Post by DiamondThief on Jun 10, 2017 19:52:20 GMT -8
6/10/17 --
SIOUX FALLS, SD - Mike Tatum's 15-yard touchdown catch from Lorenzo Brown with 47 seconds remaining proved to be the winning score as the Sioux Falls Storm claimed the week 17 win over the Nebraska Danger, 41-38.
With the victory, the six-time defending United Bowl champions kept control of their own playoff destiny. Should they beat the Iowa Barnstormers in Des Moines on June 17, they will win the regular season United Conference title. Should they lose, their playoff fate will be determined by the Wichita Falls Nighthawks, who face the Danger next week in Grand Island, Nebraska. Under the scenario of a Storm loss, the Nighthawks would earn the conference's second seed with a win, but be eliminated with a loss.
Nebraska's playoff fate is a bit simpler. They are tied with the Spokane Empire at 8-7 record with the Danger owning the tiebreaker. The Danger will earn the second seed in the Intense Conference with a win over the Nighthawks on June 17. They may earn a playoff bid the night before if the Empire lose to the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles in Utah. If Spokane wins that game, the pressure will be on the Danger. The Arizona Rattlers have already clinched the Intense Conference title.
It was a wild fourth quarter in South Dakota. Down 28-26 headed into the quarter, the Storm scored on Korey Williams' six-yard run. The Danger answered on a 19-yard run from quarterback Drew Powell, and added a 43-yard field goal from Josh Gable, to go up 38-34 with just over two minutes left in the game. That set up Tatum's grab in the final minute, which capped a four-play, 27-yard drive.
Nebraska drove into Storm territory in the final seconds, but Powell was intercepted by Rashard Smith. Sioux Falls was able to run out the clock to secure the win.
The Storm also won the first meeting between the teams, by a 42-28 tally on March 11 (week 4) in Nebraska.
The Danger struck first on Powell's one-yard run with 4:48 left in the first, which capitalized on a drive which took 6:30 off the clock.
Sioux Falls got on the board on the first play of the second quarter, on a one-yard run from Brown, but the Danger came back when Powell found Eric Thomas for 13 yards. Brown's four-yard run with 5:21 left in the half pulled the Storm to within two points, and they took the lead with 10 seconds to go on Brown's nine-yard pass to Eric Shufford. The Storm led 19-14 at the break.
The Danger answered on the opening drive of the second half on Rob Brown's 19-yard pass from Drew Powell. Once again, Sioux Falls answered, this time on Korey Williams' one-yard run. Powell's seven-yard run closed out the scoring in the third quarter, putting the Danger up 28-26.
Sioux Falls held a slight edge in total offense, 223 yards to 211, and each team passed for 105 yards. Nebraska committed six penalties for 50 yards, while the Storm were flagged three times for 20 yards.
Brown completed 10 of 15 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed 18 times for 53 yards with two trips to the end zone. Williams added 24 rushing yards on four carries to his two rushing scores. Robbie Rouse ran nine times for 35 yards. Shufford hauled in six passes for 68 yards and a score, and Tatum caught three balls for 34 yards and a touchdown. Carlton Watkins finished with eight total tackles. Cory Henry registered two sacks and Claude Davis added a sack of his own.
Powell went 12 of 17 for 118 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed 11 times for 80 yards and three touchdowns. Rob Brown had three catches for 42 yards and a touchdown. Carl Sims finished with 3 grabs for 28 yards, while Dimitri Stimphil had four receptions for 27 yards. Thomas added two catches for 21 yards and a score. Trey Wafford and Robert Brown led the Danger defense with 12.5 and 9.5 total tackles, respectively, and Xzavie Jackson had a sack.
The Storm (13-2) will visit the The Barnstormers (13-2) on June 17 at 5:05 p.m. The Danger (8-7) will host the Wichita Falls Nighthawks (12-3) on June 17; also at 5:05 p.m. All times are pacific daylight time.
Both of those games will be available for streaming on the IFL's Youtube channel.
- ANM
(Graphic courtesy SCtoC)
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