My Billings Gazette

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.

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.

 

 

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.

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.

As the regular season of the inaugural Indoor Football Season wraps up, the IFL announced on Friday that they have  signed a letter of intent to add a new franchise , that would be located in Wasilla, AK.f, or next season The addition of the Wasilla franchise would be the third in Alaska, joining the Fairbanks Grizzlies and Alaska Wild.

The team’s membership in the league will be up for vote by the leagues Directors upon completion and submission of their application.

The Wasilla team has already conducted their "Name the Team" contest and established their dance team. They will be known as the Arctic Predators, and will play their home games in theCurtis C. Manard II Arena which can accomadate over 2,500 fans for indoor football.

I have had the opportunity to visit the community, see the arena, and meet with the individuals involved in this process,” stated IFL Commissioner Tommy Benizio, “I am very confident that the Arctic Predators can enjoy a high level of success in the IFL and be a valuable member of this league.”

The Mat-Su Valley, with its population of over 86,000 people, is located approximately 40 miles north of Anchorage and about 300 miles south of Fairbanks.

Additional expansion announcements are expected over the coming weeks and months.

For the entire release please click here. Thanks to www. keloland.com

IFL PLAYOFF PICTURE SHAPING UP

 

The inaugural season of the Indoor Football League is entering the final month of its regular season, and nine of the 12 playoff spots have been decided with just two games left to play for the majority of the teams in the hunt.

 

Here is division-by-division look at the possible secnarios:

 

 

 

United Conference

Central Division

Clinched: Omaha (8-3) and Bloomington (9-4).

These two squads are in a virtual tie for first place and battling for the first round bye.  The Beef’s remaining schedule against San Angelo (3-7), Sioux City (3-8) and Billings (11-1) puts them in drivers seat to win the Central Division title, needing to win just two of those games. Bloomington’s lone remaining game is against arguably the leagues hottest team, Maryland, who is 10-2 and winners of nine consecutive games.

 

Still Alive: Wichita (6-6) Sioux Falls (4-8).

As has been well noted throughout the last week, if the playoffs started today the Sioux Falls Storm would be on the outside looking in with their official record sitting at 4-8 (of course we all know they are actually 9-3 but with the penalties handed down….) which is two games behind the Wichita Wild. The Storm need to win their final two games, which are at home against Fairbanks (5-6) and Sioux City (3-8), while hoping Wichita loses their final two games-also at home- against River City (8-4) and Alaska (0-10).

 

Eliminated: Sioux City (3-8).

 

Atlantic Division

Clinched: Maryland (10-2), River City (8-4) and Rochester (6-4).

Maryland closes out the season on the road, needing to win just one of their two remaining games (Bloomington and Rochester) or have River City lose to either Wichita or El Paso to clinch the division and first round bye. The best Rochester can finish is second provided they win out, but that is unlikely with their four remaining games being at home against the Alaska Wild (0-10), Maryland and Muskegon, while traveling to Texas to take on El Paso, who leads the Lonestar Division.

 

Eliminated: Saginaw (3-10) and Muskegon (1-11).

 

INTENSE CONFERENCE

Lonestar Division

Clinched: El Paso (8-2).

Still Alive: Abilene (6-4), Corpus Christi (5-6) and San Angelo Stampede Express (3-7)

Abilene can still win the division if they win the final four games, and help from El Paso. El Paso Clinches the division with an Abilene loss and a win in any of their final four games, three of which are against teams that have already clinched postseason births. Corpus Christi clinches a playoff berth with wins in two of their final three games. While San Angelo hasn’t been officially eliminated, they need to win all four of their remaining games and will like need help from tie-breakers.

 

Pacific Division

Clinched: Billings (11-1), Fairbanks (5-6), Colorado (5-7).

Billings has clinched the division and can clinch home-field advantage throughout the entire postseason with wins in their final two games, against rivals Colorado and Omaha-which handed the Outlaws their lone loss of the year. Colorado closes out the season at Billings and at El Paso, while Fairbanks battles Alaska twice and Sioux Falls. Fairbanks should win two of three to lock up the second seed in the Pacific and a home playoff game.

 

Eliminated: Alaska (0-10).

Although there is no post season in sight for the Wild, they can play spoiler for many teams down the stretch. All four of their remaining games are against teams either fighting for a playoff spot or looking to improve their seed.

 

With that all that being said, here is a look at the IFL first round if the season ended today.

 

BYES: Billings, El Paso, Maryland, Omaha (I believe Omaha has the tiebreaker over Bloomington).

 

Colorado @ Fairbanks

(winner plays at Billings)

Corpus Christi @ Abilene               (Winner plays at El Paso)

Wichita @ Bloomington                  (Winner plays at Omaha)

Rochester @ River City                   (Winner plays at Maryland)

By The Gazette Staff

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Give the game ball to the defense.

The Billings Outlaws rode the backs of their stingy defense, and Chris Dixon and Co. made just enough plays as the Billings Outlaws got a monumental victory Saturday night in Sioux Falls, S.D., knocking off the Storm for the third time this season, 34-22.

"They never get talked about, but tonight, if it wasn't for the defense, I don't think we could have pulled this one out," said Outlaws head coach Heron O'Neal. "Tonight we had the intestinal fortitude to win it."

It was the Outlaws' first win in Sioux Falls since June 12, 2004. "It wasn't easy, but it definitely feels good," O'Neal said. "They haven't lost here since '05. I am real proud of our guys."

