Post by Nevadanut on Apr 3, 2017 19:54:55 GMT -8
Salt Lake Screaming Eagles at Wichita Falls Nighthawks
What: The Screaming Eagles play their first-ever game against a United Conference opponent when they travel to Texas to play the Nighthawks.
When: Saturday, April, 5:05 p.m. (PST)
Where: Kay Yager Coliseum; Wichita Falls, Texas
National Media: Stream - YouTube
Series History: This is the first-ever meeting between the teams.
Note I: The Screaming Eagles have played each of their first five games against Intense Conference opponents.
Note II: Nighthawks' line coach Brian Schmidt was originally a finalist for the Screaming Eagles' head coaching position.
HELPFUL LINKS
Indoor Football League Rules
Indoor Football League Schedule and Results - 2017 Season
Salt Lake Screaming Eagles Vital Statistics
Salt Lake Screaming Eagles 2017 Schedule
Wichita Falls Nighthawks Vital statistics
Wichita Falls Nighthawks 2017 Schedule
IFL Franchise Index
The Screaming Eagles are 1-4 overall, 1-2 on the road and 0-0 in inter-conference play. They are coming off a 52-49 home loss to the Colorado Crush on March 31. They are averaging 41.8 points per game and are allowing 53.0 points per game. The Screaming Eagles are fourth in the Intense Conference.
The Nighthawks are 5-1 overall, 2-0 at home and 3-0 in inter-conference play. They are coming off a 60-53 road win over the Arizona Rattlers on April 1. They are averaging 52.2 points per game and allowing 48.0 points per game. The Nighthawks are second in the United Conference.
BREAKDOWN
Total Yards per Game - Screaming Eagles 240.2; Nighthawks 253.8
Pass Yards per Game - Screaming Eagles 182.2; Nighthawks 214.0
Rush Yards per Game - Screaming Eagles 58.0; Nighthawks 39.8
3rd Down Conversion - Screaming Eagles 36%; Nighthawks 45%
4th Down Conversion - Screaming Eagles 56%; Nighthawks 64%
Total Tackles - Screaming Eagles 132.5; Nighthawks 207.5
Tackles for Loss - Screaming Eagles 8; Nighthawks 22
Total Sacks - Screaming Eagles 1; Nighthawks 8
Fumble Recoveries - Screaming Eagles 0; Nighthawks 3
Interceptions - Screaming Eagles 7; Nighthawks 5
SALT LAKE SCREAMING EAGLES
Screaming Eagles DB Don Unamba (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)
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)
84 - Devin Mahina (WR)
93 - Seante Williams (DL)
96 - Ben Compton (DL)
97 - Jerrod Black (DL)
99 - David Gilbert (DL)
Elijah Walker (WR)
Bradley Wilcox (OL)
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 889
Passing TDs - Verlon Reed 22
Passing INTs - Verlon Reed 4
Rushing Yards - Verlon Reed 204
Rushing TDs - James Poole 3
Receptions - Cy Strahm 28
Receiving Yards - Cy Strahm 321
Receiving TDs - Cy Strahm 5
Tackles - Don Unamba 23
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, as well as other sources.
WICHITA FALLS NIGHTHAWKS
Nighthawks WR Jordan Jolly (photo courtesy Richard Cleaver/Wichita Falls Times Record News)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Charles McCullum (QB)
2 - Michael Carter (DB)
3 - Tyler Williams (RB/WR)
4 - Jordan Jolly (WR)
5 - Chris Parks (DB)
6 - Angelo Pease (RB)
7 - Troy Evans (WR)
9 - Kenny Veal (DB)
10 - Tyron Laughinghouse (WR)
11 - Phillip Barnett (WR)
12 - Rockne Belmonte (K)
13 - Kenny Walton (DB)
15 - Josh Francis (LB)
18 - Kewan Alfred (DL)
20 - Neiko Conway (DB)
21 - Michael Green (DB)
77 - Walter Thomas (DL)
90 - Antonio Foster (OL)
91 - Clint Marsh (OL)
92 - Jonathan Mathis (DL)
94 - Jarve Dean (OL)
95 - Tino Tuilata (OL)
Taylor Dammerman (LB)
Malcolm Goines (DL)
Doug Sachtleben (DB)
Demarius Washington (WR)
Billy Back - Head Coach
Ernie Cooke - Defensive Coordinator
Rudy Hawkins - Offensive Assistant
Brian Schmidt - Offensive/Defensive Line Coach
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Charles McCullum 1,307
Passing TDs - Charles McCullum 28
Passing INTs - Charles McCullum 7
Rushing Yards - Tyler Williams 124
Rushing TDs - Tyler Williams 5
Receptions - Jordan Jolly 32
Receiving Yards - Jordan Jolly 422
Receiving TDs - Jordan Jolly/Tyron Laughinghouse 9
Tackles - Kenny Walton 24.5
Sacks - Walter Thomas 2
Interceptions - Michael Carter/Michael Green 2
KO Return Ave - Tyler Williams 18.8
KO Return TDs - Tyler Williams 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, as well as other resources.
HEIDI'S TAKES
SALT LAKE SCREAMING EAGLES:
The Screaming Eagles have shown signs of being more than just an expansion team. They won their first game of the season during week 2, by one point in overtime. Two of their four losses have been decided by six points or less, including last week's loss to the Colorado Crush, on a last-second field goal. The resulting 52-49 home loss has got to leave a bad taste in the mouths of the scrappy squad from Salt Lake City.
