If you wanted intense, down to the last drive football, the first round of the NAL playoffs gave you all you could have possibly asked for! We had the Beef run over the Bandits, and the Spartans took the Liberty down to the wire! It was everything we could have asked for, and only sets up for an even more enticing Semi-final round! We cover it all in this week’s NAL Review!
Table of Contents
NAL Round One Game Reviews
Salina 50 Colorado 48
We have said it before and will say it again: Tracey Brooks is an absolute unit! He carried the Liberty as time got lower and lower, to the tune of 122 rushing yards, no easy feat in the indoor game. Don’t get us wrong, Colorado put on a show and played one of their most complete games we have seen all year, it just wasn’t quite enough. They came out of the gate competitive, but offensively very flat. It looked nothing like the same Colorado we saw beat the Liberty on that very first drive, but it wouldn’t take them long to shake off the bus ride and get it going.
The first score of the game would come off a pass in stride to Samuels from Adams to top off the penalty-marred drive that saw them reach the goal line twice, but be called back on the first. You have to wonder what Fred Shaw said or drew up after that first stalled drive; it was a night and day difference from the first. Kilgo would make easy work of tearing off chunks as he and Taylor chipped away to the end zone. Once again, Liberty penalties made a huge difference in extending the drive, before Taylor barreled across the goal line, tying the game 7-7, but Wilson Lee wasn’t happy with just 7.
He would hammer through the deuce for the first time, for anyone, in the Denver Coliseum this season. The 9-7 end of qauter one result would be the end of the low-scoring affair for either. We would see Ed Smith Jr nab one of his three completions for a wide-open TD just a few plays later! The recent signee, Gourney Sloan, even got in on dicing up the Spartans’ defense. Sloan scored one on an absolute dash, then passed on a masterfully run corner route. Outside of getting crushed by Brooks, this seemed to be Colorado’s biggest issue all day, getting just outplayed in the secondary.
After two, the scoreboard read 22-21 Colorado, though the third would provide just a slight bit of separation. Adams, on a short field, showed incredible ability to see the field and make split-second decisions on a five-yard shoulders-down kind of run into the end zone. The Battle back and forth would ensue, with at one point a thirteen-point lead for Salina. When we all thought it was finally over, Kilgo and the Spartans’ offense would cruise right back, and with sixty seconds to go, it was 42-41.
The ensuing minute was all fireworks, with under forty to go, Brooks would get a full head of steam into the endzone for a TD, the ensuing extra point try would be blocked, a penalty would negate the block, only for the following two-point try to fail… Or did it? A review would show illegal defense. And we would do it all over again. Finally, at the conclusion, Brooks hit a wide-open gap on a counter to put the game almost out of reach. Would you think it was over? Well no. Three plays later, and just 16 seconds of game time would see Kilgo go to Michelle for six. The extra point hit… and Colorado rested it all on their kicker Lee. Instead of an onside kick, they opted for the game-tying deuce. That attempt would come up short and end it for Colorado.
It was a heartbreaking end, and the second straight playoff loss for the Spartans. The season marks the second straight 5-6 effort with so many what-ifs. Though for Salina, it’s another step in winning their first title since their time in the CIF
Omaha 47 Sioux City 36
The Beef’s season has been nothing but movie-worthy. They started off the season 0- 5 only to then go 5-0 to end the season, making the playoffs against all odds. A major part of the turnaround was the changes in coaching, with Adam Loftus named interim head coach and CJ Cain as offensive coordinator mid-season. Vincent Espinoza signing with Omaha and taking over as starting quarterback instantly brought leadership and veteran experience to the offense.
In another round of the I-29 rivalry, Espinoza showed his experience by throwing for three touchdowns. In a total team effort on offense, each receiver (Dudley, Thompson, Conliffe) would record a touchdown reception. The true difference in the game was the rushing attack that accounted for 132 yards and 2 scores, led by David Ross’ 64 yards on 13 attempts. Defensively, the Beef would force Lorenzo Brown into multiple interceptions and hold the Bandits to just 36 points in the playoff victory.
The Bandits came into the postseason with a 6-4 record and off a win versus the Storm, the only time SWK was beaten all regular season. It was a year where they remained consistent, while always being in the playoff mix as the season played out. Lorenzo Brown, on somewhat of a revenge tour, proved why he deserves to be a starter in the NAL. He played so well this season that he was in the mix for league MVP honors.
