Inside Arena Football 57

Week Five has concluded, meaning the 2024 IFL regular season has officially entered the second quarter of play. Five teams remain undefeated, while five teams search for their first win of the season.

To kick off Week Five action on Friday night, the Iowa Barnstormers took a trip to the Tsongas Center to face-off against the Massachusetts Pirates. After a contentious first quarter, the Pirates took control of the game, winning their fourth-straight matchup of the season.

The Massachusetts Pirates’ offense looked different in Week Five, as Alejandro Bennifield wasn’t the team’s primary source of offense. Running back Jimmie Robinson got the night off, giving backfield duties to Tavion Thomas in Week Five. Thomas, 6-foot-1 and 237-pounds, bruised his way through Iowa’s defense, carrying the ball 19 times for 117 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Alejandro Bennifield had an uncharacteristically quiet night, completing 6/8 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Connor Degenhardt came into the game as quarterback, ending the night 3/5 with 21 yards and his first-career IFL touchdown pass. Degenhardt connected with Dallas Daniels for the touchdown, which was also Dallas’ first-career IFL touchdown reception. The Pirates found a new way to win, relying on Tavion Thomas’ power-run game to get the victory at home against Iowa.

In search of their first win of the 2024 season, the Iowa Barnstormers didn’t come out the gates hot offensively. Quian Williams returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the first quarter, but it wasn’t until Rob Washington rushed for a two-yard touchdown in the third quarter that Iowa scored their first offensive touchdown of the night. The Barnstormers offense featured two quarterbacks, starting with Darius-James Peterson, and finishing with Kyle King. The Pirates bottled up Peterson, as he completed 5/11 passes for 40 yards and an interception, adding 35 yards on the ground. King went 3/4 for 47 yards and a touchdown, while also scoring on the ground.

Behind running back Tavion Thomas, the Massachusetts Pirates extend their winning streak to four games, as they stand alone as the only 4-0 team in the league. The Barnstormers, however, drop to 0-3 on the season after the Pirates win 54-29.

Wrapping up Friday night’s action, the San Antonio Gunslingers hit the road to take on the Vegas Knight Hawks. San Antonio entered the week looking for their first-ever IFL victory, however, that goal remains unclaimed. The Knight Hawks extend their win-streak to three games after a high-scoring Friday night victory.

For Vegas, quarterback Ja’Rome Johnson continues to perform at a high level, completing 11/13 passes for 160 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson also rushed eight times for 57 yards and three more scores. Through five weeks of action, Ja’Rome Johnson has performed like one of the best quarterbacks in the league. In three games, Johnson has completed 29/47 passes for 422 yards and nine touchdowns, all without throwing an interception. On top of being one of the league’s best passers, Ja’Rome Johnson is also one of the league’s top rushers, totaling 219 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Following another strong performance from Ja’Rome Johnson, the Vegas Knight Hawks take the Week Five victory in their highest-scoring game of the season.

The San Antonio Gunslingers entered this week winless, and although they kept up for most of the game, they still search for their first-ever IFL win. Offensively, Sam Castronova continues to play like an IFL-veteran, finishing the night 27/37 for 265 yards and four touchdowns, adding 25 yards and another touchdown on the ground. On the defensive side of the ball, however, San Antonio continues to get beaten. Through three games, the Gunslingers lead the league in touchdowns allowed (26), while trailing only the Arizona Rattlers in yards allowed per game (800). San Antonio’s strong offensive performance is overshadowed, once again, by a lenient defense.

The Vegas Knight Hawks remain undefeated, beating the San Antonio Gunslingers on the road 66-44.

In Saturday’s one and only matchup, the Quad City Steamwheelers took on the Frisco Fighters, as the Fighters came into this game following a Week Four bye. Frisco took the lead early, and they never gave it up, as the Fighters head into Week Six undefeated.