The Outlaws improved to 11-1 on the season and in doing so, snapped the Storms' 35-game home winning streak. The last team to defeat the Storm at home was the Omaha Beef, 49-44 on July 2, 2005. The Beef, ironically, are the only team to beat the Outlaws this season.

"Tonight's win speaks volumes of our coaching staff," O'Neal said. "I vowed to myself last year I was going to do what it took to get our team over the hump. As far as professional sports go, the run that Sioux Falls had hasn't been matched."

Following a sluggish start that saw both defenses pitch a first-quarter shut out, the Storm struck on the opening play of the second quarter on a 7-yard run by running back Sean Treasure.

"They made a lot of adjustments from last week and it took us about a quarter to figure out what they were doing", said O'Neal. "The second half was much better for our offense."

The Outlaws defense held the IFL's leading rusher to only 20 yards on 9 attempts, 40 yards below his season average.

Although Outlaws quarterback Chris Dixon did add to his Indoor Football League-leading TD pass total (60), Saturday night belonged to the defense.

The Outlaws defense allowed just 160 total yards, while limiting the Storm to a season-low 22 points. Billings forced one turnover and blocked two first half extra-point attempts.

Defensive back Javon Jackson led the charge, recording 6 1/2 tackles and coming up with a the crucial fourth quarter interception, as the Outlaws held on to a two-point lead, 17-15.

"His play was huge", said O'Neal. "We needed that, and (Jackson) made a great play."

"I saw two guys going deep and Coach (O'Neal) made a great call, I saw he (Bryant) wasn't looking my way so I cheated a little bit and was able to make a play", said Jackson.

Dixon, who completed 24 of 28 passes a week ago against the Storm, was held in check for most of the night. He finished the game completing just 10 of 21 passes for 170 yards and also ran for a score.

James Walton got the Outlaws on the board early in the second quarter, hauling in the first of his two first-half scores. As Dixon rolled to his right, he found a wide open Walton down the right sideline for a 32-yard score to put the Outlaws up 7-6.

Trailing, 17-9 at halftime, the Storm got back into the game on their first possession of the second half with a 12-play, 45-yard drive that consumed nearly eight minutes and was capped by quarterback Terrance Bryant's 1-yard run.

After regaining the lead with 9:45 remaining in the final quarter, the Storm special teams unit allowed Tim Brown to set the Outlaws up in good field position following a 24-yard kick return.

From there, Dixon led the Outlaws downfield in just six plays and capped the drive himself, scoring from one yard out on fourth and goal, putting the Outlaws on top for good 27-22 with under seven minutes left.

With 1:26 remaining, on third and seven from the 22 yard line, Dixon scrambled to his left and under threw Robert Redd, who fell to the turf while making the catch but was able to get in the end zone, sealing the victory.

Redd led the Outlaws with five catches for 90 yards, while Charles Anthony led the running attack with 19 yards on 8 carries.

Bryant finished 21-of-32 for 131 yards and three touchdowns.

The Outlaws return to Rimrock Auto Arena next Saturday for a their final regular-season home game, a Pacific Division matchup against the rival Colorado Ice. Kickoff is set for 7:05.

NOTES: Outlaws kicker Nate Parseghian continued his streak of made PATs, improving to 31 for 31 as an Outlaw...Parseghian also booted a 50-yard field goal late in the second quarter... The Storm, who fall to 4-8 on the season, trail the Wichita Wild by two games for the third and final playoff spot in the IFL's United Conference Central Divison...Wichita defeated Omaha 39-37 Saturday night. 

The Billings Outlaws have signed defensive back Trice Crump in time for tonights road game with the Sioux Falls Storm, the third meeting between the teams this season and second in as many weeks.

Crump started the season in Sioux City, recording six tackles before being released on April 10. Prior to that he spent five seasons with the Storm, ranking second on last years championship team last season with 66 tackles and three interceptions.

Tonights game begins at 6 PM MST and is broadcast live on 105.9 FM. Also I will be updating the blog with scores periodically from the newsroom so stay logged in to mybillingsgazette.com

John Dutton, former starting quarterback for the Colorado Crush of the AFL, has signed with the River City Rage.

The Rage are currently in second place, behind the Maryland Maniacs (9-2), in the United Conference's Atlantic Divison with an 8-3 record.

Dutton is expected to play this weekend in the IFL's game of the week featuring the Rage and Bloomington Extreme (8-4).

Dutton, who appeared on the cover of EA sports Arena Football video game, is the only quarterback in AFL history to lead two different teams to championships (San Jose, 2002 and Colorado 2005).

 

The Billings Outlaws didn't need any motivation for this Saturday nights marquee matchup against the rival Sioux Falls Storm (4-6), however Storm head coach Kurtiss Riggs has provided the Outlaws with  that motivation.

In Wednesdays Argus Leader, the Sioux Falls daily newspaper, Riggs told the paper When askedQ:  Are you proud of the way they've handled this situation? (CLICK HERE FOR ENTIRE CONVERSATION FROM THE ARGUS LEADER)

I have two issues with this answer: 1)Maybe Riggs should take a page out his players playbook and accept the fact his orginization screwed up and that they have been dealt this hand. While "admitting" your front office screwed up, all we have heard is "the league is out to get us" and "the IFL has been a very dissapointing league". 2) The Outlaws celebrating as they did...you just beat the four-time defending champions on your home-field by one AFTER trailing by two scores with less than five minutes left!

The Storm are facing adversity for the first time in four years, and are showing that they don't know how to handle it. And Saturday night they will be facing elimination and missing out on the playoffs.