It was Halloween in July last night as the Carolina Cobras hosted the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks. The Cobras gave the Steelhawks a night of terror as the offense scored seven touchdowns, the defense scored two touchdowns and three safties, and the special teams added to deuces to give the Cobras a 78-9 victory. The only scare for the Cobras was when quarterback, Charles McCullum, went down in the 2nd quarter with a back injury that sidelined him for the night.

Carolina opened the game in dominating fashion. After receiving the opening kickoff, McCullum would find Jordan Jolly for the first touchdown of the game. After a successful PAT by Craig Peterson, the Steelhawks would give the ball back to Carolina on downs. The offense was not able to put the ball in the endzone on this drive but Peterson would add a 39-yard field goal. A miscommunication by Lehigh Valley on the first play on the ensuing drive would lead to a Cedric Poole interception, giving the Cobras the ball on Lehigh's 18. McCullum would strike again on the Cobras next drive, finding Phillip Barnett for a 28-yard score. Peterson would add the PAT and the deuce on the kickoff. Anthony Ellis would take a fumbled snap by the Steelhawks back for a score as time expired in the 1st quarter. 

Peterson ended the 1st quarter with a PAT and started the 2nd with a deuce. After recovering another fumbled snap on the Lehigh 4, McCullum would fumbe the ball back to the Steelhawks. Palmer would break through the offensive line for a safety. McCullum would find Barnett for a 14-yard touchdown on the Cobras drive and Ellis would find pick up another fumble recovery for a touchdown with Peterson adding the PAT after each. The scare of the night for Cobra fans came on the offenses next drive. Lehigh Valley would get after McCullum, causing him to bruise his back and sidelining him for the remainder of the night. Fans would see both Tyrell Goodman and Jordan Jolly share the snaps for the rest of the game. After a pick by Ken Walton, Jolly would throw one of his own. The Steelhawks would also have quarterbacks sharing the snaps for the 2nd half of football. Lehigh kicker, Spencer Hotaling would miss a 38-yard field goal as the first half of football ended with the Cobras leading 46-0.

Jolly would score twice in the third quarter once on a 2-yard quarterback keeper and then on a bulet pass between two defenders to Goodman. The 3rd quarter would also produce the only points of the night for the Steelhawks on a 42-yard touchdown from Derrick Macon to Daryl Boggan. With Hotaling adding the PAT and deuce making the score 62-9 to begin the 4th quarter.

A relatively quiet 4th quarter, fans would see a 24-yard field goal from Peterson and Jolly connecting with Goodman on a touchdown and running another one across from one yard out. A rare missed PAT by Peterson would make the final score 78-9 and giving the Cobras a spot in the playoffs.

The Cobras travel to Massachusetts next week to face the Pirates who are now #1 with the Lions losing to the Mammoths this weekend. Showing that even though the regular season is winding down, the intensity is not.

By Christopher Mabry 

Last night was the IFL's United Bowl game between the Sioux Falls Storm and Iowa Barnstormers. The 2018 United Bowl between these two teams was played at the Wells Fargo Arena. Before the game can start, let’s take a look at their championship past and the road they traveled to get here.
 
The Sioux Falls Storm played their first game in 2000 and did not join the Indoor Football League until the 2011 season. Since coming to the IFL, the Storm has been to every United Bowl game. Seven to be exact. Out of those seven games the Sioux Falls Storm has won six out of those seven, Sioux Falls has won six of them. Last year, the streak came to an end as the Arizona Rattlers won the United Bowl in their first season.
 
Now, in 2018, the Sioux Falls Storm are looking for their seventh championship title under their belt. During the 2018 regular season, the Storm finished 11-3. They played in the IFL playoff game against the Nebraska Danger. In a close game the Storm defeated the Danger to advance to the United Bowl. Sioux Falls opponent are the iconic indoor/arena team the Iowa Barnstormers.
 
Established in 1995, the Iowa Barnstormers lost in their first championship game appearance in the Arena Bowl to another Storm team…that is the Tampa Bay Storm. Now, the Barnstormers are looking to go back to their championship form. Can they pull off the greatest victory?
 
