Featured Image: November 25, 2018 San Jose / CA / USA – SAP Center building close to downtown San Jose, south San Francisco bay area; multi-purpose sports and concert venue; home of the San Jose Sharks of the NHL Item ID: 1241602126 Contributor Sundry Photography [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/november-25-2018-san-jose-ca-1241602126 [Accessed 17 March 2022][Edited by Enda Mulcahy for Eirball.ie]

Standings

Note: Standings Calculated Automatically from results – for Official Standings Please visit the Indoor Football League website in References: [1-2].

Playoff Schedule

Note: Composite Schedule from Individual Team Schedules. See Each Team’s Website for Details on their Schedules. References: [2-16]

Schedule

Note: Composite Schedule from Individual Team Schedules. See Each Team’s Website for Details on their Schedules. References: [2-16]

Weekly Recaps

Week 1 Recap

Sioux Falls Storm (South Dakota) defeated expansion franchise Quad Cities Steamwheelers (Moline, Illinois) 35-24 as the East Conference opened their schedules a week earlier than the West Conference. The other two games in the East Conference were both close affairs as Massachusetts Pirates won 30-27 versus Frisco Fighters from Texas and Bismarck Bucks (North Dakota) won 26-23 versus Green Bay Blizzard (Wisconsin).

Week 2 Recap

The Western Conference kicked off in Week 2, a week after the Eastern Conference, with Bay Area Panthers from San Jose winning 38-33 at home to San Diego Strike Force in a tightly contested Northern versus Southern California match-up [References: 3,6]. Arizona Rattlers from Phoenix defeated South West USA rivals Duke City Gladiators from Albuquerque, New Mexico, 50-28 [References: 2,4] , and in the third game in the Western Conference Vegas Knight Hawks welcomed Northern Arizona Wranglers to Nevada, defeating them 22-9 [References: 5,9].

There were two Eastern Conference games in week 2, Quad Cities Steamwheelers from Moline, Illinois defeating Iowa Barnstormers from Des Moines 46-24 to go 1-1 in Iowa’s first game of the season [References: 13,15]. Meanwhile in South Dakota, Sioux Falls Storm won the battle of two 1-0 teams, narrowly defeating Bismarck Bucks from neighbouring North Dakota 38-36 to go 2-0. [References: 10, 16]

Week 3 Recap

In the Eastern Conference Bismarck Bucks went to 2-1 with a 29-26 defeat of Green Bay Blizzard who fall to 0-2 [References: 10, 12]. Sioux Falls Storm (2-1) lost 31-45 to Iowa Barnstormers (1-1) Monday Night [References: 13, 16]. In the Western Conference Tucson Sugar Skulls started 1-0 with a 48-39 defeat of Vegas Knight Hawks who fall to 1-1 [References: 8-9]. Arizona Rattlers, also undefeated at 2-0 defeated San Diego Strike Force (0-2) 48-10 on Monday Night [References: 2-6]. Northern Arizona Wranglers drew level with Bay Area Panthers on 1-1 after a 49-20 victory over the San Jose team in Prescott [References: 3, 5] Duke City Gladiators meanwhile lost heavily for the second week running, going down 33-60 to Frisco Fighters who improve to 1-1 in an Inter-Conference game [References: 4-11]

Week 4 Recap

Massachusetts Pirates went top of the Eastern Conference on a 2-0 record after defeating Quad Cities Steamwheelers 36-25. Four teams were on 2-1: Frisco Fighters who won 56-34 versus Tucson Sugar Skulls, Iowa Barnstormers after a 36-18 defeat of Green Bay Blizzard and both Bismarck Bucks and Sioux Falls Storm who were idle. In the Western Conference Arizona Rattlers movede to 3-0 after a 43-21 defeat of Duke City Gladiators. Northern Arizona Wranglers and Vegas Knight Hawks both improved to 2-1 with victories over San Diego Strike Force (45-28) and Bay Area Panthers (53-27). [References: 1-16]

Week 5 Recap (8-11 April 2022)

Sioux Falls Storm lost their second in a row, 24-34 at Quad Cities Steamwheelers, to leave both teams on 2-2 and Frisco Fighters improved to 3-1 with a close 38-36 win at home versus winless Green Bay Blizzard (0-4). Massachusetts Pirates, however, went 3-0 to top the Eastern Conference with a 54-43 victory at home against Bismarck Bucks, who fell to 2-2.

In the Western Conference Arizona Rattlers continued blazing through ther Arenas, winning 67-20 at home to Vegas Knight Hawks, to go 4-0 at the top, while Vegas fell to 2-2. In the closest, high-scoring game of the season, San Diego Strike Force finally got a W in the Win column with a 67-66 victory over the Tucson Sugar Skulls (1-2). Duke City Gladiators were another team to finally get a win, 50-28 versus Bay Area Panthers in Albuquerque to go 1-3, as the Panthers dropped to 1-3 also. [References: 1-16]

Week 6 Recap (15-18 April 2022)

The Western Conference leaders Arizona Rattlers defeated San Diego Strike Force 66-33 to go 5-0, as the Strike Force fell to 1-4. In Albuquerque, Duke City Gladiators narrowly defeated Tucson Sugar Skulls 57-52 to improve to 2-3. They were joined on 2-3 by Vegas Knight Hawks who lost 20-30 at Northern Arizona Wranglers who moved clear into second place on 3-1. Bay Area Panthers lost to Bismarck Bucks 31-44.

