Indoor Football League Week Seven Recap
Published on April 12, 2010 under Indoor Football League (IFL) News Release
Richmond, VA: The seventh weekend of Indoor Football League action provided not only the largest quantity but also quality of entertainment thus far in the 2010 season. Twelve league games were featured in Week Seven, including the IFL Game of the Week which highlighted a battle for first place in the Atlantic East Division between the Richmond Revolution and the West Michigan ThunderHawks. As we near the mid-way point of the season, all 25 franchises continue supply the highest caliber of indoor football in America.
Week Seven began on Friday evening when the Alaska Wild (2-4) traveled to play the Kent Predators (2-3). The Predators were victorious for the second consecutive game against a Pacific North Division rival as they outlasted the Wild 59-54. QB Charles McCullum, Week Five Offensive Player of the Week, continued his exceptional season as he completed 12 of 17 passes for 162 yards and 4 TD's while adding 58 yards rushing and 4 TD's. McCullum ranks at or near the top of the league in many statistic categories including; 4th in passing yards (888), T-1st in passing TD's (22), 1st in rushing yards (396), and T-2nd in rushing TD's (10). The Predators will look to continue on the winning path as they host the Tri-Cities Fever in Week Eight. The Wild will look to rebound as they travel to face defending United Bowl Champions the Billings Outlaws.
Play resumed on Saturday when the Austin Turfcats (2-2) traveled to take on the Abilene Ruff Riders (0-5). The Turfcats rebounded from a blowout loss in Week Six at the hands of the Amarillo Venom with their own one-sided victory over the Ruff Riders, 68-34. The Turfcats were paced by WR Reggie Smith who hauled in 5 catches for 50 yards including 3 TD's. The Ruff Riders are still in search of that illusive first win of the 2010 season and will look to get on track when they host the Corpus Christi Hammerheads next week. The Turfcats will also be in action as they travel to take on the West Texas Roughnecks.
In a rematch of the first nationally televised game of the 2010 season, the Wichita Wild (5-1) defeated the Omaha Beef (2-3) for the second time this year, 56-50. Wild RB Darius Fudge continues to impress in his sophomore season as he added 3 rushing TD's to bring his league leading total to 13 on the season. The biggest play of the game happened in the 4th quarter with the score tied at 50 apiece. Beef WR O.J. Simpson looked to have pulled the Beef ahead with a touchdown catch, but Wild Safety Donta Moore timed his hit perfectly to jar the ball loose for an incompletion. On the ensuing possession Fudge put the Wild up for good with a 5 yard TD run. The Beef will have a week to regroup after the loss as they have a bye in Week Eight while the Wild will host the Sioux Falls Storm in a battle for sole possession of first place in the Central West Division.
The Amarillo Venom (4-0) continued with an unblemished record in 2010 as they edged the Corpus Christi Hammerheads (2-4), by a score of 51-40. Reigning Offensive Player of the Week, Venom QB Julian Reese, continued to show why he is a contender for league MVP as he passed for 188 yards and 4 TD's. He leads the league with an outstanding 141.6 quarterback rating. The Hammerheads have hit a rough patch in the season as they have dropped 3 straight after starting the season 2-1. Both teams will be back in action in Week Eight as the Hammerheads travel to face the Abilene Ruff Riders and the Venom will visit the Colorado Ice.
The Tri-Cities Fever (1-3) won their first game in the IFL as they head off the Fairbanks Grizzlies (4-2), 44-39. Despite being outgained on offensive by 147 yards, 317 to 170, the Fever were able to find their way to the winners circle. The defense stepped up in big moments of the game as they forced 4 turnovers, including an interception late in the 3rd quarter that DB Montavis Pitts returned 47 yards for a TD. The Grizzlies will have a week to think about the loss while the Fever will look to build on the momentum from the victory when they travel to face the red hot Kent Predators.
The Chicago Slaughter (2-3) picked up their second win of the season as they outlasted the Bloomington Extreme (2-3), 50-43. After starting the season with three heart breaking losses, the Slaughter have rebounded to pull into a tie for second place in the Central North Division. RB Jarrett Payton contributed 3 TD's and WR De'Cody Fagg added 2 more to propel the visiting team to victory. Extreme LB Joe Bevis turned in a valiant effort in the loss as he tallied 16.5 tackles and a sack. Bevis and the rest of the Extreme will look to rebound at home against the Maryland Maniacs in Week Eight while the Slaughter will be on a bye.