Inside the Wells Fargo Arena, over 15 thousand Iowa Barnstormer fans flocked to watch an epic game go down. Early on in the first half, when the Iowa Barnstormers had control of the ball, quarterback Drew Powell would keep control of the ball. By the time the Storm has control of the ball, the quarter would almost be over. Halftime came quickly. At the halfway point of the game, the Barnstormers were leading the Storm 21-17.
 
When the game resumed in the third quarter, tempers started to boil over. Iowa almost had some players ejected and on a critical fourth down play, Barnstormers quarterback Drew Powell flicked the ball to one of his receivers and the receiver threw the ball in the stands. After the play was over, the refs threw the penalty flag on the Barnstormers side because the receiver left the pocket when he threw the ball. The only way he could have thrown the ball is when he is in the pocket.
 
Even though that was a critical penalty cause it was a spot foul, it did not hurt the Barnstormers to bad. When the game reached all zeroes, the Iowa Barnstormers defeated the Sioux Falls Storm 42-38. 

Congratulations to the Iowa Barnstormers on becoming 2018 Indoor Football League champions from everyone here at Arena Football Talk.

By Tonya Swim
Albuquerque, New Mexico- Offense wins games, Defense wins Championships. That is a comment heard over and over in the sport of football and that was proven in the Champions Indoor League Championship game.

Conner Hollanbaugh, formerly of the Amarillo Venom, stepped in as kicker to replace the injured Jason Nachu for Duke City. The kickoff bounced off of the wall and Sioux City will start on their own five yard line.
A low, right snap started off the Bandits first possession and although Liam Nadler picked it up and got the pass off, it was incomplete. He handed off to Darrian Miller for a five yard gain then another incomplete pass brought Greg Conry and the field goal team out. The attempt was wide left and at 12:33 in the first, the game remained scoreless.

Beginning on their own five yard line, Calab Holbrook rolls out a pass to Juwan Lewis and another handoff to Lewis will bring up the first and 10 with the ball on the Bandits 11. Holbrook found Jared Elmore in the end zone where he caught the ball and rolled over the wall for his eighth touchdown with the Gladiators this season. Hollanbaugh's PAT was good and Duke City goes up 7 Sioux City 0.

The kickoff bounced out of the end zone and the Bandits start on their own five yard line.
Flags for offside against Duke City moved the ball up to the 10 and a pass to Brandon Shepherd was complete and brought the first and 10 but stopped on the Bandits 17 by Fred Griggs. Gladiators Brett Bowers drew the flag for offsides moving the ball up to the Bandits 22 then Nadler pitched to  Miller who was met by Jayson Serda, Matt Moss and Fatu Utale for a stop and one yard gain. An incomplete pass brought up third and five then Nadler found Frederick Bruno with a pass that was stopped by Paul Robinson on the Duke City 18. Nadler in-completed another pass, then fakes a handoff and again did not complete the pass, but on the next play a false start will move the ball back to the Duke City 23. An incomplete pass and a flag on the Bandits backs them up to their own 17 then Nadler was nearly sacked by Serda, but was able to find Miller with a pass and getting the ball to the Duke City 19. Another off side on Bowers would move the ball up to the Duke City 14 then a pass to Bruno would be stopped by D. Johnson on the Duke City eight. Miller got the handoff but was pushed back by Moss and D. Johnson for a loss of two. Next pass was incomplete then a pass tipped by Griggs was incomplete bringing out Conry for the field goal attempt which went wide right. 2:23 left in the first, Duke City 7 Sioux City 0.

​The next Duke City possession started with a pass tipped by Isaac Wright but still completed, and a flag against them put them back on their own five. Holbrook connected with Clifton Rhodes for the first and 10 at midfield then hands off to Rhodes who was stopped by Ben Pister for a loss of three. Holbrook scrambled and slid to the Bandits 24 and the first quarter ended.
Second quarter started with Holbrook being intercepted by Soloman St. Pierre and the Bandits take over on the Duke City 15.

Nadler used two handoffs to Miller to get them on them on the board. The PAT is good and at 14:00 in the second, Duke City 7 Sioux City 7.

