Champions Bowl 8 Preview
June 16, 2023 - Champions Indoor Football (CIF)
Omaha Beef News Release
The Omaha Beef will face a familiar opponent in Champions Bowl 8 on Saturday June 17th at Liberty First Credit Union Arena when the Salina Liberty visit for a 6:35pm kickoff. The undefeated Beef (11-0) beat the Billings Outlaws 42-6, while the Salina Liberty (9-2) defeated the Gillette Mustangs 37-30 this past Saturday. This is the third straight time these two teams meet in the Championship and is Salina's fourth straight appearance. In 2021 the Beef defeated the Liberty when a last second FG was blocked by Omaha and the Beef won 40-39 in Champions Bowl 6. The Liberty returned the favor in Champions Bowl 7 when they won 38-34. The Liberty in Champions Bowl 5 were defeated by the Duke City Gladiators in 2019, 35-29, when the Gladiators scored with 17 seconds left in the game.
Omaha continues to shut teams down with strong defensive performances as they allow the league's best 19.9 points per game, 135.3 yards per game, a plus 29 turnovers margin, 83.7 yards allowed on pass defense, pass defense efficacy 32.1, 25 interceptions, 1st down allowed at 10.3, 3rd down conversion rate of 22.0, and sacks with 23. Leading the Beef defense is defensive lineman JayShawn Washington, three-time Defensive Player of the Week, who leads the team with 54 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and four fumbles recoveries which he has returned three for touchdowns. Joining Washington on the line is Tamar Heart (48 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 12.5 TFL), Jamar Claibourn (14 tackles, 1 sack, 2.5 TFL) and Javari Nichols (11 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 TFL). Linebacker Cameron Hunt, who continues to pressure opponents to make bad passes, has 33 tackles along with 3 sacks, 6.5 TFL. The defensive backs are comprised of CIF leader in interceptions Dreko Statham, who has 13 interceptions in 2023 and set a Beef and CIF single season record, Aaron Jackson (50 tackles, 4 INT), Ponce Deleone (35 tackles, 3 INT), Trey Dudley-Giles (30 tackles, 3 INT), and Chris Perry (30 tackles, 1 INT) have the Beef leading the CIF with 25 interceptions as a team. They need two more interceptions to tie the CIF team single season record of 27 set by three teams.
Quarterback Tommy Armstrong, 3-time Offense Player of the week, leads the very efficient offense with 348 yards of rushing (71 attempts), while Tabyus Taylor has gained 179 yards in averaging 35.8 yards per game. Armstrong ranks second in the league in passing efficiency. He has thrown for 1190 yards and 31 touchdowns with only four interceptions and a completion percentage of 62.1. Gourney Sloan leads the team with 40 catches for 526 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Devanaire Conliffe (17-171, 5 TD), Jordan Barton (6-95, 3 TD), Traveon Samuel (5-90, 2 TD), and Terrance Tolbert-McIntyre (11-180, 3 TD) around out the balanced receivers group. Paul Ortiz, 3-time Special Teams player of the week, continues to be a weapon for the Beef. Ortiz, the CIF leader in field goals and extra points percentage, has made 12 of 20 field goals and 32 of 39 extra points.
Salina is 5-0 since quarterback Ed Crouch joined the team in April, a week after the Beef defeated the Liberty 36-31. Crouch has thrown for 457 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and rushed for 149 yards and six touchdowns. 2021 CIF MVP Tracy Brooks leads the CIF with 609 rushing yards (142 attempts) and 19 touchdowns, while averaging 18.6 yards per kickoff return. Brooks is just sitting outside the top 10 in CIF single season rushing yards. He is 27 yards behind the 10th place rushers. Brooks for his CIF career has rushed 586 (ranked 1st) times for 2297 yards (ranked 3rd) and 82 touchdowns (ranked 2nd). He has scored 648 points (ranked 3rd) on 105 touchdowns (ranked 3rd) and 5808 all-purpose yards (ranked 5th). Brooks also has 104 kick returns (ranked 10th) for 1799 yards (ranked 9th).
The Liberty have the most balanced attack in the league as they have run the ball 232 times and passed 231 times. The leading receiver for Salina is Demarius Washington (30-434 yds, 13 TD) ranked 5th in yards per game, while Anthony Love (37-378 yds, 7 TD) is ranked 3rd in receptions per game with 4.1. Mustaful Strong (25-180 yds, 7 TD), Ed Smith Jr (17-167 yds, 4 TD), and Rashad Pargo (1-10 yds, 1 TD) round out the group or receivers.
