IFL Indoor Football League

Playoff Puzzle Comes Together

Published on June 14, 2010 under Indoor Football League (IFL) News Release


Richmond, VA: The final few playoff pieces came together in Week Sixteen. The week saw all but one post season position filled in an exciting week of IFL action. Dreams were realized as several teams on the bubble were able to grasp their season long effort of obtaining a prestigious slot in the IFL playoffs. Twelve tremendous contests including the IFL Game of the Week featuring a possible United Bowl preview headlined Week Sixteen.

As the Maryland Maniacs (0-13) searched for their first win at home, they hosted a hot Bloomington Extreme (8-5) team needing to stay alive for a chance to be Central North champions. The Extreme came into this game desperately needing a victory to stay in contention to beat out the Green Blizzard for the rights to be the Central North champions and ensure they have a home game in the first round of the playoffs. Bloomington was able to do just that as they put down the Maniacs by a 51-7 final score. Maryland will close out their season at home in Week Seventeen looking to avoid the winless season as they host West Michigan. While a Green Bay victory locked up the Central North title, Bloomington will look to continue picking up momentum for the playoffs as they travel to La Crosse.

The path to playoffs for Sioux City (4-9) would run through Wichita (8-4) in Week Sixteen. The Bandits needed to beat playoff bound Wichita to have any hopes of remaining in the playoff hunt. Sioux City would not be able to out score the Wild and ultimately fell to 67-17 final. RB Darius Fudge would prove to be the key cog in the Wild's offensive machine. With 19 carries during the game, Fudge was able to bring four in for a score and had a total of 109 yards. The Wild would dominate the field as overall they accounted for 372 total offensive yards. Wichita Quarterback Dixie Wooten was also dominating with four touchdown passes and 258 yards on the day. Wooten also made 21 of his 28 passing attempts. The Wild will close out the season against another Central West rival when they travel to Omaha. The Bandits will continue on the road to take on their rivals, the Central West champion Sioux Falls Storm.

The IFL Game of the Week was a possible United Bowl preview as the Billings Outlaws (11-2) hosted the Sioux Falls Storm (10-3). The Storm were able to surge on offense, putting -up 316 total yards of offense compared to the 259 yards that Billings managed. However, the final score still read 60-40 in favor of the Outlaws. Billings QB Chris Dixon was able to edge his Sioux Falls counterpart during the contest. Dixon threw for 176 yards and had five touchdown passes. On top of his passing game, he also ran in a score. The Billings defense can also take much of the credit in the victory. In the second quarter Travonti Johnson picked off Storm QB Terrance Bryant, scoring on a 48-yard return. Billings will close out their season at home in Week Seventeen as they host Tri-Cities. Sioux Falls will try and regain their momentum as they host Central West rivals, the Sioux City Bandits.

The Tri-Cities Fever (7-6) hosted the Alaska Wild (2-12) travel team in Week Sixteen. In a game which saw Tri-Cities pull starters out early to avoid injury for the playoffs, the Fever remained hot. Tri-Cities was victorious by 64-26 final. Despite a close game in the second half, and getting shut out in the third quarter, the Fever scored 26 points in the fourth quarter. That effort was good enough for the victory and to keep the Fever rolling as they head towards the playoffs. Tri-Cities will pay a visit to the Pacific North champion Billings Outlaws to close out their 2010 season in a possible playoff preview.

The Green Bay Blizzard (9-4) were in need of a victory at home against the West Michigan ThunderHawks (5-8). Green Bay is barely holding onto their position as Central North leaders and a loss would have tied them with Bloomington going into the final week of the season. The Blizzard were able to beat West Michigan 74-9. The very first play of the game saw Randy Bell rushing for a 45-yard touchdown. Green Bay never looked back from that opening score. The Blizzard controlled almost all aspects of the game. In total offensive yards the Blizzard had 258 total yards compared to only 77 from the ThunderHawks. The Green Bay defense also put up quite the front, accounting for 5.5 sacks on the day. The victory enables the Blizzard home field for the first round of the playoffs and the Central North title. The Blizzard will host Central North rivals, the Chicago Slaughter to close out the season. West Michigan remains alive in the playoff hunt and will hope to swoop in on a victory in Week Seventeen as they travel to Maryland.

For the second time this season, the La Crosse Spartans (3-10) defeated the Chicago Slaughter (6-7). With Chicago's playoff hopes in the balance, the Spartans were able to pull off a stunning victory in the final minute of the game. With 43 seconds left on the game clock, Spartans Quarterback Buddy Rivera ran in the touchdown for a one yard score. The game started out in Chicago's favor when Slaughter QB Randy Hutchinson hooked up with WR Reggie Gray for the opening score of the game. With 20 unanswered points from the Spartans and a defensive shutdown of the Slaughter offense in the second quarter, La Crosse took control. Eventually Chicago would mount a comeback as the Slaughter scored fourteen unanswered points in the second half. But the final touchdown, the Rivera TD run, would put the game away with a 27-20 Spartan victory. Chicago will finish their season in Green Bay as they need a win over the Central North champs for a playoff berth. The Spartans finish the season at home as they host Bloomington.