The kickoff was taken by Rhodes up to the Duke City 17. An incomplete pass brought up second and 10 but a pass to Elmore restarted the downs with the ball on the Bandits 20. Holbrook handed off to Lewis for a 10 yard gain then a pitch out to Lewis, who went up the middle to the Bandits four. Holbrook found Sedric Johnson and touchdown. Hollanbaugh extra point is good and at 10:56 in the second, Duke City 14 Sioux City 7.

Shepherd took the kickoff out to the Bandits 13.
A handoff to Miller was stopped by Bowers with a one yard gain, then two incomplete passes and a pass interference flag against D. Johnson would move the ball to the Bandits 19. Miller would get the ball up to the Bandits 23 but two incomplete passes, one broken up by Griggs, would bring out the field goal team. The attempt was good and with 6:57 left in the half, Duke City 14 Sioux City 10.

Rhodes took the next kickoff out to their own 24 then Holbrook connected with S. Johnson to move the ball to the Bandits 22. A fake handoff and keeper moved them up to the 16 then an incomplete pass and pass to Dello Davis will move the ball to the Bandits 12. An incomplete pass will bring up the fourth down and Hollanbaugh out for the field goal attempt, which was no good with 2:59 left in the half.

Bruno got the ball out to their own 10 than took a pass to get it out to the Bandits 21. Nadler handed off to Miller who got to the Gladiator 14 before Paul Robinson stopped the progression then a pitch to Bruno was stopped by D. Johnson for no gain. The next play Bowers got the Nadler and took him down. Time out.
Nadler passed to Miller bringing up first and 10 on the Gladiator 4. With 24.8 seconds left in the half, Nadler handed off to Miller who went in for the touchdown but the referee put the ball on the one and a challenge flag came out. After review the ruling was a touchdown and the Conry PAT added an extra one. 7.2 seconds left in the half, Duke City 14 Sioux City 17.

The kickoff bounced out of the end zone and the Gladiators start on their own five. A pass to Rhodes will bring up second and five. Time out Duke City. The half would end after and incomplete pass.
The second half would start with the Bandits kicking off and the ball being taken out by Davis. A face mask stop would add the 15 yards for the personal foul putting the ball on the Bandits 20. Holbrook handed off to Lewis for an eight yard gain, then the handoff to Rhodes for a one yard loss. The Bandits defense pressured Holbrook into a keeper for one yard, but an incomplete pass would bring up fourth and ten and Hollanbaugh out. The 26 yard field goal attempt was good and at 11:56 in the third, Duke City 17 Sioux City 17.

A short kickoff was taken by Marcus Miles up to the Gladiators 19 and was stopped by Griggs.
Nadler handed off to Miller for a three yard gain then a pass to Bruno, again stopped by Griggs, would bring up third and one on the Gladiators 10. Nadler handed off to Miller, but Serda was there for a loss of one then a bad snap made Conry work for his field goal, he found the uprights and with 9:42 left in the third, Duke City 17 Sioux City 20.

​The kickoff bounced and hit the wall starting the Gladiators out on their own five.
Holbrook handed off to Lewis, but Anttonio Brown was there and stopped him for a loss of one. A pass to Davis was incomplete due to coverage by CJ Jones then another incomplete pass, but an interference flag on Jones would move the ball up to the Gladiators 19. A fake and pass to Davis got the ball to the Bandits 15 then a fake pitch and pass to S. Johnson would add six to the board. The PAT was good and with 6:56 left in the third, Duke City 24 Sioux City 20.

A kickoff taken by Miller would be stopped by Griggs on the Bandits 18.
Nadler was pressured into a run and was taken down by Serda on the Bandits 19. A pitch to Bruno would gain five, but an incomplete pass would bring up fourth down. Another bad snap would find Conry picking up the ball and pass. D. Johnson was there for the interception but didn't bring the ball in and with 4:11 left in the third the score remains Duke City 24 Sioux City 20.