T.J. Edwards and the Frisco Fighters offense had another strong performance, as Edwards threw for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 80% completions. On the ground, Edwards

added an additional 70 yards and four touchdowns. Along with Edwards’ dominant performance, Frisco got a helpful boost from their Swiss Army Knife, Lionell McConnell. Against Quad City, McConnell accounted for four-and-a-half tackles, an interception, and a kick return touchdown. The Frisco Fighters are on a roll, and no one has been able to stop them yet.

For the Steamwheelers, Judd Erickson and Mike Irwin split quarterback duties, giving the Frisco Fighters a new look on drives throughout the game. Erickson was 8/16 with 111 yards and two touchdowns, while Irwin completed 8/12 passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Edward Vander was another key contributor for Quad City, finding the end zone three times— including a one-handed touchdown catch late in the first half. However, the Steamwheelers defense allowed a touchdown on each of Frisco’s nine offensive drives, outside of one that resulted in a field goal.

The Frisco Fighters won convincingly at home in Week Five, defeating the Quad City Steamwheelers 54-37.

In Sunday’s first matchup, the Tulsa Oilers faced off against the Sioux Falls Storm in a game that featured thirteen touchdowns between both teams.

Prior to Week Five’s performance, the Oilers offense had yet to score more than 40 points in a game. This week, however, the Oilers offense had their break-out performance. Quarterback Daniel Smith completed 18/26 passes for 169 yards and five touchdowns, while adding another score on the ground. Of Smith’s five passing touchdowns, Alexis Rosario hauled in four of them, catching eight passes for 77 yards against Sioux Falls.

Sioux Falls entered the week searching for their first win of the season. The Storm trailed by three points after the first quarter but by the end of the second half the Oilers held a 32-14 lead and that lead would remain for most of the game. The Storm didn’t have answers for the Oilers offense, allowing a score on all 10 drives— excluding the final drive of the game. Offensively, Billy Hall showcased his dual-threat abilities, completing 9/14 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 58 yards and another touchdown. The Storm found most of their success in this game on the ground, featuring three players other than Billy Hall with a rushing touchdown: KeShawn Williams, Draysean Hudson, and Xavier Jackson (2). With the Oilers having a score on each drive, the Storm needed to follow-suit for the victory, however, their three empty possessions were crucial in Week Five.

The Tulsa Oilers find their groove offensively in Week Five, defeating the Sioux Falls Storm 56-40.

In the second-highest scoring game of the week, the San Diego Strike Force traveled east to take on the Arizona Rattlers at the Desert Diamond Arena. It was a back-and-forth battle, but the Strike Force finished out on top.

The Strike Force offense continues to be one of the best at finding the end zone, as San Diego is tied for the second-most touchdowns scored thus far through the season (21). Quarterback Nate Davis left the game after the first quarter, as Rudy Johnson played the remainder of the game as the Strike Force signal-caller. Johnson completed 4/7 passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns, while adding a score on the ground. The  Strike Force offense fed off running back Chance Bell, as Bell rushed for 73 yards and three touchdowns, averaging more than 10 yards per carry. San Diego’s defense continued to shine, forcing two turnovers from Dexter Reese and Justic’e King, as King’s goal-line interception would end up bring the game-sealing turnover for the Strike Force.
Opposite of San Diego’s offense, the Arizona Rattlers relied heavily on the passing game as quarterback Lorenzo Brown Jr. completed 20/38 passes for 198 yards and four touchdowns. Three of Brown’s touchdown passes were hauled in by Glen Gibbons Jr., extending his total to a league-best 10 receiving touchdowns. The Rattlers drop to 1-3 on the season, though their offense remains the highest scoring in the league. Critical mistakes and a porous defense leave the Rattlers searching for a way to get back on track after a Week One victory.

San Diego head into next week undefeated following a victory against the Arizona Rattlers 55-45 in Week Five.

To wrap up Week Five, the Tucson Sugar Skulls took on the Bay Area Panthers in a game that got away from Tucson in the second half.

