SIOUX FALLS, SD - The Sioux Falls Storm Indoor Football Team return to action in week 12 of the Indoor Football League season when they host the Iowa Barnstormers on Saturday, June 1st at 7:05 PM CT inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.

The Storm enjoyed a much needed bye week last week and return home with back-to-back games scheduled inside the Storm Shelter. Sioux Falls has won two of their last three games and will have a chance to get back into the IFL playoff picture with an Eastern Conference opponent in front of them tonight.


THE MATCHUP
The Sioux Falls Storm and Iowa Barnstormers will meet for the 25th time in the series history. The Sioux Falls Storm lead the all-time series 13-11 and carry a five game winning streak over the Barnstormers dating back to April 29th, 2002.


SCOUTING THE BARNSTORMERS
The Iowa Barnstormers finished the 2023 Indoor Football League season with a 3-12 record and finished the year 6th place in the IFL Eastern Conference standings.

The Barnstormers are 2-7 this season and will have a new QB under center for tonight's game in Sioux Falls. Iowa had been working with veteran QB Darius James Peterson and Kyle King over the first half of the season, but will turn to Daniel Smith tonight against Sioux Falls. 

Smith appeared in 12 games for the Barnstormers last season before catching on with the Tulsa Oilers prior to the 2024 Season. Smith played in 8 games for the Oilers before his return to Iowa.

The Iowa offense ranks 12th in ppg (39.6) and are 11th in the IFL in TD scored. Their top offensive threats have been RB Rob Washington who has ran the ball 87 times  for 283 yards and 9 TD.  WR's Darren Wilson and Quain Williams have both hauled in 30+ catches this season and have combined for 860 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The Iowa defense has allowed the 7th most points per game in the IFL this season (46.9) with defensive back Jefferson Fritz leading the team with 44.5 tackles ranking 8th in the IFL.


SCOUTING THE SIOUX FALLS STORM
The Sioux Falls Storm finished the 2023 Indoor Football League season with a 11-7 record and an Eastern Conference Championship title.

The Storm are 2-6 this season under first year head coach Andre Fields, but have won 2 of their last 3 games. The Storm return from a week 11 bye after a week 10 win on the road against the Jacksonville Sharks 52-42.

The Storm offense rank 11th in the IFL in points per game (41.6) and tied for 13th in the IFL in touchdowns scored.

The Storm offense turned the ball over to veteran QB Lorenzo Brown Jr. during the Storm's week 8 home win over the Green Bay Bay Blizzard (46-38).

The Storm's top offensive threats this season have been receivers Kentrez Bell and Carlos Thompson Jr. The duo played for the San Diego Strike Force last season and were the top WR combo in the IFL. Bell has missed the last two games due to an anke injury but is expected to return tonight. Bell and Thompson have combined for 41 catches and over 500 yards of offense this season. Tonight will be the first game with Bell and QB Lorenzo Brown Jr. on the field together.

The Storm lost starting running back Xavier Jackson for the season after suffering a broken ankle on April 27th in Fargo. Bryson Denley and KeShawn Williams have carried the load for the Storm, combining for 53 carries and over 200 yards rushing.


STORM DEFENSE CONTINUES STRONG SEASON
The Storm defense has been a bright spot this season. Despite the 2-6 record, the Sioux Falls Storm have remained one of the best defensive united in the Indoor Football league.

Entering tonight's action, the Sioux Falls defense ranks 3rd in the IFL in touchdowns allowed (48). Only the Massachusetts Pirates and Vegas Knight Hawks have allowed fewer touchdown scores this season.

The storm defense are middle of the pack in points allowed per game (46.3ppg) ranking 9th in the IFL overall. Sioux Falls also ranks 5th in the IFL overall in fumbles recovered having secured 4 recoveries in 8 games played.

Individually the Storm have two of the top defenders in the IFL. Defensive back Elijah Reed enters the night ranking 3rd in the league with 52 total tackles. His 36 solo tackles also rank 5th in the IFL this season.

Rookie Linebacker Amin Black has missed two games due to injury this season. When he has been on the field, the former Villanova Wildcat has been one of the more dominant forces in the IFL.

Black enters the night ranking 7th in the league in total tackles (44.5) and 5th in the IFL in solo tackles (37). He is also one of two Storm players to record a sack this season.


LARONJI VASON MCCOY NAMED IFL WEEK 10 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
The Sioux Falls Storm Indoor Football team are thrilled to announce that Defensive Back Laronji Vason McCoy has been named the Indoor Football League (IFL) Week 10 Defensive Player of the Week.
 
In an impressive performance during the Storm's road victory over the Jacksonville Sharks on Saturday, Vason McCoy recorded 7 tackles (5 solo), added two interceptions, and forced a fumble, contributing significantly to the team's 52-42 win.
 
Vason McCoy, a standout player for the Storm, has appeared in 27 games over parts of three seasons, amassing 163 total tackles in a Storm uniform. During the 2023 season, he finished third in the IFL in total tackles and was second on the team overall, with his 99.5 total tackles ranking 10th most in a single season in Sioux Falls Storm history.
 
So far this season, Vason McCoy has recorded 42 total tackles, including two interceptions and six passes defended, showcasing his defensive prowess once again.


STORM HOPE FOR SECOND HALF SURGE
For the first time in franchise history, the Sioux Falls Storm found themselves at a winless 0-5 start, a stark departure from their storied legacy of success.

Throughout their 24-year tenure, the Storm have faced and overcome adversity before. Notably, in the 2005 season, they endured a four-game losing streak from June 11th to July 2nd before clinching victory in United Bowl 1 against the Sioux City Bandits (40-38).

The longest losing streak in franchise history remains the six-game slump during the 2001 season. After starting the season with a promising 4-0 record, the Storm lost six straight from May 5th to June 9th before ultimately losing to the Wyoming Cavalry in the semifinals.

The Storm snapped their 0-5 start to the 2024 season on Friday, May 3rd when they defeated the Green Bay Blizzard 46-38 inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. It was the first career win for 1st year Head Coach Andre Fields.

Sioux Falls have won two of their last three games and are coming off a bye week. The Storm will host back-to-back home games to kick off the month of June.

With the Green Bay Blizzard defeating the Quad City Steamwheelers on Friday night, the Storm now have an opening to get back into the 2024 playoff picture.

A win over Iowa on Saturday night coupled with a Tulsa loss against the San Diego Strikeforce would launch the Storm into the 5 seed in the East with seven (7) weeks remaining in the 2024 IFL regular season.

A NEW/OLD QB STEPPING IN FOR IOWA?
Former Sioux Falls Storm QB Daniel Smith has been a journeyman in the IFL over the last few seasons.

The Iowa Barnstormers announced earlier this week that they had re-signed Smith to their roster after an 8 game stint with the Tulsa Oilers earlier this season.

Smith served primarily as a back up during his one season (2022) with the Sioux Falls Storm, but he did appear in 12 games for the Barnstormers last season (2023), throwing for over 1,000 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also add 144 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Smith caught on with the Tulsa Oilers before training camp in this season and picked up an April 14th win over the Storm in their home opener. Smith finished the game 18-for-26 with 169 yards passing and 5 passing touchdowns. Smith also ran the ball 7 times for 16 yards and a rushing score against his old team.

Overall, Smith appeared in 8 games for Tulsa this season, throwing for 1,060 and 17 touchdowns.

Tonight will be his first game with the Barnstormers in 2024 but it is unclear if he will be starting or even active for this game.