Post by Monika on Nov 17, 2020 21:15:40 GMT -8
Overview
The following is the 2021 schedule for the Duke City Gladiators. This updated schedule replaces the previous schedule which was released in the middle of November, 2020. The updates are basically a postponement of the season due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine roll out in regards to the virus.
This season will be the 13th of the Indoor Football League. Several significant and profound adjustments have taken place over the off-season as the 2020 season was postponed, and eventually cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Just two games were played during prior to the postponement. In those two games, the San Diego Strike Force defeated the Bismarck Bucks, 50-36. In the other match up, the Quad City Steamwheelers downed the Cedar Rapids River Kings 54-39.
The cancellation of the season led not only the speculation of the 2021 season, but how the league slate would look. It turned out to be a tremendous expansion era, though there were some setbacks. Three teams came in, but one folded. That leaves the league at 12 teams; up from the 10 teams which competed in 2019. There are new teams in Arizona, Massachusetts and Kentucky. The season also will feature the debuts of the Gladiators, Frisco Fighters and Spokane Shock. All three teams were set for the 2020 season, but did not play a game due to the cancellation. Four teams which were set to play opted out due to concerns and state regulations due to the pandemic. Each team and its arena will determine whether fans will be permitted in the arenas, and how many. Those in attendance will be required to undergo strict protocols prior to entering the arenas.
The base schedule has each team playing 14 games over 15 weeks, with each having a bye. Additionally, the Bismarck Bucks, Green Bay Blizzard, Louisville Xtreme and Massachusetts Pirates have opted to play an additional two games each. The extra games will count against those teams' standings. All teams will have equal games at home versus on the road regardless of the total number of games they play.
The Gladiators were set to begin their first IFL season prior to the pandemic derailing the season. They became a mainstay in Champions Indoor Football's playoff picture prior to that, claiming the CIF title in 2017 and 2018. They boast a CIF record of 43-22 in the regular season and 5-1 in the playoffs. Upon their move to the IFL, the Gladiators had hired former Nebraska Danger head coach Pig Brown, but he was dismissed upon cancellation of last season. The team's head coach is Martino Theus.
Duke City has a very travel-friendly schedule. Aside from a trip to Des Moines to face the Iowa Barnstormers in their season opener on May 22, they do not travel further than adjacent states for the rest of the season and, of course, their seven games at home. The schedule features a pair of two-game road trips and a three-game home stand. The Gladiators close out their season on August 21 at home against the Bucks. Their bye comes in week 1.
Click for the entire IFL 2021 Schedule.
All games will be broadcast locally on the radio and will be available for streaming through those stations. Each IFL game will be broadcast live on the league's official YouTube Channel. SCtoC will provide previews each game, as well as recaps of each IFL game upon its conclusion. In the schedule below. Home games are noted in bold black. Times and dates are subject to change. All times are pacific. Where applicable, click on the final score for the boxscore and recap for SCtoC's original recap of the game.
Overview prepared by @Nevadanut
Schedule
APRIL
Week 1 -- BYE
Week 2 -- BYE
MAY
Week 3 -- BYE
Week 4 -- BYE
Week 5 -- Sat., May 22 - at Iowa Barnstormers (W 63-55 - OT) - Recap
Week 6 -- Sun., May 30 - Tucson Sugar Skulls (L 35-55) - Recap
JUNE
Week 7 -- Sat., June 5 - at Frisco Fighters (L 57-58) - Recap
Week 8 -- Sat., June 12 - at Northern Arizona Wranglers (W 34-17) - Recap
Week 9 -- Sat., June 19 -Arizona Rattlers (L 36-51) - Recap
Week 10 -- Sat., June 26 - Frisco Fighters (L 48-53)
JULY
Week 11 -- Sat July 3 - Northern Arizona Wranglers (W 52-38) - Recap
Week 12 -- Sat., July 10 - at Tucson Sugar Skulls (L 40-41) - Recap
Week 13 -- Sat., July 17 - at Northern Arizona Wranglers (W 71-54) - Recap
Week 14 -- Sat., July 24 - Spokane Shock (W 68-61)
Week 15 -- Sat., July 31 - at Arizona Rattlers (L 48-60)
AUGUST
Week 16 -- Sun., August 8 - Northern Arizona Wranglers (W 71-11) - Recap
Week 17 -- Sat., August 14 - at Tucson Sugar Skulls (L 59-63) - Recap
Week 18 -- Sat., August 21 - Bismarck Bucks (W 57-45) - Recap
PLAYOFFS
AUGUST
First Round-- Sat., August 28 - at Iowa Barnstormers (W 34-33) - Recap
SEPTEMBER
Semifinal -- Sun., September 5 - at Arizona Rattlers (L 55-58) - Recap
IFL Team Venues
Arizona Rattlers - Footprint Center; Phoenix, Arizona
Bismarck Bucks - Bismarck Event Center; Bismarck, North Dakota
Duke City Gladiators - Rio Rancho Events Center; Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Frisco Fighters - Comerica Center; Frisco, Texas
Green Bay Blizzard - Resch Center; Green Bay, Wisconsin
Iowa Barnstormers- Wells Fargo Arena; Des Moines, Iowa
Louisville Xtreme - KFC Yum! Center; Louisville, Kentucky
Massachusetts Pirates - DCU Center; Worcester, Massachusetts
Northern Arizona Wranglers - Findlay Toyota Center; Prescott Valley, Arizona
Sioux Falls Storm - Denny Sanford Premier Center; Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Spokane Shock - Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena; Spokane, Washington
Tucson Sugar Skulls - Tucson Convention Center; Tucson, Arizona
IFL Geographical Team Map
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