In the IFL Game of the Week, the Richmond Revolution (4-1) took sole possession of the Atlantic East Division with a 45-39 win over the West Michigan ThunderHawks (3-1). The Revolution were lead by QB Bryan Randall who throw for 195 yards and 5 TD's. The Revolution's defense continues to be the X-Factor on the ball club as they forced 3 ThunderHawk turnovers. DB Demarcus James accounted for two of those turnovers as he twice thwarted ThunderHawk drives late in the 4th quarter of play with interceptions to seal the victory. Both teams will be back in action in Week Eight as the ThunderHawks host the Green Bay Blizzard and the Revolution travel to face the Rochester Raiders.
The San Angelo Stampede Express (4-1) continued on their winning ways in 2010 as they defeated the West Texas Roughnecks (1-4) by the score of 44-35. The Stampede Express have won four straight and have jumped into a tie with the Arkansas Diamonds for first place in the Lonestar East Division. RB Derrick Ross continues to plow the way for the team as he carried the ball 20 times for 84 yards and 3 TD's. He ranks second in the league with 315 yards rushing and third with 9 TD's on the season. The Roughnecks will be back in action in Week Eight when they host the Austin Turfcats while the Stampede Express will be on a bye.
The final game on Saturday night featured two familiar foes. The Sioux Falls Storm improved to 5-1 with a 57-23 victory over the Sioux City Bandits (2-3). Thanks to the play of a stingy defense and QB Terrance Bryant, the Storm bounced back from a Week Seven loss to the Wichita Wild. Bandits QB James McNear found little comfort in the pocket as the Storm's defense held him to 142 yards passing and forced him into two interceptions. The Bandits will look to rebound when they travel to face the La Crosse Spartans next week. The win sets up a showdown in Week Eight between the Storm and the Wichita Wild for first place in the Central West Division.
The action picked back up on Sunday as the Rochester Raiders emerged victorious in a battle against the Maryland Maniacs 52-36. The win bolstered the Raiders back into contention for the Atlantic East Division as they now sit at 3-2, just one game behind the division leading Richmond Revolution (4-1). The Maniacs are off to a disappointing start as the loss drops them to 0-4. They will look to win their first game in 2010 when they travel to play the Bloomington Extreme. The Raiders will also be in action as they host the Richmond Revolution.
The Green Bay Blizzard continued to make it look easy in their first year of IFL football as they improved to 5-1 with a win over state and division rivals the La Crosse Spartan, 43-30. It was a defensive battle as both team's offenses were limited to under 150 yards. Blizzard LB Maurice Simpkins paved the way with 11.5 tackles, 3.5 of which were for loss, and 1.5 sacks. The Blizzard also got a boost from the return game as KR B.J. Hill covered 94 yards on 4 returns including a 50 yard TD. The Spartans are inching closer to the first win in franchise history. Coach Gilbert Brown has assembled a swarming defense and the offense continues to improve with each week. Both teams will be back in action in Week Eight as the Blizzard will travel to face the West Michigan ThunderHawks and the Spartans will host the Sioux City Bandits.
The final game on the IFL schedule for Week Eight saw the Billings Outlaws improve to 4-1 with a 71-47 one-sided victory over the Colorado Ice. The Outlaws bounced back from their first loss of the season with an outstanding performance from 2009 IFL MVP Chris Dixon. He was simply remarkable as the quarterback completed 22 of 32 passes for 217 yards and 9 TD's. The Ice are one of four remaining teams in the IFL without a victory. They will try to get in the win column next week when they host the undefeated Amarillo Venom. The Outlaws will also be in action as they host the Alaska Wild.
Week Seven Vidswap.com IFL Players of the Week will be announced on Wednesday. The IFL season will continue with Week Eight on Saturday April 17th with eleven league games highlighting the weekend.
Indoor Football League Stories from April 12, 2010
- Indoor Football League Week Seven Recap - IFL
- New Season Ticket Plan Announced - Amarillo Venom
- Fever knock off Fairbanks for first IFL victory - Tri-Cities Fever
- Over a Cup of Coffee - OSC Original by Jerry Hewitt
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.
