If you missed week NAL Week Five, you missed what will end up being one of the best of the entire season. We once again saw a first-time victory, this time paired with season-deciding games and a list of one-score wins. Let’s get into what we have unofficially named “Separation Saturday”:
Table of Contents
Salina 40 Pueblo 34
The Scripps Sports game of the week gave us all we wanted and more. In a game that featured two defenses that typically don’t give up over 35 points a game, it wasn’t that shocking to see a 12-12 Halftime score. Neither seemed to have a strategy to overcome lockdown defense, leading to no score in the second quarter either.
The one thing that stood above all was Salina’s ability to absolutely lock down Hollins from running the ball. Hollins typically can be the difference between an easy first down and a turnover on downs with his feet. Though 24 yards on 11 attempts was anything but difference-making. Salina on the other hand couldn’t be stopped on the ground, especially in the RedZone. We saw Tracy Brooks have a breakout performance, scoring 4 TDs and averaging 5 yards per carry.
In the second half, everything broke loose, the second quarter seemed like the calm before the storm (more on them later). The third saw the dam break loose, both teams swapping chippy plays, special teams struggles, and touchdowns, ultimately ending with Pueblo at a slight 28-26 advantage. One thing was obvious in the second half: the Punishers aren’t used to struggling on offense. The chippy play and overall attitude led to near misses and late chaos. At the 7:12 mark this one was all tied up, just three minutes (of game time) later, Brooks would punch in yet another TD. The ensuing kick off saw a ball punched out, only foreshadowing how the remaining four and change would go.
The following would be the single worst drive we have seen from the Punishers all season that didn’t end in a turnover, they would squander the clock after nearly turning the ball over. The only thing that continued the drive was Salina’s penalties, and a couple of fantastic plays! The Punishers would run out of time in what can only be described as a late-game collapse. Overall Salina was just the better team on the day. Currently they stand atop the NAL standings at 3-0.
Salina Outlook-
The Kansas teams (and AF1 defectors) are the only two undefeated teams left in the NAL. Not many predicted Salina to be quite this good, and we didn’t even pick them to win last week. If the run game continues to be this efficient there isn’t a team in the NAL that they can’t beat. Bearing that Brooks and his OL stay healthy, the Liberty is hands down the favorite to win it all. That all goes without saying that the defense is what’s winning them games, a 12-point half against the single most explosive team in the league says it all.
Pueblo Outlook
It took 5 weeks into the season for the franchise to take its first loss, something almost no other Franchise can say. While this may be a loss, there is no doubt it will be a moment of inflection that sees an upward trajectory. You never want to lose, but when you have a team built like the Punishers it’s better to have it happen mid-season rather than a postseason collapse. We don’t have a single doubt in Pueblo, and still have them as the second seed with a first-round bye.
SWK 48 Colorado 41
Struck is going to Struck, and if he isn’t struckin’ Sutton is just going to wear you down. The first half was nothing but firepower for either squad. Even with a few mishaps and drawn-out drives on both sides of the ball, neither offense could be stopped. The overall ground game out of SWK was just fun to watch, especially when Colorado made the mistake of giving Sutton the slightest bit of open field.
Colorado started and finished the game with a new, but familiar face in Javin Kilgo. Kilgo would wind up with 27 completions on 40 attempts. Not only that but a staggering 6 TDs, which is almost any other situation would have seen a win. That wasn’t the case as we know, mostly in part to the beginning of the second half. After a first half that ended 28-28 on a successful Colorado two point conversion, we would only see a single score in the third. It was evident both (well coached) teams made major halftime adjustments; as they would swap stalled drives.
The hard-nosed third quarter would end with just 7 points between the two. The fourth would start off with an untimely Struck interception, one that would lead to Spartan points, but not the lead. Special teams issues were a theme the entire game for Colorado, and the fourth was no exception. At 35-34, things began to separate, as the Storm answered almost immediately after a Mason Peirce return all the way to the Spartans 11 yard line.
