Spokane travels to Iowa for second match-up against Barnstormers
April 14, 2016 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Spokane Empire News Release
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Empire (4-1, 2-1) will kick off back-to-back road games this Saturday, April 16th as they visit Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa and take on the Barnstormers (3-3, 1-2). The Week 9 matchup will be the second and final time the two teams will face off during the 2016 IFL regular season. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PT.
Last Saturday at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, the Empire posted a league-high in total points against the Colorado Crush in a 97-72 win. Spokane's 97-points is the second most in IFL history behind a 105-point game by Sioux Falls on February 25, 2011 against Seattle.
The Empire offense was perfect on the night against Colorado as they converted on all 14 of their possessions. Quarterback Charles Dowdell threw eight touchdowns as he completed 21-of-27 pass attempts while running back Trevor Kennedy recorded seven total scores (four rushing, three receiving).
While Spokane's offense was clicking last weekend, the Barnstormers lost a heartbreaker against the Nebraska Danger by a final score of 43-46.
Iowa quarterback Donovan Porterie completed 20-of-28 pass attempts for 242 yards but two interceptions on the night, including one late in the game when the Barnstormers had an opportunity to take the lead which would help seal the win for the Danger.
Also during the game last weekend, the Barnstormer's leading rusher Robbie Rouse went down with an injury that has landed him on the team's short-term injured reserve list and will render him unavailable for this week's game. So far this season, Rouse only trails Spokane's Trevor Kennedy in rushing yards per game and has been the focal point of the Barnstormers ground attack.
The two team's last met just two weeks ago on April 1st in Spokane as the Empire was able to hold off a second-half surge by the Barnstormers and secure the 54-51 victory.
This weekend's matchup will feature two of the top signal callers in the IFL through the first eight weeks of the season.
Through his first five games of the season, Empire quarterback Charles Dowdell is ranked fourth in the IFL in total offense per game with 190 (155.6 passing, 34.4 rushing). Barnstormers quarterback Donovan Porterie is ranked sixth as he averages 186.3 total yards per game through six games. Porterie is ranked second in passing yards per game at 181.5.
Spokane will look to their defense this week to step up against Iowa after giving up a season-high 72 points to Colorado last weekend. While the Empire defense is ranked first in the IFL in rushing defense (45.0 yards per game), Iowa is a pass-heavy offense that will rely on efficient quarterback play to keep pace with Spokane who will also field the IFL's worst passing defense (211.0 yards per game).
This week's game will be available online via IFLLive.TV and via AM 700 ESPN Radio Spokane.
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Indoor Football League Stories from April 14, 2016
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- Spokane travels to Iowa for second match-up against Barnstormers - Spokane Empire
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