Defensive the Liberty are ranked in the middle of the pack as they are 5th in scoring defense (38.0), and 5th in total defense (210.2). Defensive lineman Travis Taylor (83 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 13 TFL) is 2nd in the CIF, averaging 7.5 tackles per game and first in sacks at 1.05 per game. The Liberty front includes Keenan Gibbs (17 tackles, 1 sack, 3 TFL), Jacquille Bradford (26 tackles, 1 sack, 8 TFL), and Parker Clemons (10 tackles, 1 sack, 3 TFL). Donavyn Jackson, who had a big interception vs Gillette, has 24 tackles and 3 TFL. The Salina defensive backs are led by CJ Jones (65 tackles, 2 INT), Dontra Matthews (56 tackles, 6 INT), Antoine Brown (41 tackles), and Cedarius Rookard (28 tackles). Salina has strong kicking with James Kazalski who has made 4 of 8 FG's and 36-44 extra points.
Liberty head coach Heron O'Neal is the second most winningest coach in CIF history with a record of 50-37 since 2016 when he took over the team. O'Neal has his team in the championship for the fourth time in seven years.
OTHER NOTES:
The playoffs have returned to the Slaughterhouse! Tickets are now on sale starting at just $18.00, you can buy them by visiting the arena box office or online at Omaha Beef Football | Liberty First Credit Union Arena
Help us pack the Slaughterhouse and be there for our quest to win the championship at home! Any questions call the Beef office at 402.346.2333
2023 Omaha Beef Schedule (11-0)
March 4, 6:30pm CT Vs Omaha Stockman (EX) W 71-0 Salina Omaha
March 10, 7pm CT Vs Billing Outlaws W 47-19 Avg Pts Scored/G 46.5 (2) 51.8 (1)
March 18, 6pm CT @ Southwest Kansas W 68-15 Avg Pts Allow/G 38.0 (5) 19.9 (1)
April 1, 7pm CT @ Topeka Tropics W 60-22 Total Offense/G 218.7 (2) 204.8 (3)
April 8, 7pm CT Vs Gillette Mustangs W 52-29 Total Defense/G 210.2 (5) 135.3 (1)
April 15, 6:35pm CT @ Salina Liberty W 36-31 Turnover Margin +6 (3) +29 (1)
April 22,7:30pm CT @ Billings Outlaws W 45-12
April 29, 6:30pm CT Vs Rapid City Marshals W 62-12 Home Record 5-1 6-0
May 6, 7pm CT @ Sioux City Bandits W 48-45 Road Record 4-1 5-0
May 13, 7pm CT Vs Topeka Tropics W 66-13 All-time Record Salina 11-9 (Beef Lead 9-7 as the Liberty)
May 27, 6:30pm CT Vs Sioux City Bandits W 44-15 Last Meeting April 15, 2023 - Beef 36-31
June 10, 6:30pm CT Vs Billings (semi-finals) W 42-6 Champions Bowl Vs Liberty 1-1
June 17, 6:35pm CT Vs Salina Liberty (Championship) Championships Liberty 1, Omaha 1
(CIF rank after semi-finals)
Projected Starters
Omaha Beef Salina
QB #10 Tommy Armstrong 95-153, 1190 yds 31 TD 4 INT
Rush: 71-348 yds 17 TD #5 Ed Crouch 53-91, 457 yds, 13 TD, 4 INT
Rush: 25- 159, 6 TD
RB #20 Tabyus Taylor Rush: 47-179 yds, 5 TD
Rec: 8-97, 3 TD #2 Tracy Brooks Rush: 142-609, 19 TD
Rec: 21-213, 1 TD
WR #80 Terrance Tolbert-McIntyre Rec: 11-180 yds, 3 TD #1 Demarius Washington Rec: 30-434, 13 TD
WR #5 Devanaire Conliffe Rec: 17-171 YDS 5 TD
Rush: 8-71 YDS 2 TD #3 Ed Smith Jr Rec: 17-167 yds, 4 TD
Rush: 2-3, 0 TD
WR #8 Gourney Sloan Rec: 40-526 YDS 12 TD
Rush: 14-67 yds #9 Anthony Love Rec: 37-378 yds, 7 TD
OL #50 Olu'kayode Akinmoladun 1 sack allowed #70 Kelvin McCoy 2 sacks allowed
OL #70 Reggie Patrick #79 Aleki Tapa
OL #68 Clifford Porter Jr #93 Kamalie Matthews
DL #2 JayShawn Washington 54 TACK, 8.5 Sacks, 15.0 TFL, 3 PB, 4 FR, 4 FF,2BK #8 Travis Taylor 83 TACK, 11.5 sack, 13 TFL, 2 QBH, 2 FR, 2 FF, 2 BK