The Bay Area Panthers offense started this game in uncharacteristic fashion, scoring on only two drives in the first 30 minutes. Starting the second half, the Panthers made a switch, bringing in backup quarterback Felix Harper to command the Bay Area offense. Harper led the Panthers offense to 30 second-half points, completing 8/11 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown pass, while also rushing for three touchdowns. Defensively, the Panthers showcased a strong ability to rush the quarterback, combining for four sacks on the night, along with an interception from Tyrone Cromwell III in the fourth quarter.

In Week Five, Mylik Mitchell and the Tucson Sugar Skulls offense struggled out the gate, only scoring one touchdown in the first half.  Mylik Mitchell ended the night 10/21 for 117 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding a touchdown on the ground. Defensively, the Sugar Skulls didn’t have answers for Felix Harper and the Panthers, allowing touchdowns on four of five second-half drives. Tucson made an effort late in the game to come-back, however, there wasn’t enough time for the Sugar Skulls to bring home the victory in Week Five.

Felix Harper and the Bay Area Panthers clicked in the second half, defeating the Tucson Sugar Skulls 44-31.

Week Six of the IFL season has arrived and it features the first full slate of the year.  All 16 teams facing off in eight matchups over three days. Five teams enter the week undefeated, while five teams look for their first win.

In the first game of the week happens tonight, a unique Thursday night matchup that has the Tucson Sugar Skulls traveling to the Freeman Coliseum to take on the San Antonio Gunslingers. Tucson enters Week Six following a loss to one of the league’s top teams in Bay Area, while the Gunslingers come into this week in-search of that elusive first win in the IFL.

After a home game last week, the Sugar Skulls hit the road again in Week Six. Quarterback Mylik Mitchell had a slightly less characteristic performance last week against Bay Area, as the Panthers remain one of the league’s stingiest defenses at allowing points. This week, however, Mitchell and the Tucson offense face-off against a defense that allows the most touchdowns and second-most yards in the league.

On the opposing side, the San Antonio Gunslingers are hungry for victory. They’ve begun their season 0-3, however, their offense averages the second-most points per game in the league. Sam Castronova, with one less game played, is tied with Alejandro Bennifield for most touchdown passes in the league with 13, while also ranking top five in the league in rushing touchdowns. Their defense is another story. Through three games, the Gunslingers have allowed a league-leading 65 points per game, while conceding a league-worst 7.5 yards per play to opposing offenses. While offense has come easy for San Antonio, their defense needs to find answers.

On Friday night, the Sioux Falls Storm take on the Green Bay Blizzard at the Resch Center, as these teams prepare to play each other twice in three weeks. Sioux Falls visits Green Bay this week, then in Week Eight, the Blizzard travel to Sioux Falls.

Sioux Falls enters Week Six winless. Quarterback Billy Hall remains one of the league’s best rushing quarterbacks, ranking top five among quarterbacks in rushing yards and touchdowns. If the Blizzard defense can bottle up Hall, the Storm will need to find other ways to move the ball down the field to come away with a victory in Week Six.

Since their loss in Week One to Arizona, the Green Bay Blizzard have won two-straight. The Blizzard play a strong defensive game, ranking best in the league at holding the opposition out of the end zone. In three games, they’ve only allowed 92 points, averaging a league leading 30.7 points per game.

In one of Saturday’s six matchups, the Vegas Knight Hawks face-off against the Jacksonville Sharks, as Jacksonville searches for their first win as a member of the IFL. These two teams met in Week Three, with Vegas winning the matchup 39-33. Jacksonville has home-field advantage, as they look for a different result this time around.