​Holbrook handed off to Lewis to get the ball out to the Bandits 15, then the next play Holbrook took the ball, dropped it, grabbed it and took off in a run to pick up the first down on the Bandits 13. A handoff to Lewis was stopped at the eight by Brown with a helmet to helmet tackle and Lewis would not return to the game. A flag against the Bandits would put the ball on the half hash then a handoff to Rhodes with Sherman Carter blocking would put Rhodes in the end zone. The PAT was good and with 1:02 left in the third, Duke City 31 Sioux City 20.

The Bandits would get the ball on their own five after the kickoff bounced out of the end zone.
Nadler was pressured then taken down by Ulale then a pitch to Bruno would end the third quarter.
The fourth quarter would start with a pass to Bruno to get the ball out to the Bandits 19, then a handoff to Bruno who would be stopped by Griggs for a three yard loss. An incomplete pass due to Donnie Duncan getting a hand of it and a flag on Shepherd, who took the defense of Duncan personally, would take 15 yards from the Bandits. A pass to Miller would get the ball down to the Gladiator three then a handoff to Miller would get the ball into the end zone. A flag on the Gladiators would be declined and the PAT was good. 11:42 left in the game, Duke City 31 Sioux City 27.

The kickoff ball was brought out by Davis, but a penalty on the Gladiators started them on their own 12.
Holbrook handed off the ball to move it up to their own 23 then two incomplete passes brought up third and 10. A pass to Elmore would would push them out to the Bandit seven then a pitch to Davis would add three yards. Holbrook would run up to the two. The next play, Holbrook handed off to Rhodes, but Rhodes fumbled in the end zone, the ball was picked up by Brown and ran out to the Bandits 10.
Nadler begins with a handoff to Miller then uses Shepherd with a handoff and a pass to get the third and six. An incomplete pass and a failed field goal attempt would end the Bandits possession with six minutes left in the game.

​Beginning on their own five, Holbrook would pass to Elmore twice to move the ball up to their own 24. A handoff to Davis would cross midfield to the 21 then a pass to Davis would be stopped on the Bandit 17. A keeper would restart the downs with the ball on the Bandit 15. A pass to Elmore would be stopped by Wright then the next play would be whistled stopped but Brown and Wesley Johnson would tackle Holbrook anyways giving the Gladiators the ball on the Bandits eight. A keeper up the middle would gain two. Time out-one minute warning.
Holbrook pitched to Davis but a holding call would back them up to the Bandits 16. A keeper would move the ball forward, time out.
Third and goal with the ball on the Bandits 13, Holbrook again kept the ball for the first down then with 23 seconds left in the game, just let the clock run out and Duke City is the Champions for the fourth CIF season with a score of 31 Sioux City 27.

​By Christopher Mabry 

We are two weeks until the start of the 2018 AFL Playoffs. As it stands right now, here are the current standings heading into Week 12: 

Current AFL Standings

1. Baltimore Brigade: 7-3
2. Albany Empire: 7-4
3. Philadelphia Soul: 6-4
4. Washington Valor: 1-10

Games this week 
Albany At Washington 
Baltimore at Philadelphia
​ 
Now that you know how the teams are positioned, here is how the playoff format works: 

• At the end of the season, all four teams will automatically make the playoffs. They will be ranked one through four. 
• Those four rankings will determine what team they will face for the playoffs. For example, if the playoffs started right now the Washington Valor will face the Baltimore Brigade and the Philadelphia Soul will take on the Albany Empire. 
• Since there are four teams in the AFL, each team will face their appoint twice. (once at home and once on the road). The higher ranked team (Baltimore and Albany) get to decide which game they want to play at home. 
• In order for a team to advance to the Arena Bowl, they must either win both playoff games or have the most points overall after two games. 

By Tonya Swim

The Sioux City Bandits will travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico to take on the Duke City Gladiators in the Champions Indoor Football Baymont Champions Bowl on Saturday, June 30.

Statistics are only part of the story as many fans know well. On paper, the Bandits will come away with the victory, but if you take in the 15 hour bus ride, and the Duke City home field advantage, that is just what it says an advantage.