That return sparked a quick Struck run 2 plays into the drive to take a 41-35 lead. The cracks showed for Kilgo after, the following would see another stalled drive after four straight incompletions. In the end, SWK would punch it in again and create too big a hill to climb with less than a min to go. If you’re a fan of any facet of the game this was a treat, for Colorado, Kilgo threw every single TD that the Spartans scored(Split between 3 receivers, with 3 to Newbold), and on the flip side? Sutton or Struck would find the endzone on the ground for all 7 TDs on the ground, while combining for 94 rushing yards.
It was an instant NAL classic that left anyone watching wanting more, and it will prove to be a fork in the road for both franchises. Southwest Kansas now stands in 2nd place in the standings at 3-0 separated with Salina only due to points scored.
SWK Outlook:
This game was, as mentioned above, a fork in the road for both teams. The Gary Thomas-led squad could have taken a loss and been fine. Though proving to the NAL and themselves that they are the class of the league, and a step above mid-level competition is invaluable. We do think they will have trouble getting by Salina, but they will be a top-four team heading into the postseason. The outlook is great, just like Salina, as long as key players such as Struck and Sutton stay healthy.
Colorado Outlook:
Now sitting 1-3, with an injury at quarterback, the Spartans are looking for some momentum. Kilgo is effective enough to ensure that they stay in big games and beat any of the “Bottom 3” with offense. The issue is getting over the hump that has seen them drop three straight. Similar to Omaha the elevated level of competition has absolutely kicked them in the teeth, thankfully there is light at the end of the tunnel.
If they can dispose of the dumpster fire that is the Warbirds, they draw Dallas and Omaha down the stretch. They very much can still be a playoff team, but the defense is going to have to lock down the run game and come up with the crucial stops that they have given up all year.
Amarillo 29 Dallas 46
We can admit when we are wrong, and Dallas sure made us all eat crow. No one with any expertise of the NAL expected much out of the Bulls, or for them to even win a game. We surely didn’t expect a dominant game that never saw them trail.
Amarillo is, at least this season, a sure-fire bottom-three team, battling it out with Louisiana and Dallas to not be 9 of 9 when the dust settles, but this was a complete collapse.
When the score flashed 8-0 most of us chalked it up to early game jitters in front of a crowd of fewer than 70 fans. It was anything but, the half would go on to end 16-9 in favor of the Bulls, still looking like it could be a low-level barnburner, but Amarillo’s inability to stop the rushing attack (or run it themselves) in any capacity ultimately gave Dallas the upper hand. Omaha cut, and recent Amarillo signing Demry Croft was a suitable filler, but overall doesn’t give Amarillo the Offensive edge they will need to survive the NAL.
Despite a fairly competitive third quarter, we would only see the Amarillo lead grow. Croft would score several times with his feet, but a fourth-quarter interception would spark a scoring frenzy late for Dallas. Seward despite only completing five passes would end the day with 99 yards through the air, never having a pass go for less than a first down, with an average completion of 13 yards. That stat alone gives you a clear picture of how bad the Warbird Defense was. In the end, it was a never-in-doubt win for what we thought was the worst team in the NAL, and another week in a string of collapses for the Warbirds since their lone win.
Amarillo Outlook
This rant was originally planned for Dallas, but Amarillo looked and played like a Developmental schedule filler. The inability to get within 10 points of beating either of the Bottom 3 teams doesn’t lend itself to much of a season. They are injury-riddled, but don’t expect another win this season. The remainder of the schedule reads like the seeding for playoffs, and they will be lucky to get within 35 of any of those teams. If you’re a Warbirds fan, support your team and look forward to 2027.
Dallas Outlook
So you’re saying we have a chance?! No… Not all. Yes, this was a win, and a dominant one but who else is going to be this weak of a team? Outside of drawing a surging Rouxgaroux squad that isn’t going to lie down like the Warbirds you have the NALs bread and butter the remainder of the season. We fully expect a 1-9 or 2-8 finish without much to celebrate.
Omaha 6 Sioux City 26
The Beef knew coming into this game it was time to buck the trend of 0-3 and get a win to get the season back on track. Unfortunately, all they found were more turnovers, inability on offense, and another loss to put the season in jeopardy already this early. James Summers once again showed flashes, mainly with his feet in scramble mode since the o-line was nearly nonexistent.