The Vegas Knight Hawks come into this week after their best performance of the season, scoring 66 points at home against San Antonio. Quarterback Ja’Rome Johnson was nearly perfect, completing 11/13 passes for 160 yards and four touchdowns, adding an additional 57 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Of the Knight Hawks’ 271 yards, Johnson accounted for 217 of them. This week’s opponent, however, presents a tougher challenge for Johnson and the Vegas offense. Jacksonville has shown to be one of the league’s more stout defensive units, allowing 37.7 points per game. Countering that, however, Vegas enters Week Six averaging the most yards per game in the league.

Looking for their first IFL-win, the Jacksonville Sharks offense has struggled through three games. Whether it be Connor Blount or Eddie Brill Jr. under center in Week Six, Jacksonville’s quarterback could be under duress, as the Knight Hawks defense has seven sacks through three games this season. On top of a disruptive pass rush, the Vegas defense averages one interception per game, making it difficult for opposing quarterbacks to execute their game plan.

Coming into this week as the only 4-0 team in the league, the Massachusetts Pirates look to extend their winning streak, as they take on the Quad City Steamwheelers in an Eastern Conference battle. The Steamwheelers, however, have the chance of ending Massachusetts’ streak in front of a home crowd on Saturday night.

In their fourth-straight win, the Pirates offense looked different than it had weeks before, as Tavion Thomas took over in the backfield. Along with running back changes last week, Alejandro Bennifield shared quarterback duties with Connor Degenhardt. The two quarterbacks threw a combined 9/13 for 93 yards and two touchdowns. The Pirates offense has scored the most touchdowns on the year, making them a difficult unit to defend against.

Last week, the Steamwheelers experimented at quarterback, giving both Judd Erickson and Mike Irwin drives to lead the offense into the end zone. Both quarterbacks had similar nights passing the ball. Erickson completed 8/16 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns, while Irwin was 8/12 with 84 yards and two touchdowns. The one main difference between Erickson and Irwin last week was Erickson’s lone interception on the night. To beat the red-hot Massachusetts Pirates, a lack of turnovers will be crucial. Eugene Ford comes into Week Six having three of the Pirates’ five interceptions, making him a threat to all opposing quarterbacks. Running back Edward Vander will also be a player to watch, as he ranks third in rushing touchdowns among running backs with four scores. If Quad City wants to win, their offense needs to come out the gate strong against a powerful Massachusetts defense.

Continuing the Saturday night action, the Arizona Rattlers take on the Iowa Barnstormers. The Barnstormers come into Week Six looking for their first win, while the Rattlers look to break a three-game losing streak following a Week One victory.

The Arizona Rattlers might carry a 1-3 record, but they still have the highest scoring offense in the IFL. Through their four games played, they’ve scored 180 points. Since becoming the Rattlers quarterback three games ago, Lorenzo Brown Jr. has become one of the league’s best passers, completing 44/72 passes for 479 yards and nine touchdowns. Alongside Lorenzo Brown Jr., the Arizona Rattlers have the IFL’s leading receiver, as Glen Gibbons Jr. has hauled in 23 passes for 315 yards and 10 touchdowns. While their offense is powerful, their defense isn’t as successful at stopping opposing offenses from scoring. The Arizona defense has allowed over 1,000 yards through four games, on top of almost 50 points per game.

Winless through three games, the Iowa Barnstormers look to change that in front of a home crowd on Saturday night. Last week, the Barnstormers gave Kyle King an opportunity at quarterback, following struggles from Darius-James Peterson. King came in and completed 3/4 passes for 47 yards and a touchdown, also adding a touchdown on the ground. Offensively, King gave the Barnstormers a spark, and Iowa will need to continue to strike offensively to keep up with the high-scoring Rattlers in Week Six.

With both teams coming off a win, the Frisco Fighters take on the Tulsa Oilers in a Saturday night matchup of two very evenly matched teams statistically. On the offensive side of the ball, the Fighters average 187.7 yards per game, while the Oilers average 183.7 yards. Defensively, Frisco allows 35.7 points per game, while Tulsa allows 34 points. Even the performances of both teams last week were oddly similar. In Week Five, the Frisco Fighters won 54-37, while the Tulsa Oilers won 56-40. The main difference between these two: Frisco is undefeated and the Oilers are 2-1. The Fighters could extend their winning streak to four, or the Oilers could be on a three-game winning streak themselves.

