Post by Nevadanut on May 28, 2018 17:38:17 GMT -8
Arizona Rattlers at Iowa Barnstormers
What: The Rattlers are in Iowa in search of their first-ever IFL win over the Barnstormers.
When: Saturday, June 2 at 5:05 p.m. pacific (7:05 p.m. central).
Where: Wells Fargo Arena; Des Moines, Iowa.
Stream: IFL Official YouTube Channel.
2018 Head to Head: March 10 - Barnstormers 38, Rattlers 28. May 20 - Barnstormers 69, Rattlers 68 (OT).
Note: These teams are the current lone members of the IFL which have moved from the AFL in recent years. The Rattlers were members of the AFL for 24 seasons and the Barnstormers for 11.
HELPFUL LINKS
Indoor Football League Rules
Indoor Football League Schedule and Results - 2018 Season
Arizona Rattlers 2018 Schedule
Arizona Rattlers Vital Statistics
Iowa Barnstormers 2018 Schedule
Iowa Barnstormers Vital Statistics
IFL Franchise Index
The Rattlers are 10-2 overall and 3-1 on the road. They are coming off a 45-40 home win over the Nebraska Danger on May 27. They are averaging 54.1 points per game and are allowing 41.9 points per game.
The Barnstormers are 9-2 overall and 5-1 at home. They are coming off a 41-14 home win over the Green Bay Blizzard on May 25. They are averaging 45.8 points per game and are allowing 34.8 points per game.
2018 REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN
Total Yards per Game - Rattlers 256.8; Barnstormers 252.5
Pass Yards per Game - Rattlers 132.6; Barnstormers 136.0
Rush Yards per Game - Rattlers 124.2; Barnstormers 116.5
3rd Down Conversion - Rattlers 52%; Barnstormers 54%
4th Down Conversion - Rattlers 55%; Barnstormers 56%
Total Tackles - Rattlers 464; Barnstormers 380.5
Tackles for Loss - Rattlers 51; Barnstormers 36
Total Sacks - Rattlers 22; Barnstormers 9
Fumble Recoveries - Rattlers 8; Barnstormers 5
Interceptions - Rattlers 12; Barnstormers 14
Note: The Rattlers have played 12 games and the Rattlers have played 11.
ARIZONA RATTLERS
Rattlers WR/KR Jamal Miles (Photo by Matt Hinshaw)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Verlon Reed Jr. (QB)
2 - Jamal Miles (RB/WR)
4 - Nathan Lindsey (DB)
5 - Anthony Amos (WR)
8 - Davontae Merriweather (DB)
11 - Arkeith Brown (DB)
12 - Anthony Jones Jr. (WR)
13 - Jeff Ziemba (QB)
14 - Darrell Monroe (RB)
15 - Dillion Winfrey (WR)
16 - Jarrod Harrington (WR)
17 - Dezmon Epps (WR)
20 - Yogi Hale (DB)
22 - Sawyer Petre (K)
28 - Shadrach Thornton (RB)
31 - Chris McAllister (DL)
45 - Ryan Langford (LB)
50 - Chris Boles (OL)
55 - Lene Maiava (OL)
56 - Steven Gurrola (OL)
91 - Justin Martin (DL)
94 - Lamar Mady (OL)
95 - Joshua Gordon (DL)
97 - Terrence Surratt (DL)
N/A - Kevin Ashak (OL)
Short Term IR
49 - Edward Mosley (DL)
Season Ending IR
3 - Allen Chapman (DB)
30 - Justin Shirk (LB)
64 - Vernon Sainvil (OL)
N/A - Mark Munson (WR)
Transfer
None
RTR
6 - Sean Goldrich (QB)
32 - Dylan Peebles (RB)
N/A - Dante Cattaneo (OL)
N/A - Terrell Clinkscales (DL)
N/A - Leon Hill (OL)
Coaching Staff
Kevin Guy - Head Coach
Jeff Jarnigan - Defensive Line/Special Teams Coach
Kani Kauahi - Offensive Line Coach/Assistant Head Coach
Steve Axman - Offensive Coordinator
2018 REGULAR SEASON STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Jeff Ziemba 1,559
Passing TDs - Jeff Ziemba 36
Passing Ints - Jeff Ziemba 8
Rushing Yards - *Darrell Monroe 633
Rushing TDs - *Darrell Monroe 24
Receptions - Jamal Miles 47
Receiving Yards - Dezmon Epps 417
Receiving TDs - Anthony Amos 16
Total Tackles - Arkeith Brown 54.5
Sacks - **Justin Shirk 5.5
Interceptions - Arkeith Brown/**Allen Chapman 4
KO Return Ave - Dezmon Epps 26.5
KO Return TDs - Dezmon Epps 2
*On Short Term Injured Reserve
*On Season Ending Injured Reserve
Roster information is subject to change and is presented here as a basic guide for following the game. Rosters and team information is gathered from the IFL's 2018 Media Guide and other sources, and will be updated as further roster information becomes available.
