Post by Nevadanut on Jun 20, 2018 23:06:44 GMT -8
SEMIFINAL:
Sioux Falls Storm at Arizona Rattlers
What: It's an opening round playoff rematch between last year's United Bowl entrants.
When: Saturday, June 23 at 6:05 p.m. pacific (8:05 p.m. central).
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena; Phoenix, Arizona.
Stream: IFL YouTube Channel.
2018 Head to Head: Feb. 25 - Rattlers 39, Storm 33. April 16 - Rattlers 48, Storm 40.
Note: Each Semifinal game features teams who last played each other in week 8, and teams which played each other only twice.
HELPFUL LINKS
Indoor Football League Rules
Indoor Football League Schedule and Results - 2018 Season
Sioux Falls Storm 2018 Schedule
Sioux Falls Storm - Vital Statistics
Arizona Rattlers 2018 Schedule
Arizona Rattlers Vital Statistics
IFL Franchise Index
The Storm finished the regular season 11-3 and 4-2 on the road. They are coming off a 69-61 triple overtime home win over the Green Bay Blizzard on June 16. They averaged 51.7 points per game and are allowing 41.2 points per game. The Storm finished third in the final IFL standings.
The Rattlers finished the regular season 11-3 and 7-1 at home. They are coming off a 59-23 road win over the Nebraska Danger on June 16. They averaged 53.3 points per game and allowed 40.5 points per game. The Rattlers finished second in the final IFL standings.
2018 REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN
Total Yards per Game - Storm 255.1; Rattlers 253.1
Pass Yards per Game - Storm 159.6; Rattlers 128.1
Rush Yards per Game - Storm 95.6; Rattlers 125.0
3rd Down Conversion - Storm 46%; Rattlers 49%
4th Down Conversion - Storm 57%; Rattlers 52%
Total Tackles - Storm 507; Rattlers 529
Total Sacks - Storm 13; Rattlers 24
Tackles for Loss - Storm 39; Rattlers 55
Fumble Recoveries - Storm 11; Rattlers 10
Interceptions - Storm 12; Rattlers 14
STORM-RATTLERS 2018 HEAD-TO-HEAD (two games)
Points per Game - Storm 36.5; Rattlers 43.5
Total Yards - Storm 447; Rattlers 460
Pass Yards - Storm 210; Rattlers 243
Rush Yards - Storm 237; Rattlers 217
3rd Down Conversion - Storm 33%; Rattlers 53%
4th Down Conversion - Storm 75%; Rattlers 67%
Total Tackles - Storm 89; Rattlers 82
Total Sacks - Storm 0; Rattlers 3
Tackles for Loss - Storm 6; Rattlers 10
Fumble Recoveries - Storm 0; Rattlers 1
Interceptions - Storm 3; Rattlers 1
SCORES BY QUARTERS
SIOUX FALLS STORM
QB Lorenzo Brown Jr., right, engineers the Storm offense against the Barnstormers in week 16.
