IFL Playoffs Round One Recap
July 25, 2023 - Indoor Football League (IFL) News Release
Round one of the 2023 IFL Playoffs held true to the regular season standard, it was wild. A huge upset, a staggering comeback, and a pair of impressive victories. Four teams remain, two will be named Conference Champions on Saturday night.
In the Eastern Conference, Massachusetts traveled to Sioux Falls for the second time in as many weeks. The Pirates dominated the first half, entering the break with a 17-0 lead. The Storm looked lost through the first two quarters, not recording a single point or full defensive stop and ending the half on a sack of Lorenzo Brown. Head Coach Kurtiss Riggs, in his final season leading the Storm, must have had some magical words at halftime. Sioux Falls scored 21 points in each of the final two quarters, outscoring Massachusetts 42-22 in the second half. Including two defensive turnovers and a 21-0 run in the last ten minutes of the game. The Riggs era in Sioux Falls continues.
In the other East matchup, things went a little more to script. Frisco, the top seed in the East and the best record in the IFL, coasted to victory over Quad City 57-29. Frisco was flying on both sides of the ball. They scored 51 points in the first three quarters. In those same three quarters, the Fighters defense only allowed seven points. In convincing fashion, TJ Edwards and co. punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Championship.
In the Western Conference, things started with a surprising upset. The defending champion, Northern Arizona Wranglers, shocked the No. 1 seed, Arizona Rattlers. Northern Arizona, who had an up and down season, snuck into the playoffs as the fourth seed. But as they say, all you need to do is qualify. They jumped out to a 34-14 first half lead. Arizona would mount an impressive comeback to take a 47-42 lead late, but it wouldn't hold. Northern Arizona sealed their win with a Dorian Walker interception return for touchdown to give the Wranglers a 62-53 win.
Bay Area took down Tucson 46-34 as they continue their impressive turnaround from their 2022 one-win season. The Panthers jumped out to a 22-0 lead in the first and wouldn't look back. Tucson would pull within five in the fourth quarter but eventually saw their season come to an end. The Panthers offense looked potent, and their defense looked stout. The Panthers will now host the Wranglers in the Western Conference Championship.
Conference Championship Weekend kicks off Saturday at 7:05 p.m. CT. Frisco hosts the Sioux Falls Storm, while the Bay Area Panthers hosts the Northern Arizona Wranglers. Who will hoist the Conference Championship trophy?
Indoor Football League Stories from July 25, 2023
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- IFL Announces 2023 All-Ifl Second Team Defense - IFL
- IFL Playoffs Round One Recap - IFL
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