In the Eastern Conference saw Green Bay Blizzard pick up their first win of the season in a shock 38-31 victory at previously unbeaten Massachusetts Pirates. Iowa Barnstormers defeated Sioux Falls Storm 47-37 and Quad Cities Steamwheelers lost 51-68 to Frisco Fighters [References: 1-16]

Week 7 Recap (23-24 April 2022)

Green Bay Blizzard’s Jack Sheehan, surely an Irish connection there somewhere, scored the team’s opening touchdown on an 11-yard run, and passed for another in the first quarter, with Keyshaun Taylor catching two TD’s in the second quarter and Toren Young running in a fifth as the Blizzard went into the break 34-0 up at halftime only to see Vegas Knight Hawks pull back to 34-25 in the second half before the buzzer sounded. For a full report click on the game link in the Schedule. Blizzard remain 2-4 at the foot of the Eastern Conference.

Elsewhere there were victories for Sioux Falls Storm (49-27 versus Bay Area Panthers); Quad Cities Steamwheelers (36-17 at Bismarck Bucks); defending Champions Massachusetts Pirates who take sole ownership of the Eastern Conference lead with a 36-22 defeat of Iowa Barnstormers; Frisco Fighters who defeated Duke City Gladiators 42-41 in a close Southwest rivalry match-up and Tucson Sugar Skulls who won 72-62 versus Northern Arizona Wranglers in an all-Arizona shootout. [References: 16-21]

Week 8 Recap (29 April-1 May 2022)

Massachusetts Pirates dropped their second game of the season 44-46 to Vegas Knight Hawks to fall to 4-2 as they just failed to take advantage of Frisco Fighters 35-49 loss to Arizona Rattlers as the Fighters fell to 5-2. The two results meant the Eastern Conference title race was blown wide open with Quad Cities Steamwheelers from Illinois defeating Green Bay Blizzard from Wisconsin 49-31 and Sioux Falls Storm from South Dakota winning 50-47 versus Iowa Barnstormers. With both the Steamwheelers and Storm improving to 4-3 and the Barnstormers on 3-3 there was no more than one loss between the top five teams in the East. [References: 1-16]

In the Western Conference Arizona Rattlers continue to march on, going to 6-0 with that victory over Eastern Conference leaders Frisco Fighters. Northern Arizona Wranglers (4-2) made it an Arizona 1-2 with a 65-34 defeat of Bay Area Panthers (1-6) while Tucson Sugar Skulls 42-41 win over Duke City Gladiators (2-5) from Albuquerque in New Mexico meant it was 1-2-3 for Arizona. San Diego Strike Force moved above the Gladiators with a 38-28 victory over North Dakota’s Bismarck Bucks (3-4) in an Inter-Conference match-up. With Vegas (3-4) winning against Massachusetts Pirates it was a good weekend for Western Conference teams, winning the Inter-Conference match-ups three to nothing. [References: 1-16]

Week 14 Recap (11 June 2022)

In the Eastern Conference Massachusetts Pirates improved to 8-4 defeating Green Bay Blizzard (5-8) 48-30, while Sioux Falls Storm (7-5) remained hot on their heels winning a close game 49-44 versus Bismarck Bucks (3-10). Meanwhile Eastern Conference leaders Frisco Fighters remained two games in front winning by the closest possible margin 66-65 versus Duke City Gladiators in an Inter-Conference game.

Duke City fell to 6-6 in the Western Conference as Tucson Sugar Skulls (6-5) overtook the Gladiators with a 58-33 victory against Bay Area Panthers (1-11). At the top of the Conference Northern Arizona Wranglers defeated Arizona Rattlers in the crucial Arizona rivalry to go one game in front of the Rattlers (10-2 to 9-3). The only other game saw Vegas Knight Hawks improve to 5-7 with a 49-23 victory over the 2-10 San Diego Strike Force. [References: 1B]

Weeks 15-19 (17 June-16 July 2022)

In the Eastern Conference Frisco Fighters finished the season 14-2 with four straight wins, while Massachusetts Pirates took the runners-up spot with an 11-5 record losing only one of their last four games. Quad Cities Steamwheelers took third with a 9-7 record, and Iowa Barnstormers finished out the Regular Season 9-7 also. Sioux Falls Storm took fifth on an 8-8 record but failed to make the playoffs, as did Green Bay Blizzard (6-10) and Bismarck Bucks (3-10).