(Photo by Adam Lamprecht/SCtoC)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
2 - Jabari Gorman (DB)
3 - Lyle McCombs (RB)
4 - Damond Powell (WR)
6 - Dillion Turner (QB)
8 - Lorenzo Brown (QB)
11 - Damien Ford (WR)
12 - Marques Rodgers (RB)
13 - Trey Wafford (DB)
16 - Miles Bergner (K)
18 - Lorenzo White Jr. (DB)
20 - Judd Harold (WR)
22 - Damond Smith II (DB)
23 - Mike Tatum (WR)
24 - Marlon Moore (DB)
44 - Dezmin Reed (LB)
47 - Kwame Bell (DL)
55 - Chad Stoterau (DL)
56 - Charles Williams (DL)
58 - Owen Williams (DL)
65 - Lawrence Martin IV (OL)
69 - Jabari Buckley (OL)
71 - Darrien Oliver (OL)
74 - Rashaud Mungro (OL)
95 - Claude Davis (DL)
Short Term IR
19 - Chris Martin (DL)
75 - Forrestal Hickman (OL)
Season Ending IR
11 - Jatavius Steward (WR)
44 - Jordan Stanton (LB)
56 - Phillip Williamson (DL)
N/A - Eldrick Bright (DB)
Transfer
18 - Jermaine Robinson (DB) [CFL - Montreal Alouettes]
22 - Ace Clark (LB) [AFL]
RTR
None
Coaching Staff
Kurtiss Riggs - Head Coach
Brian Hermanson - Defensive Coordinator
Jared Fredenburg - Linebackers Coach
Paul Keizer - Offensive Line Coach
Cory Johnsen - Defensive Line Coach
Blake Wilson - Wide Receivers/Special Teams Coach
Terrance Bryant - Quarterbacks Coach
Shannon Poppinga - Defensive Backs Coach
2018 REGULAR SEASON STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Lorenzo Brown Jr. 2,203
Passing TDs - Lorenzo Brown Jr. 38
Passing INTs - Lorenzo Brown Jr. 10
Rushing Yards - Lorenzo Brown Jr. 607
Rushing TDs - Lorenzo Brown Jr. 24
Receptions - Judd Harrold 46
Receiving Yards - Judd Harrold 618
Receiving TDs - Judd Harrold 15
Total Tackles - Trey Wafford 73.5
Sacks - Owen Williams 4
Interceptions - Jabari Gorman 5
KO Return Ave - Damond Powell 19.3
KO Return TDs - Damond Powell/*Daniel Lindsey 1
*Traded to Cedar Rapids Titans
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, as well as other sources, and will be updated as further roster information becomes available.
ARIZONA RATTLERS
Rattlers RB Darrell Monroe prior to scoring 11 rushing touchdowns against the Titans in week 10.
(Photo by Gary Royall/SCtoC)
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)
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)
N/A - Kevin Ashak (OL)
N/A - Devin Cockrell (DB)
N/A - Phillip Henry (DB)
N/A - Lance McDowdell (DL)
Short Term IR
49 - Edward Mosley (DL)
Season Ending IR
3 - Allen Chapman (DB)
20 - Yogi Hale (DB)
30 - Justin Shirk (LB)
64 - Vernon Sainvil (OL)
N/A - Mark Munson (WR)
Transfer
None
RTR
6 - Sean Goldrich (QB)
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 1,745
Passing TDs - Jeff Ziemba 39
Passing Ints - Jeff Ziemba 8
Rushing Yards - Darrell Monroe 773
Rushing TDs - Darrell Monroe 28
Receptions - Jamal Miles 54
Receiving Yards - Anthony Amos 493
Receiving TDs - Anthony Amos 17
Total Tackles - Arkeith Brown 58
Sacks - Joshua Gordon 6.5
Interceptions - Arkeith Brown/*Allen Chapman 4
KO Return Ave - Dezmon Epps 24.9
KO Return TDs - Dezmon Epps 2
*On Season ending IR.
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
Fifty weeks ago, these teams went to battle in the 2017 United Bowl. Each team advanced from the Semifinals in blowout wins. In the end, the Rattlers were able to hold off a late Sioux Falls rally to emerge with a 50-41 win to claim the IFL championship in just their first season in the league after moving over from the Arena Football League following its 2016 season. Arizona swept the season series, 2-0, including a 39-33 win over the Storm on opening weekend. In week 8, the Rattlers went into Sioux Falls, took control in the first half and held off the Storm for a 48-40 victory. The Storm won the first-ever meeting between the teams, 40-29, at Sioux Falls on February 17, 2017.
Sioux Falls ended the season by rattling off five straight wins, including a pair of thrillers in their final two weeks. The first is when they rallied to tie the Iowa Barnstormers in week 16. The Barnstormers attempted a long field goal on the final play of regulation, but it was blocked. The ball traveled into the end zone and was recovered by The Barnstormers. The recovery in the end zone resulted in a safety, and a 51-49 a Sioux Falls Storm win. In the finale, they were tested by the Green Bay Blizzard. An interception by defensive back Trey Wafford on the second possession of the third overtime secured the 69-61 victory. The Storm have reached the playoffs the past eight seasons, and won six straight United Bowls from 2011 to 2016.
