The 2017 Champions Indoor Football season was the third season of the CIF. It started on February 25, when the Omaha Beef traveled to Iowa, losing to the Sioux City Bandits 63–44. The regular season concluded on Saturday, June 3. This was the first season in which four teams per conference advanced to the Champions Bowl playoffs, with the top seed in each conference hosting their conference's fourth seed, and second seeds hosting third seeds in the first round.
The league champion was the Texas Revolution, who defeated the Beef 59–49 in Champions Bowl III. The season MVP was Duke City Gladiators quarterback Donovan Porterie, and the Champions Bowl MVP was Revolution wide receiver Clinton Solomon.
League changes
New Teams Bismarck Bucks, CenTex Cavalry, Kansas City Phantoms, River City Raiders, West Michigan Ironmen Renamed / Relocated Teams Mesquite Marshals → Dallas Marshals Defunct / Departed Teams Chicago Eagles, River City Raiders, San Angelo Bandits Total Teams 14
Standings
Dodge City Law video controversy On June 2, 2017, the league stripped the Dodge City Law of two victories without awarding them to any other team. Reports from other teams and a subsequent investigation found that the Law were in violation of the league's operations manual and guidelines on uploading video. As their final game of the season did not start at the time, the Law's record went from 9–2 to 7–4. When asked about the decision, commissioner Ricky Bertz stated, "While this situation was unfortunate and no one in the CIF including the Dodge City Law wanted this to be the final outcome, the board of directors decided that this was what was best for the league given the circumstances and how they related to all team members involved."
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 Calvin Phillips(Beef) Devon Bridges(Bandits) Dominique Carson(Bandits)2 Frederick Bruno(Bandits) Michael McGee(Edge) Chad Marrow(Marshals)3 J. J. Hayes(Edge) Kiaree Daniels(Force) Drew O'Brien(Liberty)4 David Olson(Phantoms) Gary Henderson(Law) Brian Weeks(Gladiators)5 Donovan Porterie(Gladiators) Cliff Stokes(Bandits) Jared Wood(Law)6 Alex Carder(Ironmen) LaDon Hudson(Revolution) Greg Conry(Bandits)7 Chris Dixon(Revolution) Darien Anderson(Force) Mitch Moore(Edge)8 Nate Davis(Venom) Devon Bridges(Bandits) Jared Wood(Law)9 Stephen Alfred(Marshals) Donte Hurst(Ironmen) Jacob Felton(Venom)10 Michael Dyer(Revolution) Brandon Jenkins(Phantoms) Benny Hanaphy(Beef)11 Jake Medlock(Force) Ricky Wyatt(Law) Evan Connolly(Bucks)12 Clinton Solomon(Revolution) Ben Pister(Phantoms) Dallas Herndon(Phantoms)13 Donovan Porterie(Gladiators) Keenen Gibbs(Force) Greg Conry(Bandits)14 Jonathan Ray(Beef) Brenden Daley(Bucks) Antonio Bray(Gladiators)15 Darrelynn Dunn(Edge) Ben Pister(Phantoms) Cody Barber(Edge)
Individual season awards Award Winner Position Team Most Valuable Player Donovan Porterie Quarterback Duke City Gladiators Offensive Player of the Year Clinton Solomon Wide receiver Texas Revolution Defensive Player of the Year Devon Bridges Defensive lineman Sioux City Bandits Special Teams Player of the Year Jacob Felton Kicker Amarillo Venom Rookie of the Year Michael Dyer Running back Texas Revolution Coach of the Year Erv Strohbeen Head coach Sioux City Bandits
All-CIF Team
OffenseQuarterbackDonovan Porterie, Duke CityRunning backKory Ringer, West MichiganWide receiverDaniel McKinney, Dodge CityClinton Solomon, TexasJ. J. Hayes, BloomingtonOffensive guardDarren Marquez, WichitaKamalie Matthews, Dodge CityCenterMatt Rahn, Sioux CityDefenseDefensive endDevon Bridges, Sioux CityGary Henderson, Dodge CityDefensive tackleTyrone Ezell, BismarckLinebackerRicky Wyatt, Dodge CityDefensive backDeWayne Autrey, Sioux CityKendrick Harper, WichitaIsiah Barfield, SalinaJuvi-Ray Berry, Duke CitySpecial teamsKickerJacob Felton, AmarilloKick returnerMichael Dyer, Texas
All-Conference Teams
First Team Northern
OffenseQuarterbackAlex Carder, West MichiganRunning backKory Ringer, West MichiganWide receiverAnthony Parks, Kansas CityJ. J. Hayes, BloomingtonFredrick Bruno, Sioux CityOffensive guardArthur Doakes, Sioux CityDarius Barnes, Sioux CityCenterMatt Rahn, Sioux CityDefenseDefensive endDevon Bridges, Sioux CityBrenden Daley, BismarckDefensive tackleTyrone Ezell, BismarckLinebackerJarelle Miller, BismarckDefensive backDeWayne Autrey, Sioux CityIsiah Barfield, SalinaCliff Stokes, Sioux CityPaul Robinson, OmahaSpecial teamsKickerGreg Conroy, Sioux CityKick returnerDominique Carson, Sioux City
Second Team Northern
OffenseQuarterbackAnthony Iannotti, OmahaRunning backDominique Carson, Sioux CityWide receiverMarcus Lewis, BloomingtonJeremiah Oates, Sioux CityElby Pope, BismarckOffensive guardAnthony Bullock, West MichiganDion Paulson, BismarckCenterConnor Hart, BloomingtonDefenseDefensive endBen Pister, Kansas CityRony Nelson, West MichiganDefensive tackleAnthony Ficklin, OmahaLinebackerBrock Long, SalinaDefensive backStephen Franklin, Kansas CityBrandon Clarke, BloomingtonDeonte Hurst, Wes MichiganChris Perry, OmahaSpecial teamsKickerCody Barber, BloomingtonKick returnerO. J. Simpson, Kansas City
First Team Southern
OffenseQuarterbackNate Davis, AmarilloRunning backMichael Dyer, TexasWide receiverDaniel McKinney, Dodge CityClinton Solomon, TexasBret Soft, WichitaOffensive guardDarren Marquez, WichitaKamalie Matthews, Dodge CityCenterCameron Edwards, AmarilloDefenseDefensive endFatu Ulale, Duke CityGary Henderson, Dodge CityDefensive tackleBrandon Harold, TexasLinebackerRicky Wyatt, Dodge CityDefensive backFrankie Solomon Jr., TexasKendrick Harper, WichitaJoe Powell, DallasJuvi-Ray Berry, Duke CitySpecial teamsKickerJacob Felton, AmarilloKick returnerMichael Dyer, Texas
Second Team Southern
OffenseQuarterbackDonovan Porterie, Duke CityRunning backAntonio Bray, Duke CityWide receiverLarry Cobb, Duke CityStacy Martin, DallasCedric Gilbert, AmarilloOffensive guardChris Brown, DallasRobert Griffin, TexasCenterTerry Banks Jr., AmarilloDefenseDefensive endKennen Gibbs, WichitaSamual Wren, DallasDefensive tackleJamar Seard, Dodge CityLinebackerJason Serda, Duke CityDefensive backTyrell Green, Dodge CityDonnie Duncan, AmarilloRay Little, Duke CityAnthony Webb, DallasSpecial teamsKickerJared Wood, Dodge CityKick returnerAntonio Bray, Duke City
References