IOWA BARNSTORMERS
Barnstormers WR Brady Roland (Photo via Grand Island Independent)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Ryan Balentine (WR)
2 - Drew Powell (QB)
3 - Jourdan Wickliffe (DB)
4 - Rocky Hayes (DB)
5 - Sheldon Augustine (WR)
6 - Jermey Gloston (DB)
7 - Tyrell Pearson (DB)
8 - Bryce Enyard (DB)
9 - Skyler Scott (WR)
11 - Brady Roland (WR)
15 - Grant Rohach (QB)
19 - Josh Gable (K)
20 - Robert Haynes (LB)
21 - Jamal Tyler (RB)
22 - Donavan Williams (RB)
35 - Zachary Allen (LB)
55 - Keith Jones Jr. (DL)
56 - B.J. Butler (DL)
72 - Randall Jackson-Clemons (OL)
75 - Brandon Haskin (OL)
77 - Ken Van Heule III (OL)
90 - Bryon Bennett (DL)
91 - D'Vonn Brown (DL)
N/A - Raheem Harvey (WR)
N/A - Corey Madlock (OL)
Short Term IR
5 - Sheldon Augustine (WR)
14 - Jonathan Duarte (WR)
Season Ending IR
None
Transfer
79 - Isame Faciane (OL) [CFL - Toronto Argonauts]
RTR
44 - Dame Ndiaye (DL)
57 - Terrance Boyd Jr. (OL)
71 - Kyle Grome (OL)
Coaching Staff
Dixie Wooten - Head Coach
Marcus Coleman - Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach
Michael Cluster - Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach
Malcolm Nelson - Defensive Line Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
2017 REGULAR SEASON STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Drew Powell 1,299
Passing TDs - Drew Powell 25
Passing INTs - Drew Powell 4
Rushing Yards - Drew Powell 699
Rushing TDs - Drew Powell 18
Receptions - Ryan Balentine 46
Receiving Yards - Brady Roland 608
Receiving TDs - Brady Roland 13
Total Tackles - Zachary Allen 59.5
Sacks - Keith Jones Jr. 3.5
Interceptions - Bryce Enyard 8
KO Return Ave - Rocky Hayes 16.5
KO Return TDs - Rocky Hayes 1
Roster information is subject to change and is presented here as a basic guide for following the game. Rosters and team information is gathered from the IFL's 2018 Media Guide and other sources, and will be updated as further roster information becomes available.
ANALYSIS
Fourteen weeks done and we have what appears to be the game of the year. With a win, the Rattlers move into sole possession of first place, with only a date remaining at the Nebraska Danger in week 17 (They have a bye in week 16). A Barnstormers win would elevate them to the top spot in the standings. Iowa visits the Sioux Falls Storm in week 16 then hosts the Cedar Rapids Titans in week 17. The Storm are currently third at 8-3, so both of these next two games could be critical for the Barnstormers as they strive to earn home field advantage heading into the playoffs, and perhaps the top seed which would ensure home field in the United Bowl should they advance. The Rattlers are in the same situation with this game, but even a win in this game could set them up for a possible trap game against the Danger in two weeks. If the Barnstormers and Rattlers end the season in a two-way tie, the Barnstormers would win the tiebreaker, having already defeated the Rattlers in two meetings. IFL Rules regarding a three-way tiebreaker are unclear. SCtoC has reached out to the IFL for clarification and will report when that information becomes available. The top four teams in the standings reach the playoffs with the top two hosting the semifinal games in round one.
Arizona comes in winners of nine of their last 10 games, with the only loss coming in a thrilling 69-68 overtime defeat at the hands of the Barnstormers in Phoenix in week 13. The offense is a balanced one, with just over a dozen more passing yards per game than rushing yards. The Rattlers' 54.1 points per game rank them first in the IFL. With both of their losses this season coming to the Barnstormers, this game looms large for their hopes of gaining the top seed in the playoffs. Last week's 45-40 win over the Nebraska Danger was the 142nd of Kevin Guy's tenure as head coach of the team (IFL and Arena Football League combined record). The win total surpassed Danny White's 141, making Guy the Rattlers' all-time winning-est head coach. Guy has guided the Rattlers to three ArenaBowl wins and to last year's United Bowl championship.