Lorenzo Brown, Jr. is a formidable, dual-threat IFL quarterback. He is a fixture in most, if not all IFL passing and rushing categories. Brown was second in passing yards per game with 157.4 and passing yards with 2,203 on the season. He ranks third in the league with his 38 passing touchdowns. He also ranks second among IFL quarterbacks in rushing with 607 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground. Brown's experience could prove to be a key as he attempts to lead the Storm to a seventh United Bowl championship. Lyle McCombs is an excellent compliment in the rushing game. He ranks fourth in the IFL with 437 rushing yards (second among running backs) and 15 touchdowns. He also has caught 35 passes for 308 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Judd Harrold is averaging 14.2 yards per catch and has 17 touchdowns through the air. He is a big target who creates difficulties for smaller opposing defensive backs. Damien Ford has come on in the past four games, with 22 catches for 349 yards and 6 touchdowns. Mike Tatum, a receiving stalwart for the Storm, did not play toward the end of the regular season, but averaged 15.8 yards per game, good for third best in the IFL.
Wafford, last season's Defensive Rookie of the Year, was spectacular for the Storm this season. He led the team in total tackles with 73.5. He also had 4 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 5 pass break ups and 4 fumble recoveries. Jabari Gorman has a team leading 5 interceptions and 10 pass break ups to go along with his 70.5 total tackles. Owen Williams comes in with 4 sacks and 5 tackles for loss. Miles Bergner is the IFL's most accurate field goal kicker having completed 64.7 percent of his tries. He has longs of 45 yards, which he has nailed twice. Bergner also is second in point after conversions, hitting 85.6 percent of those attempts. He is second by just a single percentage point to the Rattlers Sawyer Petre in that category.
The Rattlers lost three games this season; all to the Iowa Barnstormers. There is a very realistic chance they could face that same team in the United Bowl. Arizona swept the Storm in the regular season, but the Storm have been playing strong as of late. This very well could go down to the wire. The Rattlers, who won five ArenaBowls in their 24-year tenure in the Arena Football League, already have a championship trophy in their first season in their current league. The Rattlers won eight straight during the middle of the season, but have lost two of their last four. They will be represented by a formidable crowd which averaged well over 10,000 fans per game. Arizona's scoring offense of 53.3 points per game is tops in the IFL.
It's a bit strange to use the term "game manager" to describe an IFL quarterback. He is certainly more than that, but Jeff Ziemba has started every game since taking over for Verlon Reed, Jr. He has been impressive. While playing the majority of that first game and starting all 13 others, Ziemba second only to the Cedar Rapids Titans' Jake Medlock with 39. Reed, last season's Offensive Rookie of the Year, has been on the bench for the bulk of the season. Reed relieved Ziemba in the Rattlers' regular season finale win over the Danger. Reed rushed for 4 touchdowns in the game. The ground game is key for the Rattlers. Darrell Monroe is the best running back in the league, and leads all running backs with 773 rushing yards, and that was in just 10 games. The Rattlers have a talented receiving group. Jamal Miles has 54 receptions for 465 yards and 12 touchdowns. Veteran Anthony Amos leads the team with 17 touchdowns off 40 catches for 493 yards. Dezmon Epps, who is potent in the kick return game, enters this game with 32 receptions for 441 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Arkeith Brown is a veteran brought over from the Rattlers' AFL days. His four interceptions and 6 pass break ups add to his team-leading 58 total tackles, Joshua Gordon leads the IFL with 14 tackles for loss. Gordon also is second in the IFL with 6.5 sacks. Defensive back Nathan Lindsey, whose brother played for the Storm early this season before being traded to the Cedar Rapids Titans early in the season, has 48.5 total tackles and 7 pass break ups. The Rattlers defense can allow teams to put up points, as witnessed by the Titans putting up 83 in a thrilling one-point loss. Petre is 11 of 26 of his field goal attempts with a long of 41 yards. Eleven of his field goal misses have come from 30 or more yards.
FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA
OTHER SEMIFINAL
June 22 - Nebraska Danger at Iowa Barnstormers; 5:05 p.m. pacific (7:05 central)
IFL PLAYOFF BRACKET
FINAL 2018 IFL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS
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