When tuning in to this Saturday’s Indoor Football League (IFL) Playoff game, fans can expect to see a high-scoring affair.
The No. 2 Arizona Rattlers are preparing to host the 3rd seeded Sioux Falls Storm this Saturday at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
IFL Playoffs: Powerhouse Offenses meet in Semi’s
The Rattlers will be gearing up to face the team that is the Storm, however one player will be the center of attention during the team’s film studies: Lorenzo Brown Jr.
The Sioux Falls quarterback brings a little of everything into this game. Standing at six feet tall, and 205 lbs., Brown is one of the most electric, dual threat quarterbacks in the game. It shows on the stats sheets.
The former Sioux Falls Cougar sits in the top three in passing yards per game, rushing yards per game, passing touchdowns, and rushing touchdowns.
The way that Brown rushes the ball, a routine three-yard QB draw could turn into 30+ yards and six points for Sioux Falls, making him one of the most dangerous rushers in the league.
Now, add in the receiving core that Brown has around him.
Judd Harrold, who lead the IFL in touchdowns during the 2015 season headlines the group. He finished the regular season second only to Iowa’s Brady Roland in receiving touchdowns, corralling 17 scores in 14 games.
Mike Tatum, at one point lead the league in touchdowns this season, and is currently third in yards per game.
Lastly, Damond Powell can’t be left out. The Storm signed Powell, who came off a 2017 season that saw him tied for the lead in receiving touchdowns, for their last pair of games of the year in an effort to strengthen their playoff roster.
Although, the Storm are playing in an environment that none of the players on the team have ever experienced while with Sioux Falls.
The team will travel for a playoff game.
For the first time since 2010, the Storm will not go into the playoffs with the number one overall seed. Instead, they will have to go on the road in the first round and could very well be knocked off in Phoenix.
The team that will stand across the field is loaded.
Coach Kevin Guy’s Arizona Rattlers are about as highly touted on the offensive side of the ball as Sioux Falls is.
The team is lead by running back Darrell Monroe, who leads the IFL in rushing touchdowns.
Although Monroe is coming back from injury, his record-setting, 11-touchdown performance against the Cedar Rapids Titans earlier this season showed that he is the game-changer the Rattlers need.
Beside him is F.A.N. Show rookie of the year Jeff Ziemba. At quarterback, Ziemba lead the Rattlers to an 11-3 record and the second seed in the playoffs.
Ziemba finished second in the league in touchdowns, throwing for 39, in large part due to wideout Anthony Amos.
Amos caught 17 passes in the end zone, which is nearly half of Ziemba’s total for the season. Look for those two to light up the stat sheet like they normally do this Saturday.
The matchup will be the first between the two teams since April 16, and the third meeting of the season.
Bet on this one being close, as the first two games, each won by Arizona, ended in one-possession final scores.
This Saturday’s game kicks off at 8:05 p.m. CT at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Arizona. As always the case in the IFL, fans can tune into the game for free on YouTube.
