NIFL weekly report

by Rocky Larson
Published on June 7, 2002 under National Indoor Football League (NIFL)

And then there was one. Fourteen weeks into the NIFL season and finally only one team can claim to be unbeaten, can claim an unblemished record and can claim to be the best. That team is the 8-0 Ohio Valley Greyhounds.

The only other undefeated team going into action last week was the Lake Charles Land Sharks. But injuries, new faces and a relentless effort by the Tennessee Thundercats all added up to the Land Sharks tumbling from the ranks of the unbeaten. But don't you think that any team is resting on past accomplishments as the playoffs are nearing. Some teams are fighting for playoff positioning, some scrap just to make the playoffs and the remainder have no intention of going out quietly. In a way, the season has just begun.

Home crowds were treated to more victories than defeats once again this week as the hosts won five of the nine games played. Scoring stayed relatively even as away teams averaged a score of 41 points per game as opposed to the home team average of 48 points. My picking aptitude is still on the positive side, but isn't something I am overly proud of. This week I managed a 6-3 effort, bringing my yearly total to 67-32 or 67.8% accuracy.

The NIFL is hosting nine contests this weekend, all of which will be played on Saturday, June 8th. The Tennessee Thundercats (7-3), Sioux Falls Storm (6-5) and Winston-Salem Energy (4-5) are idle.

Saturday, June 8

• Lincoln Capitols (7-3) @ Tri City Diesel (4-6)
  

  Lincoln currently sits atop the Pacific-North division of the NIFL and are in the drivers seat to earn a home game in the playoffs. The Diesel aren't statistically eliminated from the playoff hunt, but several things would have to fall their way. The one thing that the Diesel do well is beat good teams in their building. Diesel fans won't call it an upset, but I will. Tri City knocks Lincoln down a peg this week.

  
  
  

• Wyoming Cavalry (2-9) @ Omaha Beef (6-4)
  

  Wyoming has an offense that can keep them in games but lacks a defense with the ability to stop the big drive. Omaha is looking healthier than they have all season and are in a fight for their playoff lives. I expect the Beef Defense to come up with key turnovers this weekend that will corral the Cavalry. Beef win.

  
  
  

• La Crosse Night Train (1-7) @ Sioux City Bandits (6-3)
  

  La Crosse won't be making any trips to the post season, but sources tell me that they are fired up for this game and the chance to play spoiler. Although Sioux City fans may howl in indignation, I like how La Crosse matches up with Sioux City. Sioux City has problems putting away .500 and less teams and have lost three of their last four games. La Crosse has made steady improvement and isn't a team to be taken lightly. This could be a nail-biter. Sioux City wins in overtime with a controversial touchdown.

  
  
  

• Billings Outlaws (8-2) @ Bismarck Roughriders (8-2)
  

  Circle this game, folks, as this is the no-holes-barred game of the week in the NIFL. Not only does the outcome effect the playoff plans for each team, but the outcome has an impact upon each and every other Pacific Conference playoff hopeful. The Outlaws are coming together at the right time behind the leadership of qb Albert Higgs. The Roughriders have their own high-powered gunslinger in Danny Ragsdale. Neither offense will have problems scoring as the lead should change hands several times in this contest. But which defense will step up? Can the Billing o-line protect Higgs for four quarters against the superior Bismarck d-line? I don't think so, and that will be the difference in the game. Bismarck takes the game and the lead in the Pacific-West division.

  
  
  

• Mississippi Firedogs (2-7) @ Lake Charles Land Sharks (9-1)
  

  Don't let their loss last week fool you. The Land Sharks are still a good team in the NIFL in spite of their injury situation. The Firedogs might be able to contain the Land Sharks offense this week, but will have no such luck against the Lake Charles Defense. The Land Sharks take the lead half-way through the 3rd and never look back.

  
  
  

• River City Renegades (0-9) @ Ohio Valley Greyhounds (8-0)
  

  Who are the Greyhounds playing this week? Reports from the NIFL league office state that the Renegades have been sold and that the new owners aren't going to play any away games for the remainder of the season. But hold the phone, the St. Joseph Explorers of the amateur Nebraska Indoor Football League are stepping in and finishing the Renegades away schedule. Are the Explorers the Renegades? Are the Renegades through? Is the new owner of the Renegades also the owner of the Explorers? Bah, who cares? Ohio Valley sends the Renegades/Explorers/Bad News Bears to whatever home they claim with a big fat L.

