NIFL weekly report

by Rocky Larson
Published on April 12, 2001 under National Indoor Football League (NIFL)

by Rocky Larson

Week Two of the NIFL is in the books and the action so far has been high quality and very entertaining. One game was decided by a single point (Sioux Falls 42, Kearney 41) while another had a winning margin of 49 points! (Biloxi 55, Alexandria 6).

Even with such a broad range of scores, the weekly averages could not have been much tighter. Home teams averaged a score of 34 points, falling just short of the away team average of 35 points. Visitors ended up winning four of the seven games this week.

The football gods were kind to me in Week Two as I went 6-1 on my picks. Lets hope I stay in their favor. Week Three is shaping up to be a great week for football in the NIFL as 14 teams take to the field.

Friday, April 13th

• River Cities Locomotives (0-2) @ Ohio Valley Greyhounds (0-1)
  Both of these teams are looking for their first win of the season. The Loco's are coming off of a tough 27-point road loss to the J-Dogs. On the other hand, Ohio Valley lost a close one by only 4 points in week 2. I don't see Ohio Valley giving up back to back home games. Greyhounds win.

Saturday, April 14th.

• Wyoming Calvary (2-0) @ Rapid City Red Dogs (2-0)
  Hands down this is the best game of the week as two of the finest NIFL teams face-off. Wyoming pulled out a close home win against division rival Billings in week two, increasing their overall and division records to 2-0. Rapid City trounced an undermanned Sioux City squad last week and also sports an undefeated 2-0 record. Home field advantage could play a key role for the Red Dogs this week. Red Dogs move on to a 3-0 record.

• Yakima Shockwave (1-1) @ Sioux City Bandits (0-1)
  Both teams rode into week 2 brimming with confidence only to leave with a loss. The Shockwave are making their first visit out of the Western Division and end up facing a very hungry and experienced Sioux City team. Sioux City will be welcoming back IFL-hardened QB Kip Kieso as well as All-IFL DL Art Maulupe. These two additions will allow the Bandits to correct the mistakes of week 2 and get back on track. Bandits notch a win.

• Tupelo FireAnts (0-0) @ Johnstown J-Dogs (2-0)
  The FireAnts make their NIFL debut in their visit to the J-Dogs this week. The Tupelo squad boasts an impressive roster of players with professional experience. But that may not be enough. The FireAnts have the daunting task of coming into Johnstown and beating an undefeated team who has outscored their first two opponents by an average of 21 points. Welcome to the world of indoor football. J-Dogs stay undefeated.

• South Oregon Heat (0-1) @ Tri City Diesel (0-2)
  On the surface this game between winless expansion franchises may not seem like much of a contest. But I have a hunch that we'll see a solid game of football down in Kearney this week. The Heat had a bye last week and I'd bet they've been preparing the whole time for this matchup. The Diesel made a spirited comeback against the Sioux Falls Storm only to come up one point short at the end. I think that Tri City has learned more from their losses than the Heat have. The Diesel give their fans something to cheer about with a home win.

• Billings Outlaws (0-1) @ Sioux Falls Storm (1-0)
  Former IFL teams collide as the Outlaws hope to avoid back to back divisional road losses. Last week Billings came up short in their visit to Wyoming while Sioux Falls held on by their fingernails to a win over Tri City. I don't think Sioux Falls will let a lead slip away again, esp. not in their house. Gut check time, Sioux Falls wins.

• Mississippi Firedogs (1-0) @ Mobile Seagulls (0-0)
  In what promises to be a game full of hype, the Seagulls play host to the Firedogs. What is adding spice to this matchup is the fact that Mississippi's IPFL championship QB/coach, John Fourcade, defected to the rival Seagulls during the off-season. Fourcade has actually lost sleep in anticipation of facing his old team. Reports out of Mississippi suggest that they're really looking forward to taking it to their former coach. And after a 55-6 pounding of the Louisiana Rangers, the Firedogs have proven they've got some bite. Firedogs win on the road.

NIFL Week Three Power Poll

In this poll each team is ranked from 1 to 50 by a panel of NIFL "armchair gm's". The ranks are then averaged per team and the power poll is complete. So, without further delay:

• 43.7 Johnstown J-Dogs (2-0). The J-Dogs are dominating on both sides of the ball and appear to be the team to beat in the NIFL.

• 42.7 Mississippi Firedogs (1-0). In their first game the Firedogs scored 55 points while holding their competition to only 6 points. That is an impressive start by anyone's standards.

• 40.7 Rapid City Red Dogs (2-0). RB Verna Owens has racked up an impressive 8 touchdowns in his first two games. The rest of the team is pretty good, too.

• 38.2 Wyoming Calvary (2-0). Wyoming leads the talented Central Division with 2 divisional wins. A win in Rapid City would be a great boost. A loss on the other hand...

• 31.0 Sioux Falls Storm (1-0). Sioux Falls almost gave Kearney the win last week after an impressive 3 quarters of football.

• 28.7 Lake Charles Landsharks (1-0). Lake Charles won on the road last week due to good defense and special teams. Offense needs to get on track.

• 28.0 Utah Express (1-1). Utah is catching onto the game of indoor football very quickly for an expansion team.

• 26.5 Yakima Shockwave (1-1). Ditto for Yakima. Playing experienced teams out of the division could be a learning experience.

• 23.8 Billings Outlaws (0-1). Billings played Casper close in week 2. A road win against Sioux Falls could do wonders for this team.

• 22.2 Louisiana Bayou Beast (0-1). Monroe played Johnstown tough in week 1 and, like Billings, is better than their 0-1 start.

• 21.2 Louisiana Rangers (1-1). The Rangers were on the receiving end of the Firedogs thrashing in week 2. Can this team put that loss behind them and build?

• 21.1 Ohio Valley Greyhounds (0-1). Wheeling could come around quickly with a home win this week.

• 20.0 Sioux City Bandits (0-1). Sioux City was manhandled in the trenches last week by Rapid City and were hamstrung by mental errors.

• 19.0 River Cities Locomotives (0-2). Huntington has a mountain of problems to overcome.

• 18.8 Tri City Diesel (0-2). How many times does Kearney get to play IFL hardened opponents? (11)

• 18.5 South Oregon Heat (0-1). A win on the road, even against Kearney, could make me a believer.

National Indoor Football League Stories from April 12, 2001

• NIFL weekly report - OSC Original by Rocky Larson

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.