The Kent Predators (5-9) came into Week Sixteen at Fairbanks (8-5) in need of a few scenarios playing out that would enable them a shot at the playoffs. The one thing they could control was getting a victory. The Grizzlies however would prove to be the apex predator in this contest winning by a 49-42 final. The seesaw battle saw the lead change all throughout the game. The final score however, would come in the form of a 49 yard strike from Grizzlies QB Justin Rummell to Lonnie Sanders. Predators QB Charles McCullum did his part for Kent. McCullum had 203 yards and six touchdowns. The telltale stat against McCullum was the three interceptions he gave up to Fairbanks defenders. The Grizzlies will close out the regular season at home when they host Colorado.

Omaha (8-5) was looking to clinch a playoff spot with a victory over the Colorado Ice (2-11). Despite being picked off twice in the game, Beef Quarterback Ben Sankey was able to throw for six touchdowns and 195 yards as Omaha clinched the playoffs in a 39-27 victory. Luke McArdle and RJ Rollins proved to be the top targets throughout the game for Sankey. Each had over 40 yards on their receptions with McArdle scoring three touchdowns and Rollins with two TD receptions. Omaha will get to close out their season at home jockeying for position in the Central West against Wichita. Colorado will try to end their season on a high note in Week Sixteen when they travel to Fairbanks to battle the Grizzlies.

The Rochester Raiders (8-5) hoped to give the Revolution (13-1) their second loss of the season in their Week Sixteen meeting. Richmond however would defeat Rochester for the third time this season in an exciting 46-33 win. With the victory, Richmond clinches home field for the playoffs. Leading the offense was IFL MVP candidate, Bryan Randall. Randall completed 12 for 20 on the day with 162 yards and three touchdown passes. He also gave up an interception, his lone blemish for the day. Rochester's own IFL MVP candidate, QB Perry Patterson also had quite the impressive day. Racking up 198 yards and four touchdown passes. Patterson also gave up an interception in the Raiders loss. Both teams will have a BYE in week Seventeen before the playoffs start. The two very well could have a rematch in the first round of the playoffs.

Overtime games are often a great source of action and excitement, the clash between the San Angelo Stampede Express (9-4) and Corpus Christi Hammerheads (6-3) proved no different. Coming into this game, the Hammerheads had won five straight at home. San Angelo needed this victory to secure their slot for a home game in the first round of the playoffs. After three quarters of play, the Hammerheads would appear outmatched by Lonestar East rival San Angelo as they found themselves trailing by nineteen. However, Corpus Christi would try their best to send the home crowd happy. They mounted a fourth quarter comeback that saw the score tied as regulation ended. The game would be decided in overtime. Despite having the opening possession, Corpus Christi could not capitalize. The game would come down to Stampede Express kicker Darren Brown putting one between the uprights to down the Hammerheads by a 53-50 final. Despite the loss, Corpus Christi has clinched the playoffs. They will travel to Odessa, TX for an Intense Conference match up against the Roughnecks. San Angelo will return home to take on the Lonestar West champion Amarillo Venom.

If the Austin Turfcats (2-11) were going to upset the Venom (11-2) in Amarillo, this was perhaps their best chance. Venom QB Julian Reese was not available to play as he was attending his sister's graduation. The pressure of helming the Amarillo offense fell on the shoulder of Reese's replacement, Sean Setzer. Setzer did well filling in for Reese. He completed 50-percent of his passes, threw for 116 yards, and had a touchdown pass. Setzer even rushed for a touchdown adding to the Venom's 39-16 victory. WR Anthony Clark did most of the damage for Setzer. Clark received eight of Setzer's passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. Austin will get to close out their season at home in Week Seventeen hosting the Arkansas Diamonds. The Venom will close out the regular season on the road as they try and slow down the San Angelo Stampede Express.

It was a wild west shoot-out as the West Texas Roughnecks (6-7) played host to the Abilene Ruff Riders (2-12). The Roughnecks would pick up their third straight victory as they out scored the Ruff Riders by a 70-55 finish. The game was controlled by the two teams Quarterbacks. Robert Kent for Abilene completed 23 of his 37 attempts. He also threw for 273 yards and five touchdowns. Kent's downfall would be two interceptions he would give up. As for West Texas, QB Tommy Jones did his best to gain the victory and secure his team a slot in the IFL playoffs. Jones was equally impressive completing 15 of his 24 attempts for 215 yards and five touchdown passes. Jones did not throw an interception all game. The West Texas ground game also did its part in putting down the Ruff Riders. RB Jorvorski Lane had three touchdowns on 13-carries. Now having clinched the playoffs, West Texas will play its final game at home as they host the Corpus Christi Hammerheads.

Week Sixteen Vidswap.com IFL Players of the Week will be announced on Wednesday. The IFL season will continue with Week Seventeen on Friday, June 18th as the Fairbanks Grizzlies close out their regular season at home against the Colorado Ice.

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Indoor Football League Stories from June 14, 2010


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