  
  
  

• Louisiana Bayou Bucks (3-7) @ Austin Knights (5-4)
  

  No matter what the statistics state, the Bucks have about as good a chance of making the playoffs as I do in becoming a Laker Girl. On the other hand, the Knights are still alive and well in the playoff race but currently are on the outside looking in. They can't afford to lose this week. They won't. Austin puts together a solid win.

  
  
  

• Rapid City Red Dogs (5-6) @ Oklahoma Crude (1-8)
  

  With a loss last week, the playoff chances for the Red Dogs have all but evaporated. They could still make a run, but even the staff admits that their hopes are dim. The Crude have a new coach, a new quarterback and a new attitude. Both teams would love to get a win and make a statement. The Red Dogs will be too much for the Crude this week as the Dogs offense keys into the Crude starting qb who has no college experience, no professional experience and is the coaches son. I hope he buckles his chinstrap because it is going to be a long night. The Red Dogs brutalize the Crude.

  
  
  

• Louisiana Rangers (5-4) @ Tupelo Fire Ants (3-6)
  

  The Rangers are a solid if not spectacular team in the Atlantic Conference who should win their division and make the playoffs. The Fire Ants trail the Rangers and need this win in order to have a shot at the post season. Simply put, the 'ants aren't solid or spectacular. The Rangers win an easy one.

NIFL Power Poll

The power poll a ranking system voted upon by a host of NIFL fans and experts from around the league. The pollster ranks each team from best to worst, 1st to 21st. A first-place vote is worth 21 points while a last-place vote is worth 1 point. The points are then averaged and each team is ranked according to power.

• Rank Score Team Comments
• 1 21 Ohio Valley Greyhounds 8-0 They're the cream of the Atlantic. I'm looking forward to seeing them in the championship game.
• 2 (Tie) 19 Bismarck Roughriders 8-2 This team is 1 starting db and 1 contributing db away from taking the Pacific.
• - 19 Billings Outlaws 8-2 Higgs is on fire! They're more talented than Bismarck, but not as explosive.
• 4 18 Lake Charles Land Sharks 9-1 Injuries have dropped this mighty team. Can the get healthy before the playoffs?
• 5 (Tie) 16 Lincoln Capitols 7-3 They hold their playoff fate in their hands. Win and good things will happen. Lose and watch out for Sioux City and Omaha.
• - 16 Sioux City Bandits 6-3 Sioux City has a decent remaining schedule and could steal the Pac-North division.
• 7 15 Omaha Beef 6-4 They're healthy, they're mad and they're my pick to play in the Pacific Conference championship.
• 8 14 Tennessee Thundercats 7-3 They're coming on strong, but still aren't getting much love from my pollsters.
• 9 13 Sioux Falls Storm 6-5 Is a Storm blows itself out and nobody is there to witness it, does it still make a sound?
• 10 (Tie) 11 Rapid City Red Dogs 5-6 3 quarters of hard-nosed football only allows you to win, say, half of your games.
• - 11 Austin Knights 5-4 A favorable remaining schedule could mean a playoff berth.
• 12 9 Louisiana Rangers 5-4 They lead their division, but is that something to be proud of?
• 13 (Tie) 8 Winston Salem Energy 4-5 Their playoff chances are fading fast.
• - 8 Tri City Diesel 4-6 I think they like being the underdog. Slay away, David.
• 15 (Tie) 6 Mississippi Firedogs 2-7 It is never too late in the season to start chasing the Rangers.
• - 6 Bayou Bucks 3-7 Blah.
• - 6 La Crosse Night Train 1-7 They impressed the Greyhound team a few weeks ago. Can they play spoiler?
• 18 5 Tupelo Fire Ants 3-6 Yet another team that could challenge the Rangers for the division. Lets see some fire, ants!
• 19 4 Wyoming Cavalry 2-9 I think they're the best of the worst and could beat the four teams ranked higher than they are.
• 20 3 Oklahoma Crude 1-8 You don't turn around a franchise by putting your son in at quarterback.
• 21 1 RiverCity Renegades 0-9 Who are these guys? Does anybody really know?

All rights reserved by the author. Rocky Larson is a freelance reporter who covers the National Indoor Football League for several sports websites and newspapers.

National Indoor Football League Stories from June 7, 2002

• NIFL weekly report - OSC Original by Rocky Larson
• Capitols Sign Indoor Veteran Hienske - Lincoln Capitols

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.