SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – A year that is on it’s way toward becoming the worst season in the 24-year history of the Sioux Falls Storm officially saw it’s faint playoff hopes extinguished by the team that entered the game with, ironically, the worst record in the Indoor Football League.
The Jacksonville Sharks scored nine points in the fourth quarter to upend the Storm 36-28 and officially eliminated them from IFL playoff contention on Saturday night at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.
It might be the lowest point of the season for a Sioux Falls (3-10) who, having won May 18th 52-42 at Jacksonville (3-10), knew they needed a victory tonight against the Sharks at home to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, and instead join them with what now is the second-worst record in IFL (only Tucson and Duke City are worse in the Western Conference with 2-11 marks).
Things got off to a wild start even before kickoff when EVERY player on each team was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty due to a pregame altercation.
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The start of the game would see the teams trading touchdowns with Sioux Falls starting a new quarterback for the first time in seven games. Louisiana-Monroe alum Jiya Wright replaced Lorenzo Brown and led the Storm to touchdowns on their first three drives to help them open up a 21-13 lead.
The Sharks proved just as efficient with touchdowns on their first three drives too and, when the Storm failed to convert a fourth and six, Jacksonville made it 4-4 on opening drives when Kaleb Barker hit DJ Stubbs with for an eight yard touchdown with 11 seconds to go in the second quarter to give the Sharks a 27-21 halftime lead.
Surprisingly the game would turn into a defensive battle in the second half thanks to several long, clock-eating drives. Sioux Falls started things by blocking a Jacksonville field goal following a 5:06 minute opening drive. Sioux Falls took advantage with a ten play, 45-yard drive that chewed up 5:30 of game time and was capped off with a Wright to Kentrez Bell four-yard touchdown pass that put the Storm in front 28-27.
Jacksonville’s next possession stretched between the end of the third quarter and into the fourth and would end when Kaleb Barker was sacked on fourth down at the Storm 15 by Dajon Emery and fumbled into the waiting arms of Logan Swanson.
The Storm failed to get any points, though, when Sarris missed a 31-yard field goal. The Sharks marched down field 45 yards in 5:50 and went back in front when, on 4th and 3, Barker connected with Jaedon Stoshak for an 18-yard touchdown. To make matters worse for the Storm on the ensuing kickoff Kevin DiDio-Weber was able to boot it through the uprights for a “deuce” (additional two points) which upped the Sharks lead to 34-28.
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Starting at their own five Sioux Falls drove down to the Jacksonville four only to see Wright stuffed on a 4th down and 1 run. The Sharks took over and ran out the clock.
In his debut Wright went 12-18 passing for 146 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing 9 times for 22 yards and a score. Lorenzo Thompson hauled in five passes for 51 yards while Bell and Draysean Hudson each caught touchdowns.
The Storm visit Quad City next Saturday at 7:05 PM.
Click on the video viewer for tonight’s highlights.
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The Western Michigan Broncos (2-3) hit the court against the South Dakota Coyotes (4-1) on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN+. Below, we analyze the Western Michigan vs. South Dakota odds and lines around this game.
The Broncos and the Coyotes meet with no line currently set for the matchup.
Western Michigan has compiled a 2-2-0 record against the spread this season, while South Dakota is 0-2-0. The Broncos have gone over the point total in two games, while Coyotes games have gone over one time.
Here’s everything you need to prepare for Wednesday’s college basketball action.
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Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Western Michigan vs. South Dakota prediction
South Dakota 86, Western Michigan 71
Against the spread
Western Michigan has a record of 2-2-0 against the spread this season.
The 71.8 points per game the Broncos put up are the same as the Coyotes give up.
The Coyotes score an average of 86.0 points per game, 18.2 more points than the 67.8 the Broncos give up to opponents.
South Dakota is 0-2 against the spread and 4-1 overall when it scores more than 67.8 points.
Western Michigan’s record is 2-2 against the spread and 2-3 overall when it allows fewer than 86.0 points.
Players to watch
Western Michigan
Javaughn Hannah posts a team-best 12.0 points per game. He is also posting 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists, shooting 46.9% from the floor and 33.3% from beyond the arc with 1.0 made 3-pointers per game.
Owen Lobsinger is tops on his team in rebounds per contest (7.8), and also averages 11.0 points and 1.6 assists. At the other end, he posts 0.6 steals and 0.2 blocked shots.
Markhi Strickland is putting up 10.2 points, 1.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds per contest.
South Dakota
Chase Forte tops the Coyotes in assists (3.6 per game), and produces 12.0 points and 2.2 rebounds. He also puts up 2.0 steals and 0.2 blocked shots.
Isaac Bruns is posting team highs in points (14.0 per game) and assists (0.4). And he is delivering 4.4 rebounds, making 54.5% of his shots from the floor and 27.3% from beyond the arc, with 1.2 treys per game.
Quandre Bullock is posting 9.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest, making 47.2% of his shots from the floor and 34.8% from beyond the arc, with 1.6 treys per game.
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(AP) — Aidan Bouman threw three touchdown passes, Charles Pierre Jr. and Travis Theis both ran for more than 100 yards and a touchdown and South Dakota held on to beat North Dakota 42-36 on Saturday.
Theis, who had 150 yards on 16 carries, scored on an 8-yard run early in the fourth quarter to make it 35-21. Then Pierre, who had 173 yards on 15 carries, broke loose for a 76-yard touchdown to stretch the lead to three touchdowns with 9:35 to play.
Simon Romfo scored on a 7-yard run and then found Bo Belquist for a 3-yard touchdown pass and threw a 2-point conversion with 23 seconds left.
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But the Coyotes (8-2, 6-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference), the No. 5 team in the FCS coaches poll, recovered the onside kick to set up a showdown with top-ranked North Dakota State next week.
Sawyer Seidl scored on a 51-yard run to give North Dakota a 7-0 lead after one quarter. Romfo threw short touchdown passes to Nick Kupfer and Quincy Vaughn and Bouman matched that, hitting Carter Bell and Quaron Adams, but the Fighting Hawks (5-6, 2-5) led 21-17 at the break.
South Dakota took the lead on a 53-yard Bouman-to-Pierre connection four plays into the second half.
Bouman was 15 of 21 for 190 yards as the Coyotes had 512 total yards. Romfo was 20 of 30 for 180 as North Dakota finished with 322 yards.
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