Beef/Bandits Preview of the 51st Meeting
May 10, 2024 - National Arena League (NAL)
Omaha Beef News Release
The oldest rivalry in indoor football gets renewed this Saturday as the Sioux City Bandits travel to Ralston to take on the Omaha Beef. Since 2002 the two teams have met 50 times in the I-29 rivalry with the Beef holding onto a 26-24 lead after they sweep Sioux City in 2023 and have won the last three matchups. The Beef are currently on top of the National Arena League standings at 4-0 while the Bandits are in second at 3-1 with the Carolina Cobras sitting third at 4-2. Kickoff is slated for 6:30pm at Liberty First Credit Union Arena for Heros Night. Activities start at 4:30pm as the Omaha Police and Fire Departments will be there alongside the Nebraska State Patrol.
The game features six players in the top ten for rushing stats in the NAL. Beef quarterback Tommy Armstrong is averaging 53.2 yards per game (3rd in NAL) while Jeff Mack sits 4th at 49.0 ypg and Tabyus Taylor is 7th with 35.5 ypg. The Bandits counter with Andrew Prohaska who is 5th with 42.0 ypg, Joshua Hollins is 8th with 29.3 ypg, and Fred Bruno is 9th with 28.5 ypg. Omaha leads the NAL in rushing, averaging 127.8 ypg while the Bandits are seconds at 110.2 ypg. These two teams also boast the two best run defenses as Omaha gives up 56.8 ypg while Sioux City allows 78.5 ypg. While the two offense are the top two in scoring, Omaha boosts a big advantage on defense as they rank number one scoring defense (31.2 ppg), second in total defense (196.8 ypg), first in sacks (12), and tied for second in interceptions (8). Sioux City's defense is last in scoring defense (49.2 ppg) and total defense (295.5 ypg).
Armstrong is the top rank quarterback in efficiency at 112.3 going 30 for 55 for 432 yards with 9 TD's and 1 interception. He is the leading scorer for the NAL at 17.0 ppg and is fourth in total offense averaging 161.2 ypg. The last two games Jeff Mack has taken over for Tabyus Taylor in the backfield and has put up good numbers. In three games, Mack has rushed for 147 yards on 29 carries and is eighth in total offense averaging 49.0 ypg. While the Beef are heavy on the run, the receiver core has big play potential. Rookie Korrell Koehlmoos is in 7th in receiving yards per game averaging 42.0 ypg while catching 9 balls for 168 yards and four touchdowns. Troy Evans Jr has played the last two games and has caught 6 passes for 101 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Ponce Deleon is leading the Beef defense averaging 7.2 tackles per game, making 29 tackles in four games. Rodell Rahmaan (14 tackles), Rudy Ngougni (17 tackles) each have three sacks while four other have at least one sack. Ngougni was named Defensive Player of the Week for his part in the 42-36 win over Oklahoma Flying Aces. Ngougni had two sacks as part of his six-tackle night in the win. Trey Dudley-Giles, Chris Perry, and Terrance Jackson each made two interceptions in 2024. The pressure from the front 3 has helped the Beef to have the best turnover margin in the NAL with a plus 9 in their four games.
Sioux City's quarterback Joshua Hollins has thrown only 35 passes this season. In three games Hollins is 18 of 35 for 167 yards and six touchdowns with throwing one interception. The Bandits, who lead the NAL in time of possession, have run the ball 108 times while throwing it only 85. Braden Meints, a true iron-man as a running back, linebacker, and kicker for the Bandits, leads Sioux City defense. Meints is the leading tackler with 21 tackles in three games with 2 sacks, has rushed for 16 yards on five attempts, and has made 7 of 12 extra-point kicks, 1 field goal, and 1 deuce.
OTHER NOTES:
The 2024 Omaha Beef - T4 Academy football camp is scheduled for June 7th from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Scan the QR code to register for this fun and entertaining activity. The registration comes with a camp T-shirt, 2 hours of fun coaching and player instructions, a pizza party immediately afterwards and a ticket to the Omaha Beef football game the following day. Registration space is limited, so do not wait and we will see you on June 7th!!!!
2024 Hall of Fame Nominations are officially open to our fans and supporters.... Please submit all nominations to ricky@beeffootball.com by May 1st for the enshrinement ceremony to take place on our June 8th game. Players, Coaches, Support Staff, Fans...all will be considered as it is YOU that make the Omaha Beef Family so special!!!
Tickets are on sale starting at just $23.00, you can buy them by visiting the arena box office or online at Omaha Beef Football | Liberty First Credit Union Arena
The Fareway Butcher Block Season Ticket package - Sections 107 or 108, Free Beef butcher jacket, hat, and a chance to win Fareway gift cards at every home game.