DL #15 Tamar Heart 48 TACK, 5.5 Sacks, 12.5 TFL, 1 INT, 6 PB, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 BK #66 Parker Clemons 10 TACK, 1 sack, 3 TFL, 2 PB
DL #55 Jamar Claibourn 14 TACK, 1 Sacks, 2.5 TFL, 1 PB, 1 QBH #7 Keenan Gibbs 17 TACK, 1 sack, 3 TFL, 1 FF
LB #7 Cameron Hunt 33 TACK, 3 Sacks, 6.5 TFL, 3 QBH, 2 FR #33 Donavyn Jackson 24 tack, 3 TFL, 1 INT, 1 PB
DB #3 Chris Perry 30 TACK, 4.5 TFL, 1 INT, 3 PB #4 Dontra Matthews 56 tack, 1 TFL, 6 INT, 5 PB, 1 FF
DB #4 Aaron Jackson 50 TACK, 1 TFL, 4 INT, 6 PB, 2 FR #15 CJ Jones 65 TACK, 1 TFL, 2 INT 4 PB
DB #6 Dreko Statham 44 TACK, 13 INT, 3 PB #23 Antoine Brown 41 TACK, 1 TFL
DB #21 Trey Dudley-Giles 30 TACK, 3 INT, 8 PB #24 Cedarius Rookard 28 TACK
K #16 Paul Ortiz 12-20 FG, 32-39 PAT Kick #92 James Kazalski 4-8 FG, 36-44 PAT kick
CIF Player of the Week Awards-
Tommy Armstrong (3)- Week 2, Week 10, Week 11 - Offensive
JayShawn Washington (3)- Week 3, Week 6, Week 8 - Defensive
Paul Ortiz (3)- Week 5, Week 7, Week 13 - Special Teams
Dre'Sonte Dorton (1)- Week 3 - Special Teams
Tamar Heart (1) - Week 11 - Defensive
Visit https://omaha.footballshift.com/ for more information.
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Salina and Omaha Championship results
IFPL Championship (2001)- Tennessee Thundercats @ Omaha - Tennessee 47-38
Champions Bowl 5 (2019) - Salina @ Duke City - Gladiators 35-29
2020 - no game due to Covid-19
Champions Bowl 6 (2021) - Omaha @ Salina - Omaha 40-39
Champions Bowl 7 (2022) - Omaha @ Salina - Salina 38-34
Champions Bowl 8 (2023) - Salina @ Omaha -?
2023 Salina Liberty (9-2)
Mar 04, 2023 TOPEKA TROPICS W 75-45
Mar 11, 2023 at Sioux City Bandits L 39-45
Mar 25, 2023 at Topeka Tropics W 66-65
Apr 02, 2023 at Rapid City Marshals W 42-18
Apr 08, 2023 BILLINGS OUTLAWS W 33-30
Apr 15, 2023 OMAHA BEEF L 31-36
Apr 22, 2023 SW KANSAS STORM W 45-38
May 06, 2023 at SW Kansas Storm W 52-31
May 20, 2023 SIOUX CITY BANDITS W 48-39
May 27, 2023 at Gillette Mustangs W 43-41
Jun 10, 2023 GILLETTE MUSTANGS W 37-30
Jun 17, 2023 at #1 Omaha Beef
All-Time vs Salina (9-11)
vs Salina Bombers (0-4)
5/31/2014 at Salina Bombers L 43-50 ot 2496 Salina, Kansas
3/14/2015 SALINA BOMBERS L 33-47 3717 Ralston, NE
3/28/2015 at Salina Bombers L 7-49 - Salina, KS
5/9/2015 at Salina Bombers L 13-59 - Salina, KS
Overall: 0-4
Conference: 0-1
Home: 0-1
Away: 0-3
Neutral: 0-0
vs Salina Liberty (9-7)
Date Opponent Score Site
3/19/2016 at Salina Liberty W 43-41 Salina, KS
5/20/2016 SALINA LIBERTY W 35-18 Ralston, NE
3/10/2017 SALINA LIBERTY W 76-44 Ralston, NE
4/29/2017 at Salina Liberty W 26-23 Salina, KS
3/10/2018 SALINA LIBERTY W 42-37 Ralston, NE
4/14/2018 at Salina Liberty L 43-69 Salina, KS
6/1/2019 at Salina Liberty L 34-54 Salina, Kan.
6/15/2019 SALINA LIBERTY L 33-50 Ralston, NE
6/29/2019 at Salina Liberty L 42-44 Salina, Kan.
4/10/2021 at Salina Liberty L 8-26 Salina, KS
6/12/2021 SALINA LIBERTY W 39-35 Ralston, NE
7/17/2021 at Salina Liberty W 40-39 Salina, Kan. - CHAMPIONS BOWL 6
3/26/2022 at Salina Liberty L 31-36 Salina, KS
5/14/2022 SALINA LIBERTY W 14-11 Ralston, NE
6/25/2022 at Salina Liberty L 34-38 Salina, KS - CHAMPIONS BOWL 7
4/15/2023 at Salina Liberty W 36-31 Salina, KS
Overall: 9-7
Conference: 5-2
Home: 5-1
Away: 4-6
Neutral: 0-0
Champions Indoor Football Stories from June 16, 2023
- Champions Bowl 8 Preview - Omaha Beef
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