Spokane travels to Colorado for final regular season game against Crush
May 25, 2016 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Spokane Empire News Release
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Empire (9-2, 7-1) will go on the road in Week 15 of the 2016 Indoor Football League season to take on the Colorado Crush (2-10, 0-6). Kickoff is set for Friday, May 27th at 6:00 p.m. PT at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland.
The Empire completed a season sweep of the Tri-Cities Fever (3-9, 3-6) last weekend, giving Spokane a three-game lead in the Intense Conference. The Billings Wolves (6-6, 5-3) and Nebraska Danger (5-7, 2-0) each has four games remaining in the regular season.
Last weekend against the Fever, Spokane jumped out a 39-9 lead in the first half. Tri-Cities battled back in the second half and made the necessary adjustments to limit the Empire to only one second-half score. Despite slowing down the Empire offense, it would be the Spokane defense that would maintain it's consistent play and allow the Empire to close out the 45-23 home win.
The Colorado Crush began the season by losing their first eight games before winning their only two games in back-to-back fashion. Once again, however, the Crush are on a losing streak after dropping their last two games by a total of 14 points.
Just three weeks ago in the Crush's win against the Barnstormers, Colorado posted a team-high 93 points to Iowa's 56.
In Colorado and Spokane's first matchup of the season on April 9th at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, the Crush were on the losing side of a ninety-point performance as the Empire won by a final of 97-72.
Despite being 2-10 on the season with four games remaining, Colorado does still have an opportunity to make the playoffs. Should they win out their remaining schedule while Nebraska and Tri-Cities fail to reach six wins, the Crush could sneak into the third playoff spot in the Intense Conference.
This Friday's game will feature signal-callers ranked second and third in passing yards per game this season. Colorado's Damien Fleming has posted 175.2 passing yards per game while Spokane's Charles Dowdell trails with 169.5.
Through ten games, Fleming leads the team in both rushing and passing offensive categories. He's completed 159-of-265 pass attempts (60 percent) for 1,752 yards, 35 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He's also added 70 rush attempts for 342 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.
Spokane quarterback Charles Dowdell has completed 169-of-274 of his passes (61.6%) for 1,865 yards, 47 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions through eleven games. He's also rushed the ball 69 times for 280 yards and five touchdowns.
Crush receiver Demarius Washington leads nearly every receiving category in the IFL going into Week 15 of the regular season. He's played in all twelve of Colorado's games this season and hauled in 67 receptions for 1,002 yards and 21 touchdowns.
While the Crush will look to their playmaker on the edge in Washington at wide receiver, the Empire will rely on running back Trevor Kennedy, who leads the IFL in multiple rushing categories this season.
In eleven games, Kennedy has rushed the ball 136 times for 710 yards and 27 touchdowns. Beyond his dominant ground performance, he's also added 26 receptions for 206 yards and eight touchdowns. Fans will also see Kennedy involved in special teams as he leads the Empire with 23 returns for 423 yards (18.4 yards per return) and one returned for a score.
Spokane is ranked third in scoring offense as they've posted 57.1 points per game against their opponents. Despite their 2-10 record, Colorado has proven they have the ability to produce points as they have recorded 52.6 points per game.
The trouble for the Crush, unlike the Empire, has been limiting their opponents on the defensive side of the ball. Despite being ranked fourth in offensive points per game, Colorado is ranked ninth in defensive points allowed at 55.7 per game. Spokane is ranked fifth at 46.1 and first in turnover margin at +7 on the season.
Friday's Intense Conference matchup can be viewed online via IFLLive.TV. The game will also be broadcast on AM 700 ESPN radio Spokane with Larry Weir. The 700 ESPN pregame show will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Indoor Football League Stories from May 25, 2016
- IFL Names Week 14 Players of the Week - IFL
- Iowa welcomes the Sioux Falls Storm to Wells Fargo Arena - Iowa Barnstormers
- Spokane travels to Colorado for final regular season game against Crush - Spokane Empire
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