Billings Outlaws

UNITED BOWL PREVIEW

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 13:46:27 GMT

RIVERCITY RAGE (11-6) @ BILLINGS OUTLAWS (14-2)

Rimrock Auto Group Arena

Billings, MT

August 15, 2009

2:00 PM

In the first five months of its exsistence, their have been nearly 300 (276 to be exact) Indoor Football League games played around the country, but none of those will matter today when the champions of the United Conference, the River City Rage (11-6) ,come to town to face the Billings Outlaws (14-2) in The United Bowl.

While both squads started the season hot--the Rage won seven of their first eight games, while Billings cruised to a 12-1 record before losing their regular season finale to Omaha, 48-45--- River City staggered into the playoffs, losing five of their last six games.

Some reason for that can be attributed to a coaching change and the questionable descison to release quarterback Dixie Wooten, who through 14 games had thrown for 41 touchdown passes and averaged over 180 yards a game through the air.

The Rage then brought in journey-man, Ben Sankey. Sankey has played in the CFL, numerous indoor leagues, and even spent time on the Houston Texans practice roster.

The RiverCity gunslinger has thrown 13 touchdown passes and accumulated 474 passing yards in three postseason games.

He has had the benefit of one of the league’s top receiving trios in Luke McCardle, Hurtis Chinn, and Tyrone Timmons.

Defensively, the Rage are led by First Team All-IFL Linebacker, Joe Bevis. Bevis was the UIF's defensive player of the year last season and hasn't let up yet this year. He has recorded 16.5 tackles and 2.5 sacks, while also nabbing one interception and two fumble recoveries in three playoff games.

Offensively for the Outlaws, IFL MVP Chris Dixon leads the IFL with 75 touchdowns through the air, while completing 68 percent of his passes. Dixon also has plenty of targets to throw to in wideouts James Walton (40 TD's) and Robert Redd (17TD's), who have joined forces to haul in a combined 57 touchdowns. The two have combined for 125 catches while racking up 1,716 yards.

As for the Outlaws defense, pick your poison.

They have a defensive backfield who has propelled the Outlaws to a league-leading 35 interceptions. Linebacker Kelly Rouse leaves impressions of his number 53 jersey on every opposing quarterback, recording 13 tackles in just two playoff games, while forcing numerous errant throws. And the front three for the Outlaws has been solid all season, but has seen a slight drop off after the departure of IFL Defensive player of the Year, Michael Landry to the CFL.

Ryan's Prediction ----- The Rage keep it close early, but Dixon and Co. will be to much for Bevis to control...Outlaws 66, River City 30.

PLAYOFF STATISTICS

RiverCity Rage

PASSING:          G      Att      Cmp      Int      Pct.     Yds     TD     Avg/G

Ben Sankey      3       68        43        2         63.2   474      13       158.0

RUSHING:       G        Att      Yds        Avg       TD        Long      Yds/G

Randy Bell       3         33       154        4.7         3           29          51.3

RECEIVING:          G      Rec      Yds      Avg/C     TD       Long      Avg/G

Hurtis Chinn         3       12         73         6.1          2          16          24.3

Luke McCardle   3       10        210       21.0          2          45         70.0

Tyrone Timmons 2        9         105       11.7         5           31         52.5

                                             --TACKLES--              --SACKS--    --INT--

DEFENSE:          GP   Solo   Ast   Total   TFL/Yds   No-Yds      Int

T. Washington     3      11     15     18.5     6.0-32         2.0-20     0

Joe Bevis              3      11     10     16.0     2.5-7            0.5-3      1

Cornelius Brown 2      11      6      14.0     3.0-5            0-0           0

PLAYOFF STATISTICS

Billings Outlaws

PASSING:             G      Att      Cmp      Int      Pct.     Yds     TD     Avg/G

Chris Dixon        2       35        16         0        45.7    200      6        100.0

RUSHING:             G        Att      Yds        Avg       TD        Long      Avg/G

Charles Anthony 2         13       120         9.2         2           26          60.0

RECEIVING:         G        Rec      Yds      Avg/C     TD       Long      Avg/G

James Walton    2          7         111       15.9         2           45       55.5

Robert Redd        2          6          54         9.0          3           16          27.0

Eric McCain        2          2          36        18.0         1           32          18.0

                                          --TACKLES--                --SACKS--    --INT--

DEFENSE:         GP   Solo   Ast   Total   TFL/Yds   No-Yds      Int-Yds

Kelly Rouse       2      10       7       13.5        2.0-2          0-0         0

Kadafi Tunsil     2       7       6       10.0         0-0            0-0         2

Mike Bazemore 2       7        4        9.0        2.0-12       2.0-12     0

Landry signs with Hamilton

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 19:37:17 GMT

On July 13, Michael Landry was named the Indoor Football League's Defensive Player of the Year. Less than two weeks later, the dominating defensive end has been signed by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL.

Here is link to an interview with Landry following his tryout.

http://www.ticats.ca/video/index/id/7511

OUTLAWS PLAYOFF RALLY AT THE PERK

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:14:23 GMT

The Perk will be hosting an Outlaws Fan Rally today, beginning at noon and lasting until 5:00 p.m. at The Perk in preparation for the Billings Outlaws’ Intense Conference Championship game tonight against the El Paso Generals (13-2).

