yards with 1,750. Wide Receiver Thomas Owens led the league in receiving yards with 911 and was second in receptions with 66, touchdowns with 22 and receiving yards per game with 65.1.

The Pirates special teams were special. Kick returner Laquvionte Gonzalez had a league best three kickoff returns for touchdowns this season and averaged 21.3 yards per return. Kicker Ali Mourtada had a 54-yard field goal this season, the longest in the IFL.

On defense, Massachusetts had three of the top ten defensive backs in Harlan Miller, Khalid Wooten and Aarion Maxey-Penton who were among the leaders in passes defended. Miller and Maxey-Penton had five interceptions each. D-back Chucky Williams led the IFL with three fumble recoveries and defensive lineman Toby Johnson topped the charts with three forced fumbles.

DUKE CITY GLADIATORS AT IOWA BARNSTORMERS - SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, AT 7:05 P.M. CT

The Playoffs are here, and your Iowa Barnstormers are bringing the postseason action to Wells Fargo Arena this Saturday night.

The Barnstormers finished the regular season with a 6-6 record and secured the No. 4 seed in the 2021 IFL Playoffs, hosting the No. 5 Duke City Gladiators Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.

The two teams squared off once this season, with Duke City squeaking out a win over Iowa in the home opener this season.

Iowa, however, used a pair of back-to-back wins at home that included a 21-point comeback to defeat rival Sioux Falls, helping clinch their spot in the postseason.

The team hopes to channel more magic alike when the Gladiators come to town this weekend.

Quarterback Daquan Neal will look to trace the performance that got the Barnstormers their last two home wins, as he threw for over a 50% completion rate, five touchdowns, and a combined 310 yards between the two games.

He'll be stepping in alongside running backs Elad Covaliu and Evan Owens - who have played pivotal roles in getting the team into the first round.

On the defensive side of the football, linebacker Tony Jones continues to impress, as he's rose to fourth in the league in tackles per game.

All of the action will culminate to this Saturday night against Duke City.

Barnstormers season ticket holders will retain their seats for the 2021 season to use for this game. Season ticket holders do not have to purchase their tickets for Saturday, as they already have their seats purchased and secured.

SIOUX FALLS STORM AT ARIZONA RATTLERS - SUNDAY, AUGUST 29, AT 5:05 P.M. CT

PHOENIX, AZ -- The six-time world champion Arizona Rattlers (12-2) will host the first-round of the 2021 IFL Playoffs against the Sioux Falls Storm (6-7) this Sunday, August

29 at 3:05 p.m. at the Footprint Center.

The Rattlers come into the match-up on a five-game winning streak and enter the playoffs clicking on all cylinders after dominating the previously No. 2 ranked Frisco Fighters (55-38) at home last Saturday.

THE RIVALRY

Arizona and Sioux Falls split the season series (1-1) and come into the game with storied playoff history between the two teams.

In 2017, the Rattlers defeated the Storm in the United Bowl, 50-41. The next season (2018), Sioux Falls and Arizona met in the semifinals, and it was the Storm who prevailed in overtime by a score of 69-68. In 2019, Sioux Falls beat Arizona in the United Bowl after mounting a second half comeback, 56-53.

This season the Rattlers look to quarterback Drew Powell and Head Coach Kevin Guy to even the playoff series (1-2) against the Storm.

Powell is also considered the 'IFL MVP Award' front-runner after finishing the regular season leading the league in six major statistical categories. QB1's performances earned No.1 in rushing YDS (902), rushing TDs (35), YPA (6.6), PTS (214), PPG (15.3), and completion PCT (69.4).

This also marks the twelfth consecutive postseason berth for the Rattlers and Head Coach Kevin Guy.

Indoor Football League Stories from August 26, 2021

• Storm Prepare for Playoff Matchup against Rival Rattlers - Sioux Falls Storm
• Fighters to Honor Drew Pearson at First-Ever Playoff Game - Frisco Fighters
• 2021 IFL Playoffs: Round One Preview - IFL
• Dillion Winfrey Awarded Second IFL Defensive POW Nod for Week-18 Performance - Arizona Rattlers

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.