UIF Sioux Falls Storm

Sioux Falls and Colorado Face Off in Western Conference Semifinals

Published on July 20, 2007 under United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Sioux Falls Storm News Release


The Sioux Falls Storm of United Indoor Football (UIF) will host the Colorado Ice (6-9) this Saturday night at the Sioux Falls Arena in the Western Conference Semifinals. The winner will win the right to move on to the Western Conference Championship game. The Ice started the season off strong winning four of their first six. The wheels have since come off as the Ice finished the season losing seven of their last nine. The Ice lost to the Storm three times during that stretch losing by an average margin of 36 points. The Sioux Falls Storm on the other hand accomplished the unthinkable by finishing the last two years with a perfect regular season and is currently riding a 35-game winning streak. The game is scheduled for a 7:05 PM kickoff. The game can be heard LIVE on 1320 KELO AM or by logging on to www.siouxfallsstorm.com and clicking on "Listen LIVE." The game can also be seen LIVE on cable systems throughout the state on UTV.

The Sioux Falls Storm offense finished the season with the second ranked scoring offense (49.4 points/game) and total offense (241.5 yards/game) in the league. Quarterback Terrance Bryant finished the season with 2,446 passing yards and 51 touchdown passes. His yardage total was the most in the Western Conference and only trailed Rock River's Ben Sankey in the UIF. Storm running back Marques Smith established himself as arguably the best running back in Sioux Falls Storm history. Smith broke team records for rushing yards in a season (795), rushing touchdowns in a season (31) and points scored in a season (198). Along the way Smith also broke the team's career record in rushing yards (1,830) and rushing touchdowns (57). Four offensive players were selected as UIF All-Stars. Those players included Bryant, Smith, wide receiver Leon Hall Jr., and offensive lineman Paul Keizer.

The Storm "Thunder" defense played outstanding during the 2007 regular season. The defense set UIF records in least points allowed in a season (366), least amount of rushing yards allowed in a season (677) and largest turnover margin in a season (+21). Defensive ends Nate Fluit (16.5 sacks) and Leif Murphy (13) finished #1 and #2 respectively with the most sacks in the UIF. Linebacker Mark Blackburn set a new team record with 144 tackles involved in. Defensive back Justin Landis finished the season with the most interceptions in the UIF with 9. Landis now ranks fourth on the Storm's all-time interception list. Fluit, Murphy, Blackbutn, and Landis were all chosen to represent the West in the UIF All-Star game.

The Colorado Ice has struggled on the offensive side of the ball ranking last in passing offense (101.9 passing yards/game) and second to last in total offense (176.7 yards/game) in the UIF. The offensive line had problems keeping the quarterback off his back allowing a league high 39 sacks. Quarterback Matt Guitterrez threw for 971 yards and 14 touchdown passes in 9 games. Wide receiver Mike Jones led the team in receptions (52) and receiving yards (443), but Tim Pope led the way in scoring, hauling in 14 touchdown receptions. Running back Eugene Reed, offensive lineman Gary Moore, and kicker Deric Yaussi were selected to play in the All-Star Classic on the offensive side of the ball.

The Ice's defense wrapped up the season ranked third in points allowed (35.3 points/game) and seventh in total yards allowed (206.6 yards/game). Linebacker Ryan Palmer finished third in the UIF with 91.0 total tackles. Defensive end Steve Frye got to the quarterback seven times and Jeff Spletzer recorded 6.5 sacks. Defensive back Travis Garcia grabbed six interceptions on the year. Only the Storm's Justin Landis and Shannon Poppinga had more interceptions in the Western Conference. Garcia and Frye will start for the West defense in the All-Star game, while Palmer was selected as the conference's special teams player.

If the Storm win Saturday night, they will host either the Billings Outlaws or the Omaha Beef on Sunday, July 29 at 3:05 PM at the "Storm Shelter." Individual tickets can be obtained by visiting the Arena Box Office or any Ticketmaster outlet, calling Ticketmaster at 334-8181, or purchasing from ticketmaster.com. United Bowl III tickets will go on sale this Saturday starting at 10 AM. Join "The Biggest Show in Town" as the Storm look for three championships in a row in 2007.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



United Indoor Football Association Stories from July 20, 2007


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.

OurSports Central