This week the Screaming Eagles are in North Texas to face the Wichita Falls Nighthawks, who are hot on the heels in the United Conference leaders, the Sioux Falls Storm. Sioux Falls is the last undefeated team in the league and handed the Nighthawks their only loss of the season, 55-21, in week 6.
In last week's game against the Crush, Salt Lake head coach Matthew Sauk showed a new look, starting Jesse Scroggins at quarterback, then subbing in Verlon Reed for the second. Scroggins was back in to open the third quarter and then, as Sauk promised during his halftime interview, Reed was back for the fourth quarter and nearly sent the game into overtime before kicker Spencer Groner of the Crush converted from 36 yards out to give Colorado its first win of the season.
Both quarterbacks showed some positive signs, so it remains to be seen which format Sauk uses against Wichita Falls. Expect to see both at various points in this game. Reed, who started the first four games of the season. He has completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 889 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions. Scroggins, who has seen action at quarterback in two games, has completed 77.8 percent of his throws for 82 yards and a touchdown. Reed's 204 rushing yards lead the team, while Scroggins has 36 yards on just four rushing attempts.
James "Bubba" Poole is the new running back. In one game (last week), he has 20 rushes on nine attempts and three touchdowns. Expect to see Poole in short yardage situations. Cy Strahm is making his mark in as a target for both quarterbacks, averaging 11.5 yards per catch and 64.2 yards per game. Strahm leads the team with five touchdowns. Allen Breon, technically a running back, has made more of an impact in the passing game with 17 receptions, 140 yards and three touchdowns.
Earlier this week, the Nighthawks acquired wide receiver Demarius Washington and "future considerations" in a trade from the Arizona Rattlers in exchange for offensive lineman Jordan Mosely. Washington, the Offensive Player of the Year in the IFL last season when he played for the Crush, led the Rattlers with 53.8 yards per game while catching 14 passes for 215 yards and four touchdowns through five games.
On the other side of the ball, the Screaming Eagles are led by their defensive backfield. Don Unamba leads the team in total tackles with 23 and in interceptions with four. Antion McBee has 15.5 total tackles and an interception. Ed Burns and Rashad Greene have an interception each. Seven players have contributed to tackles for losses.
The achilles heel of the Screaming Eagles has been mistakes; namely penalties and early turnovers. If they can at least cut down on the former and eliminate the latter, they could have a chance at making this one competitive.
Player to Watch: Cy Strahm (WR)
NIGHTHAWKS:
The Nighthawks clearly want to unseat the Sioux Falls Storm as United Conference champions. Sure, they were blown out two weeks ago in South Dakota, but that is little indication of how powerful this team is. They still face the Storm twice more this season, on at home in week 11 and the other on the road in week 15.
Wichita Falls plays all five Intense Conference teams this year, including the Nebraska Danger twice. Thus far, the Nighthawks are 3-0 against the Intense Conference, including wins over the Danger (65-48) and the Spokane Empire in double overtime (57-56). Last week they went into Phoenix and held off the Arizona Rattlers, 60-53.
McCullum is as good as it gets when it comes to IFL quarterbacks. Last week against the Rattlers he went 20 of 27 for 256 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. Wide receiver Jordan Jolly caught six of those passes for 96 yards and three touchdowns, including what proved to be the game winner on a six-yard strike from McCullum with three seconds remaining in the game.
McCullum's 1,307 passing yards lead the IFL in the category by far. The Empire's Charles Dowdell is next with 904. Salt Lake's Reed is fourth at 889 in just five games. McCullum also leads the league in passing yards per game (217.8) and passing touchdowns (28). He's thrown seven interceptions, but four of those came in the loss to the Storm.
Jolly leads a potent group of receivers. He's the benefiiary of McCullum's outstanding passing numbers. Jolly leads the IFL with 422 receiving yards and a 70.3 yards per game average. Fellow Nighthawk Tyron Laughinghouse is eighth on that second list with 53.2 yards per game. The duo have each caught nine touchdown passes. Troy Evans has 25 receptios for 207 yards and two touchdowns, and Phillip Barnett rounds out the foursome with 26 catches for 171 yards and five touchdowns. Tyler Williams is averaging 20.7 rushing yards per game and has scored five rushing touchdowns.
Defensive backs Kenny Walton and Neiko Conway have 24.5 and 23.5 tackles, respectively. Walton also has an interception and five pass breakups and Conway has two fumble recoveries. Fellow defensive backs Michael Carter and Michael Green each have two interceptions. Kewan Alfred has 4.5 tackles for loss.
The Nighthawks are back on track after the loss to the Storm. They'll have avoid overlooking the 1-4 Screaming Eagles, who can be opportunistic when given the opportunity.
Player to Watch: Charles McCullum (QB)
FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA
IFL SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
April 7 - *Arizona Rattlers at Nebraska Danger, 5:05 p.m.
April 8 - *Sioux Falls Storm at Cedar Rapids Titans, 5:05 p.m.
April 8 - *Green Bay Blizzard at Iowa Barnstormers, 5:05 p.m.
Byes - Salt Lake Screaming Eagles (1-4), Spokane Empire (4-2)
All times are pacific standard time. "*" denotes conference game.
EXTRA
(Graphic by SCtoC)
In our series of Salt Lake Screaming Eagles Player Q&A's, this week, we talk with offensive lineman Alex Land. To see how he answers our questions, go to SCtoC/Screaming Eagles Player Q&A - Alex Land.
To comment on this and other topics on this forum, please login or register.