Spartans Look to End Skid Against Steelhawks
April 28, 2011 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
La Crosse Spartans News Release
La Crosse, WI: The 2011 season has been full of streaks for the La Crosse Spartans (3-5 overall). The team opened the year with a two-game losing skid, then bounced back with three wins in a row, and now find themselves on a three-game losing streak. The Spartans hope to end that recent trend when they take on the expansion Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (1-6 overall) this Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. at the La Crosse Center.
This week is a big week for the Spartans as they try to keep pace with Omaha (4-3) and Nebraska (3-4) for the sixth and final playoff spot. While a higher seed is not mathematically out of the equation, the Spartans are focused on getting to the playoffs for the first time after going 3-11 in the team's inaugural season in 2010. Omaha takes on (5-2) Wyoming while Nebraska faces (7-0) Sioux Falls. A Nebraska loss and a Spartans win would move La Crosse into seventh overall in the United Conference. An Omaha and Nebraska loss along with a Spartans win puts the team just a ½ game out of the playoffs.
La Crosse will once again look to lean heavily on one of the IFL's elite running backs LaRon Council. Council is tied for first in the league with 103 carries and is third in rushing yards with 346. Rushing has been the key for the Spartans this year as they lead the league in total rushing yards (860). They will also have a new offensive threat in WR Aaron Rhea. Rhea and DE Bernard Faithful were acquired from the Green Bay Blizzard earlier this week.
Despite being 1-6 overall, Lehigh Valley has taken their opponents down to the wire in nearly every contest. Five of their seven games have been decided in the last minute of the game, including a three-point loss last week against the Reading Express. The first-year franchise is lead offensively by quarterback A.J. Roque who has thrown for 924 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 211 yards and five scores.
Individual game tickets for the La Crosse Spartans second season in the Indoor Football League are on sale now at the La Crosse Center box office. Tickets for home games are on sale now for as little as $7 including the Spartans next home game on April 30th against the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks.
Group ticket packages and special family four-pack offers are also available by calling the Spartans ticket office at 608-782-4461. To purchase single-game tickets, stop by the La Crosse Center box office or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
• Discuss this story on the Indoor Football League message board...
Indoor Football League Stories from April 28, 2011
- Week 10 IFL Recap - IFL
- Vidswap.Com Players of the Week for Week 10 Announced - IFL
- Colorado Ice Announce Youth Dance and Football Camps - Colorado Crush
- Timberwolves Execs, Defensive Player of the Week on This Week in the IFL - IFL
- Wild Face Tough Test in Bloomington - Wichita Wild
- Spartans Look to End Skid Against Steelhawks - La Crosse Spartans
- Game Preview: Reading Express Vs. Richmond Revolution - Reading Express
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.