The coaches show will be every Monday at Phoenix 120 Food & Spirit starting at 6pm.
Hurrdat Sports Bar & Grill in La Vista is your official watch party destination this season! Come join us to cheer on the Beef. The watch party hosted by Wired Axcess PodcastDJ K DuB Omaha and our special build your own burger! Grab your spot here: https://tinyurl.com/2wkamfxp You have the chance to win some great prizes.
Any questions call the Beef office at 402.346.2333.
Erv Strohbeen is 17-10 vs Omaha. Omaha is 4-8 vs SC in Ralston and 12-11 in Sioux City. Omaha is 4-0 vs SC in the Playoffs.
2024 Omaha Beef Schedule (4-0)
Sioux City Omaha
March 24, 2pm CT @ Carolina Cobras W 54-43 Avg Pts Scored/G 49.8 (2nd) 51.0 (1st)
March 30, 6:30pm CT Vs Colorado Spartans W 45-32 Avg Pts Allow/G 49.2 (6th) 31.2 (1st)
April 20, 7pm CT Vs Idaho Horsemen W 63-14 Total Offense/G 198.0 (4th) 232.8 (2nd)
May 4, 6:30pm CT Vs Oklahoma Flying Aces W 42-36 Total Defense/G 295.5 (6th) 196.8 (2nd)
May 11, 6:30pm CT Vs Sioux City Bandits Turnover Margin -4 (4th) +9 (1st)
May 18, 7:10pm CT @ Sioux City Bandits
May 25, 7:05pm CT Home Record 3-0 3-0
June 1, 8pm CT @Colorado Spartans Road Record 0-1 1-0
June 8, 6:30pm CT Vs Carolina Cobras All-time Record 26-24 Omaha
Last Meeting 5/27/23, 44-15 Omaha in Ralston
Beef have won three in a row
NAL games only for team rank
Projected Starters
Omaha Beef Oklahoma Flying Aces
QB #10 Tommy Armstrong 30/55 passing 432 yds, 9 TD, 1 Int
32-213 yds rushing, 11 TD #18 Joshua Hollins 18/35 passing 167 yds, 6 TD, 1 Int
22-88 yds rushing 6 TD
RB #5 Jeff Mack 29-147 rushing 4 TD; 4-23 rec # 20 Andrew Prohaska 46-168 rushing 4 TD, 10-77 rec 1 TD
WR #13 Korrell Koehlmoos 9 rec 168 yds 4 TD # 2 Fred Bruno 8 rec 61 yds 2 TD, 16-116 yds rushing 2 TD
WR #18 Jordon Barton 8 rec 105 yds 2 TD, 5-20 yds rush 1 TD #14 Brandon Sheperd 4 rec 56 yds, 1-7 yds rushing
WR #8 Troy Evans Jr 6 rec 101 yds 4 TD, 4-29 yds rush #4 Sammie Epps 4 rec 28 yds,
OL #50 Olu'kayode Akinmoladun #55 Omar Roberts
OL #68 Matthew Allred OL has given up 2 sack on season #96 Steven Fluker OL has given up 7 sack on season
OL #92 Nathan Roehr #70 Sterling Clark
DL #1 Rudy Ngougni 17 tackles, 3 sack, 3 TFL, safety #26 Devin Groenhagen 12 tackles, .5 sack, 5.5 TFL
DL #16 Dave Pettway 13 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 TFL, 1 FR, 2 QBH # 11 Randall Blash 4 tackles, 1 QBH
DL #15 Rodell Rahmaan 14 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 TFL, 2 FF, safety #12 Asi Tupua 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 TFL, 1 PB
LB #7 Cameron Hunt 11 tackles, 1 sack, 4 TFL, 2 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 1 PB, 4 QBH # 10 Braden Meints 21 tackles, 2 sacks, 2.5 TFL, 1 BLK, 1 Safety
DB #21 Trey Dudley-Giles 11 tackles, 2 INT, 1 TFL, 1 PB #1 Xavier Spann 10 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PB
DB #3 Chris Perry 12 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 INT, 2 PB #5 Carlton Watkins 14 tackles, 1 FF, 1 PB
DB #0 Ponce Deleon 29 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 FF, 1 INT #0 Justin Gilbert 9 tackles
DB #2 Terrance Jackson Jr 20 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 INT, 2 PB #23 Sherman Gilbert 11 tackles,1 INT,1 FR
K #35 Ryan Hibbets 9-18 PAT, 0-1 FG, 1 Deuce #10 Braden Meints 7-12 PAT, 1-3 FG (28 long) 1 deuce