Jeff Ziemba's 1,559 passing yards rank him second in the IFL, only to the Titans' Jake Medlock. Ziemba is completing 63 percent of his pass attempts and is tied with Medlock with 36 touchdown tosses. The beauty of Arizona's offense is that they don't ask the rookie out of Shepard University to do it all. The Rattlers are a strong rushing attack. Darrell Monroe, who leads IFL running backs in rushing yards and touchdowns, has been activated from Short Term Injured Reserve. Among Monroe's highlights this season include a 140-yard, 11-touchdown rushing performance in the Rattlers' 84-83 thrilling win over the Cedar Rapids Titans in 10. In his place, Shadrach Thornton has been impressive. He averages 5.0 yards per rush and 51.8 yards per game. Dezmon Epps, averages 41.7 receiving yards per game, and is potent as a kick returner. Anthony Amos and Jamal Miles come in at 34.5 and 34.0, respectively. Amos is tied with the Danger's Eric Thomas with 16 touchdown receptions. Veteran defensive back Arkeith Brown adds 4 interceptions, 6 pass break ups and a fumble recovery to his team-leading 54.5 total tackles. Joshua Gordon is the team's active leader in tackles for loss with 11 and sacks with 4.5 Ryan Langford has 4 sacks and 6 QB hits. Langford replaces Justin Shirk at linebacker, who is on Season Ending Injured Reserve. Sawyer Petre, who leads the IFL by converting 88.1 of his extra point attempts, has hit 9 of 21 of his field goal attempts with a long of 41. Seven of those misses have come from 40 yards or further.
As alluded to above, the Barnstormers control their own destiny. They are riding a league-high six game winning streak and seem to be building momentum going into the playoffs. Dixie Wooten's crew has a potent offense, and their 34.8 points allowed per game is an IFL low. This is truly the best offense in the league versus the best defense in the league. The Barnstormers have a realistic chance to host at least one playoff game, if not the United Bowl. It's going to be a rough two-game road against the Barnstormers and the Storm. Completing a sweep of the defending champions would be a huge feature in the Barnstormers' cap. Iowa has defeated Arizona in each of their three meetings since the Rattlers joined the IFL beginning last season. Wins over the Rattlers and Storm would cement the first seed in the playoff race.
Drew Powell is a multi-talented quarterback who torments opposing defenses in both facets of the offensive game. Powell is at the top or near the top of every major passing and rushing category. He is completing a league-high (among starters) with a 66.8 completion percent and is second only to Medlock with 144.3 passing yards per game. Powell leads the IFL in rushing yards with 699 and is averaging 77.7 yards on the ground. He and the Storm's Lorenzo Brown are tied for 18 rushing touchdowns by quarterbacks. Donavan Williams compliments Powell in the backfield with his 4.0 yards per carry and 31.8 yards per game. Ryan Balentine and Brady Roland are fourth and fifth in the IFL with 46 and 45 receptions, respectively. The two have combined for 1,125 receiving yards and 24 touchdown receptions this season. Bryce Enyard's 8 league-leading interceptions and 11 pass break ups are a staple of the Barnstormers' defense. Enyard is second on the team with 56.5 total tackles. Zachary Allen's 59.5 total tackles lead the team and he adds 5 tackles for loss to the cause. Keith Jones, Jr. adds 8.5 tackles for loss to his team-leading 3.5 sacks. B.J. Butler had 8 tackles for loss, and Rocky Hayes has recovered 3 fumbles for the Barnstormers. Josh Gable will enter his second contest at kicker this season for Iowa. In last week's win over the Blizzard, Gable made his only field goal attempt of 29 yards. He converted on 2 of his 6 extra point tries, with 2 being blocked.
FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA
OTHER IFL GAMES THIS WEEK
June 1 - Sioux Falls Storm at Green Bay Blizzard, 5:05 p.m. pacific (7:05 p.m. central)
June 2 - Nebraska Danger at Cedar Rapids Titans, 5:05 p.m. pacific (7:05 p.m. central)
STANDINGS
To share this post on social media, please go to the right side of the page (the top of the page on the mobile site) to the social media icons and choose which social media site(s) to share the thread. To comment on this thread and others on this forum, please login or register.
