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2021 Indoor Football League season

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The 2021 Indoor Football League season was the thirteenth (and twelfth complete) season of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The league played the season with twelve teams, down from thirteen the previous season, by adding one expansion team, one team from the National Arena League, one team from the American Arena League, and four teams going on hiatus. In addition, three existing teams made their IFL on-field debut after the 2020 season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

LeagueIndoor Football League
SportIndoor football
DurationApril 23 – September 12
Teams12
Quick facts League, Sport ...
2021 IFL season
LeagueIndoor Football League
SportIndoor football
DurationApril 23 – September 12
Teams12
Season MVPDrew Powell (Arizona)[1]
Finals championsMassachusetts Pirates
  Runners-upArizona Rattlers
Finals MVPAlejandro Bennifield[2]
IFL seasons
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As there were still many pandemic-related restrictions still in place during early 2021, the start of the season was delayed from February to April with the postseason to begin in August. The top eight teams qualified for the postseason with the Massachusetts Pirates, playing their first season in the IFL, defeating the Arizona Rattlers in the United Bowl on September 12.[2]

Offseason

On June 26, 2020, the Columbus Wild Dogs announced that they would not begin play until 2022.[4] On August 19, 2020, the Massachusetts Pirates, formerly of the National Arena League, were added to the IFL for the 2021 season as the league's first East Coast-based team.[5] On August 25, the league added the Northern Arizona Wranglers in Prescott Valley, Arizona, for the 2021 season, joining the Arizona Rattlers and Tucson Sugar Skulls as the third IFL team to be based in Arizona for 2021.[6] On November 6, the Louisville Xtreme of Louisville, Kentucky, was added.[7] The 2020 expansion Oakland Panthers,[8] as well as the Cedar Rapids River Kings, Quad City Steamwheelers, and the San Diego Strike Force withdrew from the season due to the effects of the pandemic.[9][10]

The initial schedule for the twelve teams was announced on November 17, 2020, with all teams playing 16 games between March 28 and July 24, 2021, before the playoffs.[11] On February 17, the league pushed back its start date to April 23 for four teams, with the rest of the teams to start on May 14. The four teams that started on April 23 were to still have 16 games, but the others teams were to play a reduced 14-game schedule.[12]

Teams

More information Team, Location ...
TeamLocationArenaCapacityFoundedJoinedHead coach
Arizona RattlersPhoenix, ArizonaFootprint Center[a]18,42219922017Kevin Guy
Bismarck BucksBismarck, North DakotaBismarck Event Center10,10020172019Rod Miller
Duke City GladiatorsRio Rancho, New MexicoRio Rancho Events Center6,00020152020Martino Theus (until June 30)
Robert Kent Jr.[14]
Frisco FightersFrisco, TexasComerica Center3,50020192020Clint Dolezel
Green Bay BlizzardGreen Bay, WisconsinResch Center8,60020032010Corey Roberson
Iowa BarnstormersDes Moines, IowaWells Fargo Arena15,18119952015Les Moss
Louisville XtremeLouisville, KentuckyKFC Yum! Center22,09020122021Mark Stoute
Massachusetts PiratesWorcester, MassachusettsDCU Center12,33920172021Patrick Pass
Northern Arizona WranglersPrescott Valley, ArizonaFindlay Toyota Center6,00020202021Dominic Bramante
Sioux Falls StormSioux Falls, South DakotaDenny Sanford Premier Center10,67820002009Kurtiss Riggs
Spokane ShockSpokane, WashingtonSpokane Veterans Memorial Arena10,77120062020Billy Back
Tucson Sugar SkullsTucson, ArizonaTucson Convention Center8,96220182019Dixie Wooten
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  1. [a]
    Was known as Phoenix Suns Arena at the start of the season until July 16, 2021.[13]

Regular season

Standings

More information Team, W ...
Team W L PCT PF PA
y – Arizona Rattlers122.857708535
x – Massachusetts Pirates113.786627455
x – Frisco Fighters103.769532485
x – Duke City Gladiators77.500741661
x – Iowa Barnstormers66.500499483
x – Spokane Shock66.500520486
x – Bismarck Bucks78.467613616
x – Sioux Falls Storm67.462569558
Tucson Sugar Skulls68.429574597
Green Bay Blizzard59.357494569
Northern Arizona Wranglers113.071443736
Louisville Xtreme[a]05.000153223
(y) clinched regular season title • (x) clinched playoff spot
Final standings[b] • Source[15][16][17]
  1. [a]
    Terminated midseason
  2. [b]
    Standings reflect overall winning percentage per the official IFL source, but are not based on playoff seeds due to tiebreakers.
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Schedule

