Post by DiamondThief on Aug 7, 2022 14:07:22 GMT -8
This is the fourth season we have presented these awards and we do so to honor the top players, head coach and game of the year in the Indoor Football league. Several nominees are considered and we aim to bring what we feel are the at the top in the respective categories.
Last year, we expanded the Golden Helmet Awards. We present an award to the Most Valuable Player which is symbolic of what a player meant to his team and its season. Our former Offensive Player of the Year Award evolved as well. Given that indoor football is a quarterback-centered league, we have decided to split this honor into two forms; Quarterback of the Year and Offensive Specialist of the Year.
Individual performances were abound all season long and in several games in particular. As we put together our 2022 Golden Helmet Awards, five members of the Sports Coast to Coast (SCtoC) staff and one of our members voted in nine categories to determine the top performers of the season. Each category consisted of five finalists. In the event of a tie (we had one), the tiebreaker came down to the votes of the three lead SCtoC staff who cover the IFL to determine a single honoree. Several nominees had noteworthy seasons and moments and should be honored for those. We have attempted to encapsulate both the individual performances and how they came to be honored here on our pages.
Click for our 2022 IFL National Championship Game Preview.
So, without further ado, the following are the Sports Coast to Coast 2022 Golden Helmet Awards.
Most Valuable Player
(Photo courtesy goifl.com)
DREW POWELL, QB, ARIZONA RATTLERS
Powell completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,271 yards, 45 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. He also rushed for 697 yards and 23 touchdowns. Powell led the Rattlers to the top record in the Western Conference (second overall) and to the playoffs where they defeated the Duke City Gladiators in the first round before falling to the Northern Arizona Wranglers in the conference championship. He also earned this award in 2018 after leading the Iowa Barnstormers to the United Bowl title.
Quarterback of the Year
(Photo courtesy goifl.com)
RAMONE ATKINS, QB, DUKE CITY GLADIATORS
Atkins, who had never previously played indoor/arena football, was brought in four games into the season to replace Nate Davis after the latter went down to injury. Atkins led the Gladiators' high-octane passing attack with his 58.5 percent completion rate, 2,169 yards, a league-leading 50 touchdowns and 10 picks. He added 311 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. The Gladiators claimed the fourth seed of the playoffs, but were treated to a conference semifinals loss at the hands of the Arizona Rattlers.
Offensive Specialist of the Year
(Photo courtesy Frisco Fighters)
JUSTIN RANKIN, RB, FRISCO FIGHTERS
Rankin was a stalwart in the backfield for the Fighters. His steady and reliable ability to gain yards on the ground enabled the team to have a truly two-dimensional offense. His efforts helped Frisco earn the league's best record and the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Rankin tallied 153 carries for 713 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and 24 scores. He also had 190 receiving yards with four touchdowns. The Fighters' season came to an end with a loss to the Quad City Steamwheelers in the conference finals.
Defensive Player of the Year
(Photo courtesy Green Bay Blizzard)
JAMES BROWN, LB, GREEN BAY BLIZZARD
The Blizzard had a disappointing 2022 season, but that's not to discount the efforts of Brown. He led all tacklers with 96 takedowns, and added four sacks, two interceptions, 14.5 tackles for loss and five pass break ups. Despite their 6-10 record, the Blizzard fielded one of the best defenses in the IFL, allowing a third-lowest 34.9 points per game. When watching their games, Brown was seemingly all over the field; a comment mentioned by announcers in several game broadcasts.
Special Teams Player of the Year
(Photo courtesy Sioux Falls Storm)
SAWYER PETRE, K, SIOUX FALLS STORM
With so many deserving players to consider, our voters selected Petre with a 4-2 margin over returner Benjamin Jones of the Tucson Sugar Skulls. This is his second straight year winning this honor, as he won it last year while kicking for the Spokane Shock. He kicked 75 extra points and went 21 of 39 on his field goal tries with a long of 48 yards. He also kicked multiple deuces. Petre's 143 points was the best among kickers in the IFL. Despite his efforts, the Storm narrowly missed the playoffs this season.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
(Photo by Blushing Cactus Photography)
KALEB BARKER, QB, NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS
Ramone Atkins and Darius-James Peterson were strong contenders in this category, but Barker's success was directly tied to his team's success. He completed 56 percent of his throws for 1,908 yards, 38 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also rushed for 676 yards and 14 scores. He led three game-winning drives, including one in the Western Conference Championship Game. Just a rookie on a completely revamped team and aided by a strong defense, he led the Wranglers to this year's IFL National Championship Game.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
(Photo by Nikos Frazier/qconline.com)
NATHAN SHEETS, LB, QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS
Sheets, a native to the Quad Cities, was just 19 years old when his mother prompted him to attend an open tryout earlier this year (no, that number is not a typo). He earned a spot on the team and showed up week in and week out. Clearly a fan favorite, Sheets was spectacular for a defense which helped earn the Steamwheelers a playoff spot and a IFL National Championship Game berth. He finished the season with 95.5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, 10 tackles for loss and pass break ups.
Game of the Year
(Photo Kelly Presnell/Arizona Daily Star)
APRIL 8 - STRIKE FORCE SCORE 30 IN 4TH QUARTER TO DROP SUGAR SKULLS
Though this game did not end up having much in regard to playoff implications, this game was a thriller. All five candidates in this category received at least one vote. In this early season match up, the San Diego Strike Force made a 37-26 run in the second half, including a 30-13 advantage in the final quarter. Down 66-53 with just under six minutes left, Travon Van scored on a four-yard run, and Steve Cluley's eight-yard touchdown to Rashad Ross, coupled with Tanner Kuljian's point after, gave the Strike Force their first-ever win over the Tucson Sugar Skulls. Boxscore.
Head Coach of the Year
(Photo by Blushing Cactus Photography)
LES MOSS, NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS
Whatever you say about the Wranglers turnaround this year, at the heart of it is Moss. After going 1-13 in their inaugural 2021 season, ownership brought in Moss and the result was a complete overhaul. The only returnee on the roster was kicker Brandon Fischer. Moss and his coaching staff put together the IFL's top defensive squad in the league which allowed just 30.4 points per game. The offense was innovative and found consistency, averaging 42 points per game. In just his second year in the IFL, the veteran arena coach has taken his team to the IFL National Championship Game. This was the only unanimous decision amongst voters.
We at SCtoC would like to extend our congratulations to all of our 2022 Golden Helmet Award honorees. We also would like to thank all the players, coaches, and individual team and league staffs for what turned out to be an exceptional and exciting IFL season. Our 2022 IFL Schedule has all the scores from around the league this season, as well as links to the boxscores of all the league's games. Also, on the same page, find our original recaps of the majority of games this season.
Click for our 2021 IFL Golden Helmet Awards.
Click for our 2019 IFL Golden Helmet Awards.
Click for our 2018 IFL Golden Helmet Awards.
- ANM
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