Friday, two old school rivals will face off in Sioux Falls, SD in a game with major playoff implications.
The Iowa Barnstormers can clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a victory, putting them in the best spot they have been in since the franchise returned in 2008.
On the other hand, the game is a must win for the Sioux Falls Storm, who are in danger of not hosting a playoff game for the first time since before the team came to the Indoor Football League (IFL).
Iowa Barnstormers can clinch No. 1 seed, home-field advantage in Sioux Falls
Friday’s game will all but set the final IFL standings. Even if Sioux Falls wins, the Barnstormers still own the three-team tiebreaker against Arizona and Sioux Falls.
The only situation that would see a team other than Iowa earn the top seed includes the Barnstormers dropping both of their final two games or dropping one and seeing Arizona lose to Nebraska in the regular season finale.
With that being said, it is understandable to think Iowa might conserve their energy a little bit, but coach Dixie Wooten made sure to make it known that that won’t be the case.
“F*ck no,” Wooten said after beating the Arizona Rattlers. “We’re trying to win the game. We want to win out. In this league, if you try and do that, you can lose your team. It will be all hands on deck and we’ll be playing to win.”
Two of the league’s best quarterbacks will be facing off as well. Sioux Falls’ Lorenzo Brown is second in the IFL in passing yards only to an extreme pass-first offense in Cedar Rapids.
On the other side of things, Iowa’s Drew Powell leads the IFL in rushing yards and has been dominant for the Barnstormers this year.
The two teams will go at it Friday night at 7:00 p.m. in Sioux Falls. The game can be live streamed on YouTube and heard on 1040AM WHO Radio with Joe Stasi on the call.
IFL Standings
1. Iowa Barnstormers 10-2
2. Arizona Rattlers 10-3
3. Sioux Falls Storm 9-3
4. Nebraska Danger 4-9
5. Green Bay Blizzard 2-10
6. Cedar Rapids Titans 2-10
Remaining Regular Season Schedule
Week 16
Friday, June 08: Iowa Barnstormers (10-2) @ Sioux Falls Storm (9-3)
Saturday, June 09: Cedar Rapids Titans (2-10) @ Green Bay Blizzard (2-10)
Week 17
Saturday, June 16: Arizona Rattlers (10-3) @ Nebraska Danger (4-9)
Saturday, June 16: Cedar Rapids Titans (2-10) @ Iowa Barnstormers (10-2)
Saturday, June 16: Green Bay Blizzard (2-10) @ Sioux Falls Storm (9-3)