The season began on the weekend of April 23–24 with two games: the Bismarck Bucks at the Green Bay Blizzard and the Massachusetts Pirates at the Louisville Xtreme. The four teams were the only teams playing until May 15 when the other teams joined. After initially postponing the Xtreme's June 12 home game, the IFL subsequently terminated the Xtreme's membership due to failing to maintain the league's minimum obligations and the team did not finish the season. All of the Xtreme's games were removed from the schedule.[18]

More information Week, Date ...
WeekDateVisitorScoreHomeVenue
1 April 23[19]Bismarck Bucks41–35Green Bay BlizzardResch Center
April 24[20]Massachusetts Pirates49–18Louisville XtremeKFC Yum! Center
2 May 2[21]Massachusetts Pirates36–40Green Bay BlizzardResch Center
3 May 7[22]Louisville Xtreme29–49Green Bay BlizzardResch Center
May 8[23]Massachusetts Pirates36–18Bismarck BucksBismarck Event Center
4 May 15[24]Green Bay Blizzard46–58Bismarck BucksBismarck Event Center
May 15[25]Iowa Barnstormers56–36Sioux Falls StormDenny Sanford Premier Center
May 15[26]Frisco Fighters36–33Spokane ShockSpokane Arena
May 16[27]Arizona Rattlers51–20Northern Arizona WranglersFindlay Toyota Center
5 May 21[28]Tucson Sugar Skulls36–42Green Bay BlizzardResch Center
May 22[29]Frisco Fighters34–26Louisville XtremeKFC Yum! Center
May 22[29]Northern Arizona Wranglers39–61Bismarck Bucks Bismarck Event Center
May 22[30]Duke City Gladiators63–55 OTIowa BarnstormersWells Fargo Arena
May 22[31]Arizona Rattlers46–50Sioux Falls StormDenny Sanford Premier Center
May 22[29]Spokane Shock34–26Massachusetts PiratesDCU Center
6 May 29[32]Sioux Falls Storm49–43Louisville XtremeKFC Yum! Center
May 29[33]Bismarck Bucks42–49Iowa BarnstormersWells Fargo Arena
May 30[34]Tucson Sugar Skulls55–35Duke City GladiatorsRio Rancho Events Center
7 June 4[35]Arizona Rattlers41–34Green Bay BlizzardResch Center
June 5[36]Louisville Xtreme37–42Massachusetts PiratesDCU Center
June 5[37]Sioux Falls Storm64–28Bismarck BucksBismarck Event Center
June 5[38]Iowa Barnstormers33–13Tucson Sugar SkullsTucson Convention Center
June 5[39]Spokane Shock42–24Northern Arizona WranglersFindlay Toyota Center
June 5[40]Duke City Gladiators57–58Frisco FightersComerica Center
8 June 12[41]Iowa Barnstormers22–53Bismarck BucksBismarck Event Center
June 12Green Bay BlizzardPpd.[42]Louisville XtremeKFC Yum! Center
June 12[43]Tucson Sugar Skulls34–44Arizona RattlersPhoenix Suns Arena
June 12[44]Duke City Gladiators34–17Northern Arizona WranglersFindlay Toyota Center
June 12[45]Spokane Shock50–32Sioux Falls StormDenny Sanford Premier Center
June 12[46]Frisco Fighters40–33Massachusetts PiratesDCU Center
9 June 18[47]Bismarck Bucks50–29Green Bay BlizzardResch Center
June 19[48]Arizona Rattlers51–36Duke City GladiatorsRio Rancho Events Center
June 19Louisville XtremeXFrisco FightersComerica Center
June 19[49]Massachusetts Pirates37–34Tucson Sugar SkullsTucson Convention Center
June 19[50]Sioux Falls Storm47–57Iowa BarnstormersWells Fargo Arena
June 19[51]Northern Arizona Wranglers37–63Spokane ShockSpokane Arena
10 June 25[52]Iowa Barnstormers44–48Green Bay BlizzardResch Center
June 25[53]Spokane Shock35–56Arizona RattlersPhoenix Suns Arena
June 26[54]Frisco Fighters53–48Duke City GladiatorsRio Rancho Events Center
June 26[55]Bismarck Bucks27–52Sioux Falls StormDenny Sanford Premier Center
June 26[56]Tucson Sugar Skulls44–48Northern Arizona WranglersFindlay Toyota Center
June 27Massachusetts PiratesXLouisville XtremeKFC Yum! Center
11 July 2[57]Massachusetts Pirates38–37Frisco FightersComerica Center
July 3Spokane ShockXLouisville XtremeKFC Yum! Center
July 3[58]Northern Arizona Wranglers38–52Duke City GladiatorsRio Rancho Events Center
July 3[59]Arizona Rattlers54–38Tucson Sugar SkullsTucson Convention Center
12 July 9[60]Iowa Barnstormers35–42Frisco FightersComerica Center
July 10[61]Bismarck Bucks38–43Massachusetts PiratesDCU Center