NAL Player of the Week Awards-
Tommy Armstrong- (Offensive) Week 2, Week 6
Dylan Pettway - (Defensive) Week 2
Camron Hunt II (Defensive) Week 6
Rudy Ngougni - (Defensive) Week 8
Web information
Livestream - youtube.com/@NationalArenaLeague/streams
Website - beeffootball.com
Facebook- facebook.com/TheOmahaBeef
Beef All-Time records vs. (As of 3/15/24)
Overall record Regular Season Post-Season Home Away
Sioux City Bandits 26-24 22-24 4-0 14-11 12-13
Oklahoma Fly Aces 4-0 4-0 0-0 3-0 1-0
Carolina Cobras 1-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0
Colorado Spartans 1-0 1-0 0-0 1-0 0-0
Idaho Horsemen 1-0 1-0 0-0 1-0 0-0
Beef Championships-
CIF Champions Bowl VI (2021) and VIII (2023)
vs Sioux City Bandits (26-24)
Date Opponent Score Attend Site Notes
* 5/31/2002 SIOUX CITY BANDITS W 54-49 4579 Omaha, Nebraska
* 6/22/2002 at Sioux City Bandits L 30-33 2675 Sioux City, IA
* 6/14/2003 at Sioux City Bandits L 34-37 2623 Sioux City, IA
* 6/28/2003 SIOUX CITY BANDITS W 58-38 5573 Omaha, Nebraska
* 4/3/2004 SIOUX CITY BANDITS W 38-26 3393 Omaha, Nebraska
* 5/22/2004 at Sioux City Bandits L 30-43 3510 Sioux City, IA
#p 7/10/2004 #5 SIOUX CITY BANDITS W 46-40 3105 Omaha, Nebraska
* 4/9/2005 SIOUX CITY BANDITS L 51-54 4565 Omaha
* 5/14/2005 at Sioux City Bandits W 52-42 4175 Sioux City, IA
* 7/9/2005 SIOUX CITY BANDITS L 41-47 6251 Omaha
* 4/1/2006 at Sioux City Bandits W 38-35 5219 Sioux City, IA
* 4/22/2006 SIOUX CITY BANDITS L 27-31 4192 Omaha, Nebraska
* 7/2/2006 at Sioux City Bandits W 32-30 3814 Sioux City, IA
* 3/24/2007 at Sioux City Bandits W 47-26 4826 Sioux City, IA
* 5/5/2007 at Sioux City Bandits L 29-36 5176 Sioux City, IA
* 6/16/2007 SIOUX CITY BANDITS W 30-27 1610 Omaha, NE
5/10/2008 at Sioux City Bandits W 53-47 4939 Sioux City, IA
6/14/2008 SIOUX CITY BANDITS W 34-9 6180 Omaha
* 6/5/2009 SIOUX CITY BANDITS W 31-25 3549 Omaha, Nebraska
* 6/27/2009 at Sioux City Bandits W 58-43 3870 Sioux City, IA
* 3/13/2010 SIOUX CITY BANDITS W 53-26 3790 Omaha, NE
* 5/22/2010 SIOUX CITY BANDITS W 67-48 1800 Omaha, NE
* 6/5/2010 at Sioux City Bandits W 64-29 4311 Sioux City, IA
* 4/7/2013 SIOUX CITY BANDITS W 32-26 ot 2245 Ralston, NE
* 4/27/2013 at Sioux City Bandits W 38-24 4887 Sioux City, IA
* 4/11/2014 SIOUX CITY BANDITS L 55-61 - Omaha, NE
* 5/10/2014 at Sioux City Bandits L 47-61 3956 Sioux City, IA
2/28/2015 at Sioux City Bandits L 13-62 3848 Sioux City, IA
4/10/2015 SIOUX CITY BANDITS W 43-41 3179 Ralston, NE
4/24/2015 SIOUX CITY BANDITS L 37-61 3148 Ralston, NE
5/16/2015 at Sioux City Bandits L 38-64 3021 Sioux City, IA
* 2/27/2016 at Sioux City Bandits L 38-43 3562 Sioux City, IA
* 3/25/2016 SIOUX CITY BANDITS L 33-45 3902 Ralston, NE
2/25/2017 at Sioux City Bandits L 44-63 3381 Sioux City, IA
3/31/2017 SIOUX CITY BANDITS L 56-63 3810 Ralston, NE
5/27/2017 SIOUX CITY BANDITS L 55-61 3277 Ralston Arena
p 6/17/2017 at Sioux City Bandits W 55-45 2407 Sioux City, IA Northern Division Championship
* 3/24/2018 SIOUX CITY BANDITS L 30-33 3803 Ralston, NE
* 5/5/2018 at Sioux City Bandits L 40-52 2644 Sioux City, IA
* 5/26/2018 SIOUX CITY BANDITS L 31-77 2764 Ralston, NE
4/6/2019 at Sioux City Bandits L 32-43 3176 Sioux City, IA
6/22/2019 SIOUX CITY BANDITS W 60-50 - Ralston, NE
* 4/17/2021 SIOUX CITY BANDITS L 22-33 - Omaha, NE