They were able to sustain drives to put themselves in scoring position but then ill-timed fumbles and 4th down conversion attempts fell short. Some big plays made by David Ross and Daquan Dudley were highlights in the game that was never really close. The defense, however, continued to keep Omaha in the contest, holding the Bandits on a few 4th down attempts and a goal-line stand early to hold to a field goal attempt. At the end of the day the Beef are still left scratching their heads going into their bye week and hoping the week off provides answers for the now only winless team left in the NAL.
Sioux City came into this contest looking to get back into the win column after last week’s near comeback against Pueblo. It was also a little bit of a revenge game for Lorenzo Brown, who would end the game with just 3 incompletions and two passing touchdowns. Brown added 20 more yards and another touchdown on the ground as well. The Bandits did not play a perfect game by any means but were still dominant throughout.
The defense was in the Beef backfield all night forcing throwaways, turnovers, and even blocking a field goal attempt on special teams. Most impressive by the defense in the effort was a near shutout, only allowing 6 points, which was scored by the Beef late in the fourth quarter. It’s hard to complain when the defense forces almost as many turnovers as points allowed.
The game started great for the Beef offense, who marched it right down the field on the opening drive. Foreshadowing the rest of the contest though, Sioux City would force a fumble on the 3-yard line and take over on offense. In a game that would only see a total of 32 points scored, neither defense gave up too much. Both teams would have failed 4th down attempts, turnovers, and missed opportunities throughout the night. What really turned the game was the opening drive of the second half.
The Bandits moved the ball almost effortlessly down the field and scored a touchdown to open the game up to a 23-point difference. On the following drive, the Beef would turn the ball over on downs and Sioux City would gain all the momentum back. Omaha had moments in the game where they threatened to close the gap but much like their season so far, they fumbled it away.
Omaha Outlook
It is pretty simple, they have been gifted a midseason bye week, and boy do they need it. Now they have a week off to process, plan, and execute when they’re back in action versus Colorado. Defensively they are pretty sound, although they could tighten up their run defense. Offensively the team has been and will continue to do some soul searching during the bye week and hopefully they can figure it out. Whether it comes down to more time to perfect play execution or bringing in another piece to improve the team, after the bye week, the margin for error is almost nonexistent.
Sioux City Outlook
The big win over the Beef is nice, especially given the history. They have little time to celebrate with matchups against undefeated SWK and Salina in their next two games. While they sit in the middle of the league standings currently, they have proven to have a defense that can take them to the championship. While their offense is efficient, look for them to implement some bigger splash plays as the season moves forward. If all goes according to plan (they keep winning) they could be the number two, maybe number one in the league by months’ end.
STANDINGS:
Highlights and Drawbacks:
We have covered just about all the good and bad up to this point. There isn’t any major news to speak of, and the overall stream and streaming partners have hit their stride. We imagine that this section will be ablaze in the following weeks. But this week there isn’t much to hit on outside the Beef Coaching situation and outside of this:
Brandon Ikard and company have sent this league to a level it hasn’t seen almost ever. Even outside of the partnerships and improvement in fan experience, the competitive balance in this league is second to none. Week in and week out we throw out what we thought was going to happen by halftime and strap in for the ride. The not knowing, the clear streams, and simply the on-field product leave us wanting more. An excellent example of this is from this past week, out of four games, half came down to a single score, in high-flying battles we didn’t want to see end.
Negron and Omaha Part ways
We won’t hit on this much, but it did come as a bit of a surprise. Team Ownership came out in a very public way in support of Negron over the weekend, and less than a week later “mutually parted ways”.It’s not clear what changed, but it does start to set a president for Omaha (similar to Orlando of the IFL ) for being quick to fire mid-season.
If watching the games isn’t enough for you, check out TJ ( the author of the Omaha section) Sam, Krish Cody, and all the close to the game guests they bring on every single week. As always at 7 AM Central on Around the Indoor Football World.
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