Post by Nevadanut on Mar 26, 2017 13:50:37 GMT -8
Colorado Crush at Salt Lake Screaming Eagles
What: The Crush look for look for revenge for an early season loss as they visit the Screaming Eagles.
When: Friday, March 31, 6 p.m. (PST)
Where: Maverik Center; West Valley City, Utah
National Media: Stream - YouTube
This Season: Feb. 26 - Screaming Eagles 42, Crush 41 (OT).
Schedule: May 7 - Screaming Eagles at Crush; May 12 - Crush at Screaming Eagles.
Series History: Salt Lake leads 1-0 (First meeting in Salt Lake)
Note: The May 7 meeting between the teams will be the first game in which Crush fans, via the team's mobile app, will call offensive and special teams plays for the team.
HELPFUL LINKS
Indoor Football League Rules
Indoor Football League Schedule and Results - 2017 Season
2017 Spokane Empire Schedule
Spokane Empire - Vital Statistics
2017 Colorado Crush Schedule
Colorado Crush - Vital Statistics
IFL Franchise Index
The Crush are 0-5 overall, 0-2 on the road and 0-5 in Intense Conference play. They are coming off a 55-23 road loss to the Nebraska Danger on March 25. They are averaging 32.8 points per game and allowing 58.4 points per game. The Crush are fifth in the Intense Conference.
The Screaming Eagles are 1-3 overall, 0-2 at home and 1-3 in Intense Conference play. They are coming off a 53-36 road loss to the Spokane Empire on March 24. They are averaging 40.0 points per game and are allowing 53.2 points per game. The Screaming Eagles are fourth in the Intense Conference.
BREAKDOWN
Total Yards per Game - Crush 189.0; Screaming Eagles 229.5
Pass Yards per Game - Crush 116.8; Screaming Eagles 178.5
Rush Yards per Game - Crush 72.2; Screaming Eagles 51.0
3rd Down Conversion - Crush 37.0%; Screaming Eagles 41.0%
4th Down Conversion - Crush 53.0%; Screaming Eagles 47.0%
Total Tackles - Crush 170.0; Screaming Eagles 104.5
Tackles for Loss - Crush 11; Screaming Eagles 6
Total Sacks - Crush 3; Screaming Eagles 0
Fumble Recoveries - Crush 1; Screaming Eagles 0
Interceptions - Crush 0; Screaming Eagles 7
COLORADO CRUSH
Crush DL Phillip Lewis (photo courtesy Colorado Crush via facebook)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Terry Johnson (DB)
2 - Derrick Morgan (DB)
3 - Erick Brundidge (WR)
4 - Love Rose III (WR)
6 - Cardelro Jones (DB)
7 - Antonio Marshall (DB)
8 - Kyle Kaiser (WR)
9 - Chris Gant (WR)
10 - Azziz Higgins (LB)
11 - Tim Lukas (WR)
12 - Aaron Aiken (QB)
13 - Josh Ford (RB)
16 - Liam Nadler (QB)
18 - Daniel Lindsey (DB)
22 - Paris Cotton (RB)
25 - Mikell (DB/LB)
42 - Bryce McClain (DL)
44 - Spencer Groner (K)
48 - Tevin Hood (DL)
56 - Kwame Bell (DL)
65 - Sean Brown (OL)
78 - Forrestal Hickman (OL)
79 - Chad Kolumber (OL)
99 - Phillip Lewis (DL)
Ace Clark (LB)
Lance McDowell (DL)
Jose Jefferson - Head Coach
Dean Picotte - Assistant Head Coach/Offensive & Defensive Line Coach
Marvin Jones - Defensive Coordinator
Damien Ware - Co-Defensive Coordinator
Tristian Johnson - Wide Receivers Coach
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - *Sean Goldrich 328
Passing TDs - *Sean Goldrich 5
Passing INTs - *Sean Goldrich 3
Rushing Yards - Josh Ford 131
Rushing TDs - *Sean Goldrich 4
Receptions - Tim Lukas 22
Receiving Yards - Kyle Kaiser 214
Receiving TDs - Kyle Kaiser/Tim Lukas 3
Tackles - Derrick Morgan 26
Sacks - Phillip Lewis 1
Interceptions - none
KO Return Ave - Paris Cotton 17.8
KO Return TDs - none
*Not on Active Roster
Note: Roster information is subject to change and is presented here as a basic guide for following the game. Roster information is gathered from the IFL and the team's official websites, as well as other resources.
SALT LAKE SCREAMING EAGLES
Screaming Eagles DB James Calhoun (Photo courtesy of Screaming Eagles via facebook)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Verlon Reed (QB/WR)
2 - Breon Allen (RB)
3 - Don Unamba (DB)
4 - Brock Lutes (WR/DB)
5 - Jesse Scroggins (QB)
6 - Ed Burns (DB)
7 - Justin Brown (WR)
9 - Devon Price (WR)
10 - Trent Andrus (K)
11 - James Calhoun (DB)
12 - Rashad Greene (DB)
13 - Cy Strahm (WR/K)
14 - Dorian Buford (WR)
15 - Gianni Olivas (DB)
17 - James "Bubba" Poole (RB/WR)
25 - Antion McBee (DB)
51 - Alex Land (OL)
52 - Michael Ward (DL)
56 - Steven Gurrola (OL)
59 - Visesio Salt Jr. (OL/DL)
84 - Devin Mahina (WR)
93 - Seante Williams (DL)
96 - Ben Compton (DL)
97 - Jerrod Black (DL)
99 - David Gilbert (DL)
Matthew Sauk - Head Coach
The Fans - Offensive Coordinator(s)
Sergio Gilliam - Co-Defensive Coordinator
Kevin Bello - Co-Defensive Coordinator/Special Teams Coach
Jaren Skinner - Offensive and Defensive Line Coach
Ron McBride - Special Assistant to the Head Coach
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Verlon Reed 774
Passing TDs - Verlon Reed 20
Passing INTs - Verlon Reed 4
Rushing Yards - Verlon Reed 163
Rushing TDs - Verlon Reed/*Zavier Steward 1
Receptions - Cy Strahm 22
Receiving Yards - Cy Strahm 251
Receiving TDs - Devin Mahina/Cy Strahm 3
Tackles - Don Unamba 18.5
Sacks - N/A
Interceptions - Don Unamba 4
KO Return Ave - James Calhoun 28.0
KO Return TDs - James Calhoun 1
*Not on Active Roster
Note: Roster information is subject to change and is presented here as a basic guide for following the game. Roster information is gathered from the IFL and the team's official websites.