* 5/2/2021 at Sioux City Bandits W 41-37 - Sioux City, IA
* 6/26/2021 at Sioux City Bandits L 28-35 - Sioux City, IA
p 7/9/2021 SIOUX CITY BANDITS W 40-39 - Omaha, NE
4/30/2022 at Sioux City Bandits L 49-60 - Sioux City, IA
p 6/18/2022 at Sioux City Bandits W 49-45 - Sioux City, IA
* 5/6/2023 at Sioux City Bandits W 48-45 2200 Sioux City, IA
5/27/2023 SIOUX CITY BANDITS W 44-15 - Ralston, NE
Overall: 26-24
Conference: 17-16
Home: 14-11
Away: 12-13
Neutral: 0-0
Promotions for 2024-
March 17th - Green Jerseys Auction for Ronald McDonald House
May 11th - Heros Night
June 8th - Hall of Fame Class of 2024
Name Beef Record for current rank Prior Stat 2024 Current total up next
Jeff Mack rushing yds 4 793 147 940 3rd Clinton Childs (2000-03) 1797
Jeff Mack rushing attempts 5 244 29 273 4th James Johnson (2004-07) 279
Jeff Mack rushing TD 8 17 4 21 8th James Johnson (2004-07) 21, Le'Andre Moore (2002-04) 21, 7th Anthony Iannotti 28
Jeff Mack pass receptions 15 59 4 63 14th Jared Elmore (2014) 66
Jeff Mack All-purpose 7 1719 304 2023 6th Jonathan Ray (2016-17) 2036, 5th LeAndrew Moore 2234
Jeff Mack TD Scored 13 20 4 24 12th Jonathan Ray 26, 10th Iannotti/Moore 28
Jeff Mack kick returns 13th 25 7 32 12th Allen Burrell 28,
Jeff Mack kick return yards 12 393 134 527 11th 562 Allen Burrell 562, 10th Lawrence Pullen 689
Tommy Armstrong rushing yards 9th 384 213 597 8th Josh Floyd Jr (2016) 603, 7th Le'Andre Moore (2002-04) 736
Tommy Armstrong rushing attempts 13 80 32 112 12th Troy Travis 120, 11th Josh Floyd Jr 129, 10th 134 Jamar Day
Tommy Armstrong rushing TD 5th 19 11 30 5th DeShawn Jones (2021-22) 30 4th 32 Troy Travis (2000-04) 32
Tommy Armstrong passing attempts 10 164 55 219 9th Derrick Bernard (2019) 219, 8th Josh Floyd Jr 246
Tommy Armstrong Passing completions 9 102 30 132 8th Josh Floyd Jr (2016) 134, 7th Chris Cofin 200
Tommy Armstrong passing yards 8th 1279 432 1711 7th Chris Coffin (2014) 1971
Tommy Armstrong passing TD 7 32 9 41 6th Anthony Iannotti (2017-18) 49
Tommy Armstrong Total offense 8 1663 645 2308 7th John McMenamin 2376
Tommy Armstrong TD Responsible 6 51 20 71 5th Anthony Iannotti (2017-18) 77
Chris Perry Kick returns yards 3rd 1685 37 1722 2nd RJ Rollins (2006-13) 1840
Chris Perry Kick returns 3rd 92 2 94 2nd RJ Rollins (2006-13) 97
Chris Perry Interceptions 2nd 16 2 18 1st Dontae Jones (2002-04) 20
Chris Perry Interceptions yards 1 265 47 312
Chris Perry Interception TD Returns 1st 4 0 4
Chris Perry Tackles 3rd 225 12 237 2nd Chris Eads (2006-08) 256
Chris Perry pass defended 3rd 43 4 47 2nd Brent Hafford (2007-10) 50
Trey Dudley-Giles kick return yards 15th 442 1 443 13th David Horne (2008-09) 464
Trey Dudley-Giles kick returns 11th 29 0 29 12th David Horne 27, 11th Allen Burrell 28, 10th Lawrence Pullen (2007) 38
Trey Dudley-Giles interceptions 3rd 14 2 16 2nd Chris Perry
Trey Dudley-Giles interception yards 2 232 74 306 2nd to Chris Perry
Trey Dudley-Giles Tackles 5 221 11 232
Trey Dudley-Giles pass defended 6th 32 3 35 5th Taylor Hawkins (2019-21,22) 36, 4th Diezeas Calbert (2008-15) 37
National Arena League Stories from May 10, 2024
- Beef/Bandits Preview of the 51st Meeting - Omaha Beef
- National Arena League and West Texas Desert Hawks Reach a Settlement - NAL
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