IFL Indoor Football League

Indoor Football League Week Eight Recap

Published on April 19, 2010 under Indoor Football League (IFL) News Release


Richmond, VA: The eighth weekend of the Indoor Football League marks the midway point of the 2010 season. Eleven league games were highlighted including the IFL Game of the Week which featured a battle for first place in the Lonestar East Division between the Arkansas Diamonds and the San Angelo Stampede Express. After a successful first half, the IFL is poised to continue to provide exciting entertainment for all fans during the homestretch which includes the upcoming playoff race and all the postseason drama and heroics.

Week Eight began on Saturday night with a bang as the Green Bay Blizzard (6-1) squeaked out a 72-69 win over the host West Michigan ThunderHawks (3-2). The ThunderHawks were in the driver's seat for much of the game as they took a 55-33 lead into the fourth quarter. That's when Green Bay QB Jake Phillips took over. In the final quarter, Phillips threw 3 TD passes and ran for another to lead the comeback rally for the Blizzard. With one second remaining on the clock and the score tied at 69 apiece, Green Bay Kicker Tino Amancio drilled a 22 yard field goal to seal the come from behind victory. This was truly a quarterback duel as Phillips and his counterpart, ThunderHawks signal caller Brad Iciek, combined to throw for 576 yards and 13 TD's (Phillips 21-33 238 6 TD's, Iciek 16-26 338 7 TD's). Both teams will be back in action next week as the ThunderHawks head to Wisconsin to play the La Crosse Spartans and the Blizzard host the Omaha Beef.

The Billings Outlaws (5-1) continued to display their dominance in 2010 as they defeated the Alaska Wild (2-4) 65-25. The Outlaws took a 29-13 lead into halftime and never looked back as their offense was running on all cylinders for the second week in a row. QB Chris Dixon was once again leading the charge as he tossed 6 TD passes and added another on the ground. Dixon distributed the wealth among all his receivers as DeAngelo Woodie, James Walton, and Antuan Bloom hauled in 2 TD passes each. Both teams will be on the road against Pacific North Division opponents next week as the Outlaws travel to face the Tri-Cities Fever and the Wild visit state rivals the Fairbanks Grizzlies.

The Abilene Ruff Riders (1-5) got into the win column for the first time in 2010 with a 48-31 victory over the Corpus Christi Hammerheads (2-5). DL Vincent Rhodes scored twice as he led an opportunistic Ruff Rider special teams and defensive unit which propelled the team to victory. In the first quarter of play, a Hammerheads field goal attempt was blocked by Ruff Riders' LB Zach East and recovered by Rhodes who returned it 40 yards for a TD. On the ensuing Hammerheads possession, Rhodes again found the end zone as he picked off John De Los Santos' pass and returned it 4 yards for the score. The Hammerheads have now lost four straight. Both teams will return to action next week as the Hammerheads look to rebound in Austin against the Turfcats and the Ruff Riders host the Arkansas Diamonds.

In the third match-up this year between Central West Division rivals, the Sioux Falls Storm (6-1) defeated the Wichita Wild (5-2) 34-27 in another IFL classic. Two of the better teams and defenses in the league were on full display as both offensive combined to produce only 354 yards. Wild RB Darius Fudge was held to only 10 yards rushing on 8 attempts while Storm QB Terrance Bryant was limited to 121 yards passing. The Wild took a 20-12 lead into the final quarter only to see the Storm battle back and pull out the victory. The win puts the Storm in sole possession of the extremely competitive Central West Division. Both teams will have some time to regroup over a bye week to prepare for the second playoff push.

In the IFL Game of the Week, the Arkansas Diamonds (5-1) defeated the San Angelo Stampede Express (4-2) 23-10 to claim sole possession of first place in the Lonestar East Division. The Diamond's number one ranked defense was back at it again on Saturday evening as they imposed their will on the Stampede Express. The Diamonds limited the Stampede Express to 128 yards of total offense including holding the second leading rusher in the IFL, Derrick Ross, to only 11 yards rushing. DL Luis Vasquez tallied 8 tackles and another sack to increase his number on the year to 6.5 (2nd in the IFL). The Stampede Express will look to rebound next week against the West Texas Roughnecks while the Diamonds will look to stay atop the division when they travel to play the Abilene Ruff Riders.