The Western Conference title race went to the wire with both Arizona Rattlers and Northern Arizona Wranglers finishing on 14-4, with Arizona Rattlers taking the tie-breaker. Tucson Sugar Skulls finished third on 9-7 and Duke City Gladiators 8-8 took the remaining playoff place. Vegas Knight Hawks (6-10), San Diego Strike Force (3-13) and Bay Area Panthers (1-15) failed to make the postseason. [References: 1B]

Playoffs (22 July-30 July 2022)

There were shocks galore in the Playoffs as Quad Cities Steamwheelers (9-7 Regular Season) eliminated both Frisco Fighters (14-2 Regular Season) and Massachusetts Pirates (10-6 Regular Season) in the Eastern Conference to progress to the National Championship Game. The other 1st Round game in the East was a 64-39 victory for Frisco Fighters versus Iowa Barnstomers (9-7 Regular Season). Quad Cities battled to a 39-38 victory at Massacusetts and a 48-41 victory at Frisco in Texas.

The Western Conference Playoffs saw the two Arizona teams (both 14-4 Regular Season) progress with ease versus Tucson Sugar Skulls (49-30 to the Northern Arizona Wranglers) and Duke City Gladiators (53-14 to Arizona Rattlers). The Western Conference title game was won 52-51 by Northern Arizona Wranglers in a game that could not have been closer. [References: 1B]

IFL National Championship Game (13 August 2022)

Northern Arizona Wranglers defeated Quad Cities Steamwheelers 47-45 to take the IFL National Championship in Prescott Valley, Arizona. [References: 1B]

ABOUT the IFL 2022

For the 2022 season the Indoor Football League lost the Louisville Xtreme and Spokane Shock but added Bay Area Panthers (San Jose, California), Quad Cities Steamwheelers (Moline, Illinois), San Diego Strike Force (California) and Vegas Knight Hawks (Las Vegas, Nevada) to incease to a 14-team league, divided into two Conferences (East and West) of seven teams each.

The Indoor Football League is a Major American Football League playing Reduced Numbers (8v8) Arena Indoor American Football in USA. Previously AAA, it has since the demise of the Arena Football League (a Major League) after the 2019 season, expanded its Geographic Reach, and has taken the AFL’s position as the Major League in Indoor/Arena Football. This version of American Football is most popular in Mexico, hence names like Tucson Sugar Skulls. LEXFA (Liga Extrema de Futbol Arena) in Mexico is the Major League in Mexico (and also one of four Mexican Majors)

References

[1] Indoor Football League (2021) 2022 Football Standings [Internet] Available from: https://goifl.com/standings.aspx?standings=9 [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 7 August 2022]

[1B] Indoor Football League (2022) Calendar Season = 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://goifl.com/calendar.aspx?season=2022 [Accessed 7 August 2022][Last Accessed 15 August 2022]

[2] Arizona Rattlers (2021) 2022 Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://azrattlers.com/sports/football/schedule/2022 [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 7 May 2022]

[3] Bay Area Panthers (2021) 2022 Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://www.bayareapanthers.com/stats#/team-schedule?team_id=153709 [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 7 May 2022]

[4] Duke City Gladiators (2021) 2022 Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://dukecitygladiators.com/sports/football/schedule/2022 [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 7 May 2022]

[5] Northern Arizona Wranglers (2021) 2022 Football Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://nazwranglers.com/sports/football/schedule [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 7 May 2022]

[6] San Diego Strike Force (2021) Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://www.sdstrikeforce.com/schedule [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 7 May 2022]

[7] Spokane Shock (2021) Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://thespokaneshock.com/sports/football/schedule [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 23 March 2022]

[8] Tucson Sugar Skulls (2021) 2022 Tucson Sugar Skulls Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://tucsonsugarskulls.com/sports/football/schedule [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 7 May 2022]

[9] Vegas Knight Hawks (2021) Vegas Knight Hawks Announce Inaugural Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://www.hendersonsilverknights.com/vegas-knight-hawks-announce-inaugural-season-schedule/ [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 7 May 2022]

[10] Bismarck Bucks (2021) 2022 Bucks Football Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://www.bismarckbucks.com/sports/football/schedule/2022 [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 7 May 2022]

[11] Frisco Fighters (2021) 2022 Football Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://friscofighters.com/sports/football/schedule [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 7 May 2022]

[12] Green Bay Blizzard (2021) 2022 Football schedule [Internet] Available from: https://greenbayblizzard.com/sports/football/schedule/2022 [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 7 May 2022]

[13] Iowa Barnstormers (2021) 2022 Football Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://theiowabarnstormers.com/sports/football/schedule [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 7 May 2022]

[14] Massachusetts Pirates (2021) 2022 Pirates Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://masspiratesfootball.com/schedule/ [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 7 May 2022]

[15] Quad Cities Steamwheelers (2021) 2022 Home Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://steamwheelersfootball.com/schedule/home-schedule-mm.html [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 7 May 2022]

[16] Sioux Falls Storm (2021) 2022 Football Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://siouxfallsstorm.com/sports/football/schedule [Accessed 18 December 2021][Last Accessed 7 May 2022]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Bart Barden, Tim Leadingham & Sam Thompson

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 15 August 2022

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2022

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