DREW'S TAKE
COLORADO CRUSH:
The Crush took a road trip into their neighboring state Nebraska to hopefully get their first win of the season in week 6. Instead, they left still winless after the offense couldn’t muster much.
The Crush turn their focus on the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles for a matchup this weekend. Colorado is still last in the Intense Conference (0-5) while Salt Lake is fourth (1-3). This is the second matchup between these two teams; Salt Lake pulled off an OT win in their first matchup.
Colorado struggled again on the offensive side of the ball last week, getting only 121 yards of total offense, all of which really came from their QB. Liam Nadler came in for the Crush and had a decent week however, going 13-20 for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Turnovers killed Colorado though. Nadler threw for two picks, and the Crush fumbled the ball twice, turning it over once. Colorado only had five rushing yards on the ground.
Kyle Kaiser stayed hot however, hauling in four catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. Tim Lukas also recorded a score.
In their last meeting just a few weeks ago, Colorado went back and forth with the Eagles. Both teams were effective both in the air and on the ground, virtually identical in yards gained. Salt Lake held the edge in passing 189 to 142 yards, but the Crush won the ground game, 103 to 90.
The key for the Crush is to get their ground game buzzing again. These two teams were equal for most of the game in their first meeting, but the Crush couldn’t hang on for the win. I would expect to see Liam Nadler under center again, and hopefully some action from Josh Ford who ran for 50 yards and a touchdown in their first meeting.
Defense is also key here. The difference maker in the last meeting was two interceptions for the Eagles and zero turnovers for the Crush. The Crush are dead last in the IFL, allowing 58.4 points per game.
The Crush are looking to soar to their first win of the season in a winnable rematch between these two teams. They face each other twice more after this game..
Player to Watch: Liam Nadler (QB).
HEIDI'S TAKE
SALT LAKE SCREAMING EAGLES:
After two straight losses to the defending Intense Conference champion Spokane Empire, the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles are back in the friendly confines of the Maverik center in what SCtoC's Bannock describes as FANchise Bowl II.
At Loveland, Colorado in week two, the Screaming Eagles came back to tie the game with seven seconds left in regulation on a 15-yard pass from Verlon Reed to Devin Mahina. Salt Lake actually had a chance to win it, but then-kicker Cy Strahm's extra point attempt was blocked.
On to overtime which saw the Crush score first on a 14-yard run from quarterback Sean Goldrich. Next, it was the Screaming Eagles' turn. Reed's pass to Zavier Steward put the team in a position to tie or move ahead. The plan call, sent in from the fans via the Project FANchise app, was to try to win it with a two-point conversion attempt. They did just that when Reed found Juwan Dotson in the end zone. The Screaming Eagles had earned their first win in franchise history.
Reed's efforts earned him the honor of Indoor Football League Offensive Player of the Week.
The rookie quarterback, who also played wide receiver in college, has played well for the most part this season. He is second in the IFL in passing yards per game (193.5) and passing touchdowns (20), third in completion percentage (63.4) and tied for third lowest in passing interceptions (four). His confidence seems to be improving and he is becoming the true leader of this team.
Reed and head coach Matthew Sauk have a young, but talented group of receivers. Strahm, Devin Mahina, Tim Lukas and Justin Brown can always come up with a big play. Giving the play calling, fans have not voted for running plays nearly as often as passing plays. In the IFL, there tends to be more of a balance. The top ball carrier on the offense, aside from Reed, is Breon Allen, who has carried for just five yards this season. In 11 games with the Crush last season, Allen rushed 73 times for 296 yards and six touchdowns.
Defensive back Don Unamba has continued to pace the defense. He has 18.5 tackles and is tied with the Green Bay Blizzard's Manny Asprilla for the league lead in interceptions with four (Unamba's number has come in four games, while Asprilla's has come in five).
The Screaming Eagles look to pick up their second win of the season and second win over the Crush. A win also would give them the first home victory in team history.
Player to Watch: Verlon Reed (QB)
FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA
IFL SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
April 1 - Wichita Falls Nighthawks (4-1) at Arizona Rattlers (2-2), 5 p.m.
April 1 - *Cedar Rapids Titans (0-5) at Green Bay Blizzard (2-2), 5:05 p.m.
April 1 - *Nebraska Danger (3-2) at Spokane Empire (4-1), 7 p.m.
Byes - Iowa Barnstormers (3-2), Sioux Falls Storm (5-0)
All times are pacific standard time. "*" denotes conference game.
EXTRA
(standings courtesy goifl.com)
Both of these teams are looking to change their recent skids and emerge with a win. A victory would be the first of the season for the Crush. Should the Screaming Eagles win, they could pull to within a game of the Nebraska Danger in the race for the second seed in the Intense Conference playoff race, which they could do if the Danger were to lose to the Spokane Empire in week 7. The two top teams from each conference make the playoffs.
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