The Bloomington Extreme (3-3) bounced back from a heartbreaking loss in Week Seven to the Chicago Slaughter with a punishing 32-6 victory over the Maryland Maniacs (0-5). The Extreme silenced the Maniacs offense to the tone of 154 total yards and forced 5 turnovers. One of the turnovers, an interception, was returned 18 yards for a touchdown by LB Joe Bevis. The Extreme's suffocating defense put every team in the United Conference on notice that Bloomington will be around come playoff time. Both teams will resume play next week as the Maniacs continue to search for their first win in 2010 when they travel to the Atlantic East Division leading Richmond Revolution. The Extreme will also be on the road as they visit the Rochester Raiders.

The final game on Saturday saw the West Texas Roughnecks (2-4) earn their second victory on the season edging the Austin Turfcats (2-3), 49-46. The game went down to the wire but the Roughnecks were able to pull out the victory thanks to a 20 yard field by Zeke Arevalo with 1:35 remaining in the contest. Roughnecks QB Tommy Jones turned in his best performance of the season as he threw for 225 yards and 4 TD's. Both teams will be at home next week as the Turfcats host the Corpus Christi Hammerheads and the Roughnecks host the San Angelo Stampede Express.

IFL play resumed Sunday as the Amarillo Venom (5-0) remained undefeated with an impressive 56-37 victory over the Colorado Ice (0-6). Not much more can be said about the season that QB Julian Reese is having for the Venom. Reese completed 20-27 passes for 182 yards and 5 TD's. He has been amazing efficient this season, throwing only one interception, and sports the best quarterback rating in the IFL, 138.9. He hooked up with his favorite target WR DeVaughn Flagler seven times in the game for 82 yards including 3 TD's. The Ice continue to struggle in 2010 as they are one of 3 teams still in search of their first victory. The Ice will have a chance for revenge this weekend as they travel to take on the Venom in Amarillo for a Week Nine rematch.

The Sioux City Bandits were able to even their record to 3-3 with a 28-20 victory over the winless La Crosse Spartans (0-6). This was a defensive slugfest as neither offense was able to get into any kind of rhythm. The teams combined for only 288 total yards of offense. Each week the Spartans inch closer to earning the franchise's first ever victory. They will have another crack at it in Week Nine when they host the West Michigan ThunderHawks. The Bandits will have a bye.

The Kent Predators (3-3) are starting to gain some momentum as they won their third game in a row, defeating the Tri-Cities Fever (1-4), 55-33. The Predators had standouts on both sides of the ball. QB Charles McCullum continued to display his dual threat ability has he completed 12 of 18 passes for 198 yards and 6 TD's while rushing for 61 yards on 18 carries and another TD. DL John Fields racked up 2 sacks to place himself as the league leader in the category on the season with 7. The Fever will look to improve this week when they host defending champions the Billings Outlaws while the Predators will travel to the "Windy City" to take on the Chicago Slaughter.

In the final game on the Week Eight schedule the Richmond Revolution (5-1) remained on top of the Atlantic East Division with a 40-33 hard fought victory over the Rochester Raiders (3-3). In a back and forth game, QB Bryan Randall and the Revolution defense sparked the victory. Randall tossed 5 TD passes, 3 of which WR Antwun Williams was on the receiving end of. The Revolution defense intercepted 4 passes including one by DB Demarcus James who leads the IFL with six on the season. Rochester will look to rebound next week when they host the Bloomington Extreme while the Revolution look to stay on top when they host the winless Maryland Maniacs.

Week Eight Vidswap.com IFL Players of the Week will be announced on Wednesday. The IFL season will continue with Week Nine on Friday April 23rdwhen the Bloomington Extreme travel to play the Rochester Raiders and the West Michigan ThunderHawks travel to face the La Crosse Spartans.

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Indoor Football League Stories from April 19, 2010


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