Sioux City looks to be a more well-rounded team with a rushing and passing game, whereas Duke City is more of a passing team. The defense would come into play with those and Duke City allows very few rushing yards overall, but is fairly even with the amount of passing yards allowed.
Keep an eye on Gladiators Dello Davis who is number one on the leader board for yards per game received and touchdowns as well as Brett Bowers who is leading the league in sacks.
On the Bandits side, watch for Darrian to continue to rack up the rushing yards to stay number one in the league.
The game will be televised at 7pm on Pluto TV Channel 221.

​ 










​Monday night in the CIF, the South Conference Championship the Texas Revolution went down to New Mexico to take on the Duke City Gladiators. The winner will advance to the Champions Bowl this Saturday. If the Gladiators won, then they host the title game. But, if the Revolution win, then the game will be played in Salina, Kansas against the Salina Liberty.
 
By the end of the first quarter, the Texas Revolution were down 15-0. Then, starting in the second quarter, Revolution quarterback Andrew Jackson threw a 45-yard dart to LaDon Hudson for the touchdown along with the extra point. The score is now 15-7.
 
In the third quarter, the Texas Revolution quickly caught up when they got a touchdown almost one minute into the quarter. Thanks to Quarterback Andrew Jackson, the mobile quarterback scrambled for a touchdown and a 2-point conversion. The score is now tied 15-15.
 
Next, it was the Duke City Gladiators turn to score. On a first and ten from the Revolution 17-yard line, The Gladiators quarterback Caleb Holbrook threw a 17-yard pass to Dello Davis for a touchdown giving the lead to the Gladiators the lead 22-15.
 
Scoring would not continue in the third quarter but would resume in the fourth. In the fourth quarter, with time running out on the Texas Revolution season, it seemed like all the work that Texas had put into would go down the drain. On the Revolution 1 yard line,  running back Juwan Lewis rush into the endzone for a one yard run. The score is now 28-15. It would have been 29-15, but the Gladiators missed the extra point.
 
For the Revolution to go back to the Champions Bowl once again, they must catch up to the Gladiators with a come from behind victory. The only problem is that they have to do it in 12 minutes and while on defense.
 
During the Gladiators drive, Duke city took four plays that would lead up to another touchdown that nearly ran out the clock. On that fifth play that basically eliminated the Revolutions season. It happened on the Texas Revolution’s 10-yard line. It was a 2nd and goal. Gladiators receiver Jared Elmore caught the pass from Caleb Holbrook for a 10-yard touchdown along with the extra point.  Even though the Revolution have lost the game they did score two touchdowns making the score 35-28.

Now, the Gladiators host the Sioux City Bandits in the CIF Championship game. The game is this Saturday starting at 7pm central on Pluto TV

​Suspiciously absent from the Pirates roster on Saturday’s win over the Steelhawks was wide receiver London Crawford. Three days before game day, Crawford posted in the National Arena League News Facebook group: "In life a lot of decisions are made biased (sic) off of emotions and feelings all of my decisions are made off of what’s best for me and my family today I asked for my release from the mass pirates. I want to thank all of the fans that supported me and all of my teammates I grew relationships with will miss each and everyone of you. Every situation doesn’t call for a response when you grow as a player and a man professionalism shows on a high level. Looking forward to my next journey for whatever team I sign for so stay tuned.”

Obviously this unsolicited and ominous post was a surprise to Pirate Nation and the NAL community. Following that statement were several well wishes from fans and players. Among these was a comment that Crawford sat the bench when he should be playing. Other comments made inferences to what uniform Crawford would wear next: Sharks, maybe? At the time of this article, we just don't know. 

What we do know is London Crawford played in just 5 games in the 2018 season, had 13 receptions for a total of 74 yards. With these catches Crawford tallied one rushing and one receiving touchdown. Unimpressive numbers for the 6’3” University of Arkansas alumni, but one would argue Pirates coaches had receivers like Devonn Brown, Levon Pearson and Mardy Gilyard to play in his stead.

Exclusive to Arena Football Talk was the official statement from the Massachusetts Pirates front office about London Crawford’s departure: “It was a pleasure having London on the team, his veteran presence and work ethic was an asset to our ball club. Mutually we felt it was best to release London from his contract, and we wish the best for him moving forward.”