Admission for the rally is $5, but fans with a ticket for tonight’s game will be admitted free.

“We just want to get people to buy their tickets early for the game tonight, which they can do on their way out to the rally,” said Derek Bishop, who is organizing the event. “I think it will be a good time, and the first beer is free with a game ticket.”

Entertainment for the rally will include live music and the Lady Outlaw’s Dancers. The pep-rally will also include a full bar and concessions.

The Perk is located at 14007 Roundup Road. For information please call 248-4455.

More IFL Awards handed out

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:28:04 GMT

The Indoor Football League Office announced the members of the All-IFL First and Second teams on Wednesday afternoon. The group was highlighted by league MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Chris Dixon along with Offensive Rookie of the Year Darius Fudge of the Wichita Wild.

Billings and Wichita both had three members named to the All-IFL First Team and two named to the Second Team.

Other Outlaws to be honored were Michael Landry, James Walton - both joining Dixon as first-teamers -, while Mike Bazemore and Defensive Rookie of the Year Michael Eby were both named to the IFL's Second Team.

Here is the full list:

FIRST TEAM ALL-IFL

OFFENSE

QB-Chris Dixon/Billings Outlaws
RB-Darius Fudge/Wichta Wild
WR-James Walton/Billings Outlaws
WR-Deangelo Woodie/El Paso Generals
WR-Clinton Solomon/Wichita Wild
OL-Bruce McCaleb/Sioux Falls Storm
OL-Jermaine Pruitt/El Paso Generals
OL-Jordon Piccou/Sioux City Bandits

DEFENSE

DB-Joey Longoria/Abilene Ruff Riders
DB-Laroche Jackson/Bloomington Extreme
DB/LB-Brent Hafford/Omaha Beef
LB-Joe Bevis/RiverCity Rage
LB-Lamont Reid/Wichita Wild
DL-Ron Ellington/El Paso Generals
DL-Eddie Bynes/Rochester Raiders
DL-Michael Landry/Billings Outlaws

SPECIAL TEAMS

K-Peter Chrisofilakos/Bloomington Extreme
KR-Demarcus James/Alaska Wild

SECOND TEAM ALL-IFL

OFFENSE

QB-Tommy Jones/El Paso Generals
RB-Sean Treasure/Sioux Falls Storm
WR-Lonnie Sanders/Fairbanks Grizzlies
WR-Jimmy Conner/Odessa Roughnecks
WR-Rob Mager/Rochester Raiders
OL-Charlston Gray/Wichita Wild
OL-Tyree Spinner/Maryland Maniacs
OL-Kimani Jones/Omaha Beef

DEFENSE

DB-James Temple/Bloomington Extreme
DB-Mike Hill/Maryland Maniacs
DB/LB-Michael Eby/Billings Outlaws
LB-Kyle McKenzie/Saginaw Sting
LB-Spetlar Tonga/Omaha Beef
DL-Oby Arah/Maryland Maniacs
DL-Corey Johnsen/Sioux Falls Storm
DL-Mike Bazemore/Billings Outlaws

SPECIAL TEAMS

K-Scott Greene/Muskegon Thunder
KR-Randy Kelly/Wichita Wild

Outlaws dominate IFL awards

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:08:22 GMT

Although they came up short this past weekend in Omaha, the Billings Outlaws did receive good news on Monday.

Quarterback Chris Dixon, defensive back Michael Eby, and defensive lineman Michael Landry were named IFL award winners.

Dixon, who has thrown for 69 touchdowns and has ran for 12 more, was named the league's MVP for the second year in a row, and the Offensive Player of the Year for the 12-2 Outlaws.

Landry was named the leagues Defensive Player of the Year. Landry has recorded 12 sacks on a defense that is allowing less than 35 points a game.

And last, but definately not least, the Defensive Rookie of the Year went to Eby. Eby, who is playing at safety for the first time, leads the league with 10 interceptions.

For a list of all award winners go to http://www.goifl.com/

Unsetteled Storm

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:50:11 GMT

I will admit, when the IFL forced the Sioux Falls Storm to relenquish five wins, pay a large fine, and play the remainder of their games with one less player than their opponent for failing to comply with workers compensation rules, I felt a little sorry for them. Obviously they needed to be punished, but to me the punishment didn't fit the "crime."

Even with the penalties, Sioux Falls still had an opportunity to get in the playoffs, but three losses to the Outlaws -the Storm led late in the fourth quarter of two of those losses- ultimately doomed them and will keep them home the rest of the summer.

But those sentiments have officially gone out the window following the latest developments from the Storm front office. According to the Argus Leader (Sioux Falls daily newspaper), the Storm owe an undisclosed amount in back taxes, and if not paid by July 7th they will lose their business license.

Click here for the full story.

I do feel bad for the players and coaches and fans of the Storm, as their front office has betrayed them and cost them a shot at their fifth straight title.

