The 2017 Indoor Football League season was the ninth season of the Indoor Football League (IFL). Playing with ten teams in two conferences spread across the midwestern and western United States, the league's regular season kicked off on February 16, 2017, when the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles hosted the Nebraska Danger. The regular season ended 18 weeks later on June 18, 2017, with the defending league champion Sioux Falls Storm visiting the Iowa Barnstormers and the Wichita Falls Nighthawks visiting the Nebraska Danger. The playoffs were held in two rounds, with the top two seeds in each conference playing against each other in the conference championships. The winner of those games met in the United Bowl.
Teams For 2017, the IFL maintained its two-conference, no-divisions format, with each of the ten teams playing 16 games during the 18-week regular season. The Billings Wolves and Tri-Cities Fever announced their suspension of operations for the 2017 season, maintaining hope of a return for 2018.The City Herald (subscription required) In their place, the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles (owned by Project FANchise, with fans controlling every aspect of the team) were accepted into the IFL as an expansion team, and the Arizona Rattlers joined the IFL after having played the last 24 seasons in the Arena Football League.
TeamLocationArenaCapacityFoundedJoinedHead coachUnited ConferenceCedar Rapids TitansCedar Rapids, IowaU.S. Cellular Center6,90020122012Marvin McNuttGreen Bay BlizzardGreen Bay, WisconsinResch Center8,60020032010Chris WilliamsIowa BarnstormersDes Moines, IowaWells Fargo Arena15,18119952015Dixie WootenSioux Falls StormSioux Falls, South DakotaDenny Sanford Premier Center10,67820002009Kurtiss RiggsWichita Falls NighthawksWichita Falls, TexasKay Yeager Coliseum7,38020132015Billy BackIntense ConferenceArizona RattlersPhoenix, Arizona Talking Stick Resort Arena15,50519922017Kevin GuyColorado CrushLoveland, ColoradoBudweiser Events Center5,28920072009Jose JeffersonNebraska DangerGrand Island, NebraskaEihusen Arena6,00020112011Hurtis ChinnSalt Lake Screaming EaglesWest Valley City, UtahMaverik Center10,00020162017Matthew SaukSpokane EmpireSpokane, WashingtonSpokane Veterans Memorial Arena10,77120062016Adam Shackleford
Standings
Playoffs
Awards Players of the week The following were named the top performers during the 2017 season: WeekOffensivePlayer of the WeekDefensivePlayer of the WeekSpecial TeamsPlayer of the Week1 Charles McCullum(Nighthawks) Rashard Smith(Storm) Trey Wafford(Danger)2 Verlon Reed(Screaming Eagles) Robert Brown(Empire) Tyler Williams(Nighthawks)3 Derrick Bernard(Danger) Tyree Robinson(Empire) Tanner Graeber(Nighthawks)4 Trevor Kennedy(Empire) Javicz Jones(Barnstormers) Jamal Miles(Rattlers)5 Charles Dowdell(Empire) Manny Asprilla(Blizzard) Carlton Watkins(Storm)6 Mike Tatum(Storm) John Hardy-Tuliau(Empire) Joshua Gable(Danger)7 Charles McCullum(Nighthawks) Nikolas Sierra(Danger) Spencer Groner(Crush)8 Cody Sokol(Rattlers) Javicz Jones(Barnstormers) Justin Syrovatka(Storm)9 Darrell Monroe(Rattlers) DaeJohn Love(Barnstormers) Marcus Barnett(Titans)10 Liam Nadler(Crush) Eze Obiora(Danger) Trevor Kennedy(Empire)11 Darrell Monroe(Rattlers) James Calhoun(Screaming Eagles) Tyler Williams(Nighthawks)12 Travis Partridge(Barnstormers) Tyler Knight(Storm) Tyrell Pearson(Blizzard)13 Tre' Parmalee(Titans) Khalif Mitchell(Storm) Sawyer Petre(Rattlers)14 Travis Partridge(Barnstormers) Justin Shirk(Rattlers) Chris Robinson(Screaming Eagles)15 Brady Roland(Barnstormers) James Calhoun(Screaming Eagles) Rockne Belmonte(Nighthawks)16 Drew Powell(Danger) Jamie Bender(Barnstormers) Tyler Williams(Nighthawks)17 Brady Roland(Barnstormers) Allen Chapman(Rattlers) Miles Bergner(Crush)18 Drew Powell(Danger) Rashard Smith(Storm) Miles Bergner(Crush)
Individual season awards Award Winner Position Team Most Valuable Player Charles McCullum Quarterback Wichita Falls Nighthawks Offensive Player of the Year Charles McCullum Quarterback Wichita Falls Nighthawks Defensive Player of the Year Javicz Jones Linebacker Iowa Barnstormers Special Teams Player of the Year Tyler Williams Kick returner Wichita Falls Nighthawks Offensive Rookie of the Year Verlon Reed Quarterback Salt Lake Screaming Eagles Defensive Rookie of the Year Trey Wafford Defensive back Nebraska Danger Most Improved Award Travis Partridge Quarterback Iowa Barnstormers Adam Pringle Award Jack Bramswig Wide receiver Green Bay Blizzard Coach of the Year Dixie Wooten Head coach Iowa Barnstormers
1st Team All-IFL
OffenseQuarterbackCharles McCullum, Wichita FallsRunning backDarrell Monroe, ArizonaWide receiverJordan Jolly, Wichita FallsBrady Roland, IowaDamond Powell, Cedar RapidsOffensive tackleDarius Savage, NebraskaLamar Mady, ArizonaCenterRashad Mungro, Sioux FallsDefenseDefensive lineJ. D. Griggs, SpokaneRa'Shawde Myers, IowaChris McAllister, ArizonaLinebackerJavicz Jones, IowaDefensive backTrey Wafford, NebraskaAllen Chapman, ArizonaRashard Smith, Sioux FallsJames Calhoun, Salt LakeSpecial teamsKickerRockne Belmonte, Wichita FallsKick returnerTyler Williams, Wichita Falls
2nd Team All-IFL
OffenseQuarterbackTravis Partridge, IowaRunning backTyler Williams, Wichita FallsWide receiverKyle Kaizer, ColoradoDevin Mahina, Salt LakeMarquel Willis, Green BayOffensive tackleKyle Bryant, Sioux FallsD'Angelo McCray, IowaCenterDamian Love, ArizonaDefenseDefensive endEze Obiora, NebraskaClaude Davis, Sioux FallsWalter Thomas, Wichita FallsLinebackerTyler Knight, Sioux FallsDefensive backJamie Bender, IowaMatt Hermanson, Sioux FallsJohn Hardy-Tuliau, SpokaneManny Asprilla, Green BaySpecial teamsKickerSawyer Petre, ArizonaKick returnerDaniel Lindsey, Colorado
References
See also 2017 National Arena League season