The Bandits relied heavily on their passing game; Lorenzo Brown threw for 176 yards and 4 touchdowns on the night. Jadon Johnson would be the favorite target, hauling in 6 passes for 69 yards and 2 touchdowns. The ground attack struggled, accounting for only 40 yards. Sioux City’s Defense would keep it close for most of the game with pressure and physical play in the secondary. Unfortunately for the Bandits, the game would get away from them in the fourth quarter, and their season came to a stunning end at home.
NAL Semi-Final Previews
(4)Salina At (2) Pueblo
We have seen this matchup earlier in the season, though both of these teams look fairly different than in the week five matchup. The last game resulted in a bit of a defensive struggle, and in the end (like the majority of Salinas wins), the downhill running and solid front three gave them just enough of an advantage to survive 40-34. That game also featured Aaron Dilsworth, the elusive wide receiver who led the Punishers in receptions and receiving yards prior to a controversial suspension.
Down the stretch, the Punishers have suffered, but not to the level that would prevent a first-round bye. The offense isn’t nearly as lethal, especially not on the front three. Jo-El Shaw is serviceable in the rushing department and has had a good season, but he won’t be the difference in a close game. On the other side of the ball, we see Salina, who, by all accounts, has found their stride outside of the Colorado loss. Despite losing Evan Lewandowski, Tyrie Adams has stepped in and never missed a beat.
In Adams’ three games, he has compiled four touchdowns and just north of 400 yards. The downhill running from Brooks (and his ability to get open in the flat), paired with Adams’ quick pass game, will be hard for Pueblo to stop. If the Punishers are going to win, three things will have to happen. One… Stop Brooks. Two,Scoring Quick and Early. Three, control the pace of the game in the second half.
It can happen, but we are convinced that Herron O’Neal will get the win and give us an all-CIF title game; we favor the Liberty at -7.5.
(6) Beef vs (1) Storm
34-26 was the final score in a week 4 meeting that went in favor of SWK. To say things have changed since that game would be an understatement. Both teams have different signal callers, granted, for different reasons, and it is now the Beef that comes in with the hottest streak in the NAL. While the Storm came into the contest a league-best 9-1, that 1 is from the regular season finale in which they were going for a perfect regular season.
Of course, back in week 4, the Beef had yet to win a game and still had an entirely different team at that point. The thought of this being a playoff matchup would have been far-fetched to say the least. Offensively, the Beef hasn’t proved drastic, especially since the elevation of CJ Cain to offensive coordinator. The addition of instant Espinosa as the play caller has given leadership to the offense that was truly lacking an identity for the first half of the season.
For the Storm, it is essentially on repeat, having a key player (Matt Struck) go down towards the end of the season, just in time for the playoffs. However, this year they seem to be in much better hands and have prepared for this, for instance, with Trae Self stepping in and continuing to help the team win games. It will be interesting to see how Self does with the pressure of the playoffs on his shoulders.
This game will likely be like the regular-season matchup, where defense will set the tone. While some can argue that Omaha’s Cinderella run is probably hitting midnight against the number one seed, I think we’ve all learned not to sleep on the Beef, even when things are at their worst. For SWK, they have the past few seasons under Coach Thomas of not being able to get the job done in the playoffs looming over their heads.
Here at Shady Sports Network, this game is considered a virtual coin toss. Either team would be a great representative in the NAL championship. With SWK at home, they are given the slight edge at -3. Don’t be surprised if it does go the other way, even though the records don’t mirror each other, the talent and determination on these teams are virtually even.
NAL News
In an odd move, the NAL released a public statement against the “Frisco Steam,” a team that up to this point hasn’t claimed a league. Many think the move is to bolster the NAL’s image heading into what is expected to be a chaotic offseason in the indoor/arena football world. You can read the official statement below:
Round one didn’t disappoint, and we are certain the semifinals won’t either. Will we get expansion against established for the title? Or are we going to see a back in the day CIF match up? No matter the case, it’s shaping up to be one of, if not the best post season in the National Arena League post-seasons since COVID. No matter the case, check back in next week for the final NAL Review of the season, and of course, tune into Around the Indoor Football World this Saturday at 7 AM Central!
Need to Catch Up?
NAL: National Arena League Week 13 Review + Playoff Preview
National Arena League (NAL): Week 12 Review
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