SIOUX FALLS, SD – The Sioux Falls Storm Indoor Football Team hit the road this week for a week 10 matchup against one of the newest members of the Indoor Football League, The Jacksonville Sharks.
 
Tonight's game will feature two of the most decorated franchises in Indoor/Arena Football history. The Sioux Falls Storm are the winningest Indoor Football team in the history of the game, having won 11 championships in 24 seasons and have made 17 championship game appearances.
 
Jacksonville has an extensive indoor football history, having been a part of the Arena Football League (AFL) from 2010 to 2016 and the National Arena League (NAL) from 2017 to 2023.

The Jacksonville Sharks won an AFL Championship in 2011 and NAL championships in 2017, 2019, and 2023.
 
Both teams have gotten off to rocky starts in the 2024 IFL season, entering Saturday night's matchup, both teams are carrying 1-6 records.

The Sioux Storm will be making their first appearance inside VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Franchise history.
 
 
SCOUTING THE JACKSONVILLE SHARKS
 
The Jacksonville Sharks enter tonight's matchup holding a 1-6 record and sit in 7^th place in the IFL's Eastern Conference standings.
 
The Sharks offense has had a rocky start, ranking last in the league in points per game (32.6) and are tied with the Tucson Sugar Skulls with the second fewest offensive touchdowns (32).
 
Quarterbacks Connor Blount and Fred Payton Jr. have split time running the offense this season. Payton ranks 10^th in the IFL in pass completions (61) and passing touchdowns (12). His 4 interceptions this season rank 6^th in the IFL while Payton's 621 passing yards are 11^th best in the IFL.
 
Payton is also Jacksonville's top rushing threat averaging 41.8 rushing yards per game. He has 167 rushing yards on the season and 5 rushing touchdowns.
 
The Sharks top receiving threat is Kamrin Solomon, who enters tonight's matchup ranking 14^th in the IFL overall with 25 catches for 259 yards.  Solomon's 8 receiving touchdowns are tied for 7^th in the league this season.
 
Defensively, the Sharks are led by Jabari Gorman who has racked up 39 tackles over the first seven games, ranking 7^th in the IFL overall. Gorman's 34 solo tackles are tied for second most in the league this season.
 
 
SCOUTING THE SIOUX FALLS STORM
 
The Sioux Falls Storm enter Saturday night's game with a 1-6 record and are searching for their first road win of the season.

The Storm offense ranks 11^th in the IFL in points per game (40.1) and 10^th in the league in total offensive touchdowns (40) ranking 10^th overall.

Quarterback Lorenzo Brown Jr. returned to the Sioux Falls Storm three weeks ago after playing in parts of three games for the Arizona Rattlers. Brown filed retirement paperwork at the end of the 2023 season but came out of retirement after injury issues within the Arizona offense. Brown was released before week 4 of the IFL season and was immediately picked up by the Storm.

Brown replaced Billy Hall in the 2^nd quarter of the Storm's May 3^rd home contest against the Green Bay Blizzard.  Brown made his first start of the season last week in the home loss to the Quad City Steamwheelers.

The Storm defense is led by a pair of young rising stars in the Indoor game. Former University of South Dakota standout Elijah Reed enters Saturday night's contest leading the IFL in total tackles (45) and 5^th in the league in solo tackles (32). Reed's teammate Amin Black is second in the IFL in total tackles (44.5) and leads the IFL in solo tackles (37).
 

ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE/SIOUX FALLS SPECIALTY HOSPITAL INJURY REPORT
The Sioux Falls Storm early season struggles have been well documented. The 0-5 start to the season will go down as the worst start in the history of the franchise. Injuries haven't helped matters, with several key players sidelined with significant medical issues.

Questionable:
WR – Kentrez Bell (Ankle)
LB – Amin Black (Concussion)
DB – Laronji Vason-McCoy (Concussion)
DL – Logan Swanson (Knee)


Out:
OL – Ty Cobb (Short Term IL)
DL – Isaiah Blackmon (Short Term IL)
RB – Xavier Jackson (Season Ending Ankle)
DB – Kendricks Gladney Jr. (Season Ending Knee)



NEW FACES TO STORM NATION
The Sioux Falls Storm have been decimated by early season injuries, forcing first year head coach Andre Fields to bring in some new faces for the Week 10 road contest against the Jacksonville Sharks.

The Storm will have five new players in uniform for tonight's game, hoping that some fresh blood in the locker room will translate into the first road win of the season.

#2 Linebacker – D'darrin Primes
#3 Quarterback – Nick Eilers
#20 Defensive Back – Rome Weber
#69 Offensive Line – Tyrell Thompson
#95 Defensive Line - Marquis Burks
 

LOOKING AHEAD
The Sioux Falls Storm enter a bye week next week with a chance to rest up and get ready for a busy month of June. The Storm will host three home games during the month of June, including back-to-back home games June 1^st and June 8^th inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.
 
Fans can purchase tickets to any of the four (4) remaining home games for the Sioux Falls Storm this season by visiting the KELOLAND Box Office, located inside the main lobby of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center or by visiting Ticketmaster.com.
 
 
ONE LAST THING
Saturday night's game will be a homecoming of sorts for veteran defensive lineman Claude Davis. The former IFL champion makes his home in Sioux Falls, SD these days, but is originally from Lakeland, Florida. He played his college football at the University of Central Florida where he recorded six sacks over 24 games.

Davis is one of the more decorated players on the Storm Roster, winning IFL Championships with the Sioux Falls Storm during the 2016 and 2019 seasons.

Davis was named the Indoor Football League's Defensive Player of the Week two weeks ago after recording two sacks and a special teams interception during the Storm's home win over the Green Bay Blizzard.
 
Davis entered the 2024 season ranking in the top-10 in several Sioux Falls Storm categories.
 
He currently sits in the top 10 all-time in franchise history in career tackles for loss (4th place- 63). Earlier this season Davis passed current storm linebackers coach Mark Blackburn for 5^th all-time and could pass defensive line coach Cory Johnsen and hall of famer Nate Fluit (tied 2^nd – 66.5 TFL) for 2^nd all-time in franchise history by seasons end.
 
 Davis is also in the top-10 in franchise history in sacks (7th place- 27). Earlier this season Davis passed Austin Flyger and needs a .5 sack to tie IFL Hall of Famer Ty Knight for 6^th place all-time.  Davis needs 1.5 sacks to tie Mark Blackburn for 5^th all-time. Cory Johnsen holds the franchise record with 64.5 sacks.
 
Davis needs 22 total tackles over the final 9 games of the 2024 season to move into the top 10 all-time in Sioux Falls Storm history.