TJ Edwards has been on a hot streak, leading the IFL in rushing touchdowns with 11 scores. On top of an offense powered by Edwards, the Frisco Fighters defense shines bright. Through three games, the Fighters have one of the league’s best defensive backs in Lionell McConnell. On top of stellar secondary play, the Fighters are difficult to extend drives on. Frisco’s defense allows the least first downs in the league, making them a difficult team to find offensive consistency against.

Facing the Fighters, the Tulsa Oilers return to the Bok Center after a week away. Quarterback Daniel Smith has found success with his arm and his legs, completing 49/73 passes for 402 yards and seven touchdowns, while adding almost 100 rushing yards and four more touchdowns on the ground. Defensively, the Oilers are home to the current sack leader in Noah Lyles, as Lyles has got to the quarterback four times through three games. Winning at home in Week Six will require the Oilers defense to keep TJ Edwards in check.

With both teams heading into Week Six undefeated, the San Diego Strike Force take on the Bay Area Panthers in a battle of the titans in the west.  One team will experienve their first loss of the year.

The Strike Force come into this week following a win on the road against Arizona, as San Diego’s offense had to adjust to a new play caller. Backup quarterback Rudy Johnson ended the night 4/7 for 86 yards and two touchdowns, adding a touchdown on the ground. The Strike Force also found success from Chance Bell, rushing 11 times for 73 yards and three scores. The Bay Area defense, however, allows almost 15 fewer points per game, making Week Six a big challenge for the Strike Force.

For Bay Area, they also enter Week Six undefeated, after taking down Tucson 44-31 in week five. Backup quarterback Felix Harper took over in the second half last week, playing almost perfectly for two quarters. In the last 30 minutes of the game, Harper led the Bay Area offense on four-straight scoring drives. Bay Area boasts an offense near the top of the league in points per game, and a defense just allowing just 32 points per game. Bay Area leads the league in sacks, forcing eight through three games.

In a Week Six effort to earn their first win of the season, the Duke City Gladiators take on the Northern Arizona Wranglers. Both teams had a bye last week, so they come into week six well-rested.

Though wins haven’t followed, Javin Kilgo and the Duke City Gladiators offense have found their groove the past two weeks, scoring 40 or more points in both games. Kilgo has thrown for just shy of 400 yards, adding 11 passing touchdowns. Duke City receiver Gourney Sloan is in a five-way tie for second-most receiving touchdowns in the league with five touchdown catches. With a defense statistically middle-of-the-pack, they could have their hands full with Northern Arizona’s Arsiah McCorker. Keeping him in-check will be a big part of Duke City’s game plan if they want to come away with a victory in Week Six.

Through three games, the Wranglers have showcased one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league, averaging over 50 points scored per game. Quarterback Josh Jones has shown an ability to score through the air and on the ground, passing for 400 yards and eight touchdowns, while adding nearly 100 yards and four touchdowns with his legs. Another key member of the Northern Arizona offense is rising-star Arsiah McCorker. He’s responsible for six touchdowns offensively, adding two more touchdowns as a kick returner. As a team that scores a lot, they also give up a lot of points. To their 51.3 points scored per game, they allow 49.7 points per game on average. An aspect of this defense that really shines is their pass rush, having sacked opposing quarterbacks seven times in three games with Tramond Lofton (3) and Shanon Reid (2.5) leading the charge. Duke City’s quarterback Javin Kilgo plays from the pocket primarily, making a disruptive pass rush crucial for Northern Arizona’s defense.

All of the Week Six action can be found on the IFL YouTube Channel or Caffeine TV, beginning Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. CT.