IIFA Bowl II is Set
The Texas Wranglers (3-4) will end their 2009 season when they travel to The Colony Texas to battle the defending IIFA champion North Texas Crunch (5-2) at the Blue Sky Sports Center on Saturday, July 11, 2009 with kickoff scheduled for 3 PM.
The North Texas Crunch won the 2008 IIFA Championship, defeating the Galveston Thunderstorm in the final game by the score of 52-50, and came into the 2009 season with high expectations for a championship repeat. The Crunch started the season well, winning their fist five games, but lost their last two to teams in the Southern Indoor Football League.The Wranglers escaped the close battle with the DFW Doom on June 27 defeating them 36-26 to get the BIG game.
NORTH TEXAS CRUNCH (5-1) AT ACADIANA MUDBUGS (4-3)
Saturday, June 20 7:05 p.m.
Blackham Coliseum Second appearance for the Crunch, who replaced the PASM Florida Kings as the SIFL's inaugural season travel team ...Crunch lost its SIFL debut 71-15 to Austin two weeks ago and currently leads the IIFA with a 5-1 record ... Crunch has six former Division I-A players on roster, most notable is TCU's Ricky Madison, who led the Intense Football League in rushing for most of 2008 while with the defunct Frisco Thunder ... Mudbugs snapped a three-game losing streak last by holding off Houma 35-33 ... Mudbugs have never scored more than 38 points a game ... QB Bo Bartik has rushed for 72 yards and 2 TDs the last games... Leading WR Anthony Parks has missed the last two games to injury ... stepping in has been DB Kimmee Lewis, who has posted 9 catches for 73 yards and 1 TD in addition to his usual one interception per game.
Crunch Headed to SIFL
The North Texas Crunch have been invited to participate in the remainder of the Southern Indoor Football Leagues 2009 season as a travel team. Head Coach Larry Hendrix Jr. and IIFA commissioner Juan G. Wesson accepted the invitation and will revise the Crunchs currently schedule to allow them to play four games beginning in June. ``Its an incredible opportunity, Hendrix said. ``Our players are going to go against a higher level of play and gain invaluable experience. You can't ask for anything more as a coach.
Several former IIFA players are now in the SIFL, which includes the Louisiana Swashbucklers, Austin Turfcats, Houma Conquerors, Texas Pirates and Acadiana Mudbugs. The SIFL is in its first year of play.
The opening became available when the SIFL expelled the Florida Kings over Memorial Day weekend. The Crunch won the IIFA championship last season and currently lead the league with a 4-0 record.
Crunch travel to Doom for Key Rematch
The North Texas Crunch (3-0) of the Independent Indoor Football Alliance travel to Blue Sky Sports Center in Keller, Texas to take on the DFW Doom (1-2) in a key rematch between two clubs jockeying for playoff positioning.
The difference between the Doom and the Crunch in the standings is a mere 1 game, that's the difference between first and fourth as a loss could prove vital in an already tight league standing. In games played against each other, the Crunch defeated the Doom 18-14 back on May 2.
With both teams coming off a bye week and well needed rest for their teams. Only four point separated these teams with sixteen seconds left in the game on May 2, but the Crunch DB Williams pick-off a pass in the endzone to save a victory for the Crunch. The Crunch will also be short handed on the defensive side ball with starting DT Chris Brown moving up to AF2 (Tri-Cities Fever) last week.
Another Crunch Player Moves Up
The North Texas Crunch of the Independent Indoor Football Alliance are proud to announce that defensive tackle Chris Brown (6'3" 350, Northwest Louisiana State University) has signed a contract to play for the Tri-Cities Fever of the Arena Football League 2.
Chris impressed the Tri-Cities Fever coaching staff in the two games he played with the North Texas Crunch. Chris will start for the Fever this Saturday when the Fever travel to Idaho take on the Boise Burn.
"It hurts us to lose such a quality player, but that's what we are supposed to do.move our players to the next level," says Head Coach Larry Hendrix. "Chris is the epitome of hard work, he was the best DL in our league this year and we expect him to do the same with the Fever."
The North Texas Crunch will hit the field again May 23 as they travel to Keller Texas to battle the DFW Doom.
Indoor Football Network Spotlights IIFA
Chris Black, May 4, 2009
Down Texas way there's more than the IFL and SIFL for indoor football fans, the Independent Indoor Football Alliance They don't claim to be the best thing going in indoor football, but are stable, have six teams this season and go about playing their game without worrying about all the drama the "Big 4" go through.
Its refreshing to have a league that doesn't pretend to be anymore than what it is. The IIFA is professional, their players paid, but they don't play for a crowd of thousands, maybe a few hundred or less. The IIFA bills itself as a developmental league, giving players the opportunity to hone their skills or just play. Many might be waiting for a call from the SIFL, IFL or another league and they might just get that call, but others are there just to play the game they love. The league website lists 12 players from the IIFA that have moved up to more prestigious leagues and their mission statement verifies they are around solely to help players advance.
The IIFA plays a league schedule, but has a couple non league games lined up also, two against the SIFL Florida Kings, a regular season math up on June 20th and the IIFA All Stars against the Kings after their season concludes on July 18th. Both games scheduled on the Kings home turf in Florida
We have decided to follow this league here on the IFN, post their schedule, team and league information along with news and scores. You can visit their website at http://iifafootball.com to learn more about the IIFA and its teams.