Not only did they fail to pay workers comp on time, Storm President Collin Steen told a local TV station last Friday that the IFL was investigating a team ahead of (the Storm) in the standings, which may help them get into the playoffs, causing Storm fans and players to believe they were going to get a second chance.

The investigation, however, resulted in only a fine for both River City and Omaha after they failed to pay their league dues on time due to a "paperwork issue" and the teams appealing other fines levied earlier in the season.

For Outlaws fans, it is great to see the Storm's run end. However, it is a shame that their own front office took it away from them...

Omaha and River City fined $2,500 apiece

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:33:26 GMT

Two IFL teams, the Omaha Beef and River City Rage who are both owned by Jeff Sprowls, have been fined $2,500 apiece for failing to pay their league dues on time.

In a report issued just over an hour ago from Keloland TV in Sioux Falls, SD, Sprowls said he was notified last week that league dues for both teams were late. Sprowls said the reason for the late dues was beacause he was appealing fines levied earlier in the season and that their was some mixups with their bank paperwork.

The punishment was voted on in the leauge's weekly conference call Monday morning.

"They talked about putting us out of the playoffs, which basically, everybody said probably wasn't feasible to do," Sprowls said. "Then they decided to fine us $10,000 per team and that was voted down. Then somebody said $2,500 per team and that's what they voted in. There's no jeopardy of us being out of the playoffs, we are both in the playoffs."

The Outlaws travel to take on the Beef, the IFL's Central Division leader, in Billings' final regular season game on July 11th. While the River City Rage have wrapped up the third seed in the IFL's Atlantic Divison of the United Conference.

For the full report from http://www.keloland.com/, click right here.

Corpus Christi player banned

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:32:05 GMT

On Saturday, June 20th, the Corpus Christi Hammerheads played host to the Abilene Roughriders in a critical matchup for playoff positioning. However the game turned rather ugly as it saw five ejections and nearly a dozen personal foul penalties, while multiple scuffles broke out throughout the game.

It was early midway through the first quarter when Corpus Christi Hammerhead lineman, Eli Abraham was ejected following an upsortsmanlike conduct penalty. No big deal right? Players get ejected all the time, and that particular night it was part of the norm....

Not so fast, Abraham somehow made it back on the field (his home field remember), and punched an offical, knocking him to the ground and clearly dazing him. According to the Neuces County Record, Abraham tried returning to the field to ask why he'd been ejected, and struck the official with either an "open or closed fist"

According to Indoor Football League commissioner Tony Benizio, Abraham, who was arrested following the game under the name Elia Ibrahim, has been banned for life by the league.

"He will never play in this league again. The offical wording of his punishment is he has been suspended indefinately. That type of behavior is absolutely not tolerable, and will not be accepted," Benizio said on Monday.

Click here to watch the video from KIIITV and here to read the story from the Nueces County Record.

IFL conference call nothing out of the norm

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:24:52 GMT

Over the weekend, a Sioux Falls, SD abc affiliate reported that a couple teams above the Storm in the standings were "about to take a hit big enough" to help get the Storm in the playoffs.

Read the KSFY report here.

So, naturally, the IFL message boards blew up with what teams were in trouble and what they were in trouble for. Well, after Monday mornings conference call, it sounds like the report was a little overblown. I spoke with IFL commissioner Tommy Benizio monday afternoon, and he told me it was just another week in the IFL.

We have a weekly fine and compliance report that goes out every week, and here we are week 17 and there has yet to be a week where a team has been not fined. These fines have ranged from properly recording game film, and broadcasting games on the B2 networks to player infractions and uniform issues." - said Benizio

I also talked to Storm president Collin Steen, and he told me "nothing was resolved today" and we have been advised "not to talk about anything in the call."

So, as of now, it looks Omaha, Bloomington, and Witchita will be representing the IFL's Central Division in the playoffs.

Bazemore snubbed again

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:18:07 GMT

Another week of Indoor Football League action is in the books, and yet again, Billings Outlaws defensive end, Mike Bazemore has been snubbed again in the player of the week honors.

“I can’t believe it. All year he has been the best defensive player in the league along with (fellow Outlaw, Michael) Landry. He definitely deserved it this week,” said Outlaws quarterback Chris Dixon, Thursday afternoon at the SportsPlex. Dixon was named the offensive player of the week after his 6-TD performance against the Ice last weekend.

Bazemore, who ranks fifth in the IFL with 11sacks, recorded a sack, interception and blocked a field goal-that he returned himself for 21-yards and a touchdown-in just the first half alone last Saturday night as his Billings Outlaws throttled the Colorado Ice 83-30 and improved to 12-1.

Don’t get me wrong, the Billings Outlaws offense deserves all of the accolades and credit they are receiving this season, however the fact they are averaging nearly 65 points a game is overshadowing the league’s most dominant defense. And if you are Outlaws head coach, Heron O’Neal, maybe that’s not such a bad problem to have.

If anything, Bazemore should win the Defensive Player of the Year Award and probably should have been included as a finalist for the league M.V.P. But knowing Bazemore, I he am thinking he will be just as happy bringing home Billings’ second championship in just four years.