July 10Green Bay BlizzardXLouisville XtremeKFC Yum! Center
July 10[62]Northern Arizona Wranglers19–62Arizona RattlersPhoenix Suns Arena
July 10[63]Duke City Gladiators40–41Tucson Sugar SkullsTucson Sugar Skulls
July 10Sioux Falls Storm35–46Spokane ShockSpokane Arena
13 July 16[64]Frisco Fighters42–43Bismarck BucksBismarck Event Center
July 17Louisville XtremeXIowa BarnstormersWells Fargo Arena
July 17[65]Duke City Gladiators71–54Northern Arizona WranglersFindlay Toyota Center
July 17[66]Tucson Sugar Skulls34–45Spokane ShockSpokane Arena
July 18[67]Arizona Rattlers44–68Massachusetts PiratesDCU Center
July 18[68]Sioux Falls Storm31–21Green Bay BlizzardResch Center
14 July 24Louisville XtremeXMassachusetts PiratesDCU Center
July 24[69]Green Bay Blizzard34–26Iowa BarnstormersWells Fargo Arena
July 24[70]Northern Arizona Wranglers30–33Frisco FightersComerica Center
July 24[71]Spokane Shock61–68Duke City GladiatorsRio Rancho Events Center
July 24[72]Sioux Falls Storm33–59Arizona RattlersFootprint Center[a]
July 24[73]Bismarck Bucks27–34Tucson Sugar SkullsTucson Convention Center
15 July 30[74]Green Bay Blizzard30–41Bismarck BucksBismarck Event Center
July 31Iowa BarnstormersXLouisville XtremeKFC Yum! Center
July 31Duke City Gladiators48–60Arizona RattlersFootprint Center
July 31[75]Northern Arizona Wranglers46–48Tucson Sugar SkullsTucson Convention Center
July 31Frisco Fighters37–33Sioux Falls StormDenny Sanford Premier Center
July 31[76]Massachusetts Pirates63–57Spokane ShockSpokane Arena
16 August 7[77]Green Bay Blizzard33–50Massachusetts PiratesDCU Center
August 7Louisville XtremeXSioux Falls StormDenny Sanford Premier Center
August 7[78]Tucson Sugar Skulls28–55Arizona RattlersFootprint Center
August 7Northern Arizona Wranglers11–71Duke City GladiatorsRio Rancho Events Center
August 7[79]Spokane Shock34–45Frisco FightersComerica Center
August 7[80]Bismarck Bucks41–48Iowa BarnstormersWells Fargo Arena
17 August 13Sioux Falls StormX[81]Bismarck BucksBismarck Event Center
August 13[82]Arizona Rattlers30–20Spokane ShockSpokane Arena
August 14[83]Duke City Gladiators59–63Tucson Sugar SkullsTucson Convention Center
August 14Louisville XtremeXIowa BarnstormersWells Fargo Arena
August 14[84]Sioux Falls Storm49–55Iowa BarnstormersWells Fargo Arena[85]
August 14[86]Green Bay Blizzard20–38Frisco FightersComerica Center
August 15[87]Massachusetts Pirates51–16Northern Arizona WranglersFindlay Toyota Center
18 August 21[88]Tucson Sugar Skulls56–38Northern Arizona WranglersFindlay Toyota Center
August 21[89]Green Bay Blizzard35–58Sioux Falls StormDenny Sanford Premier Center
August 21[90]Frisco Fighters38–55Arizona RattlersFootprint Center
August 21Bismarck Bucks45–57Duke City GladiatorsRio Rancho Events Center
August 21[91]Iowa Barnstormers19–55Massachusetts PiratesDCU Center
August 21Louisville XtremeXSpokane ShockSpokane Arena
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  1. [a]
    Was known as Phoenix Suns Arena at the start of the season until July 16, 2021.[13]

Playoffs

The top eight teams made the IFL playoffs, where teams were ranked by winning percentage due to the imbalanced schedule. After Louisville was terminated midseason, the schedule was further imbalanced leading to several tiebreaker parameters needing to be used resulting in the fourth place Duke City Gladiators and fifth place Iowa Barnstormers switching seeding for the playoffs.

The quarterfinals consisted of the top seed hosting the eighth seed, the second seed hosting the seventh seed, the third seed hosting the sixth seed, and the fourth hosting the fifth seed. In the semifinals, the highest remaining seed hosts the lower remaining seed and the next-highest hosts the next-lowest from the quarterfinals. The semifinal winners then meet in the 2021 United Bowl.[11][92]

First round
(August 28–29) 		Semifinals
(September 4–5) 		United Bowl
(September 12)[93]
         
8 Sioux Falls 42
1 Arizona[94] 69
5 Duke City 55
1 Arizona 58
7 Bismarck 19
2 Massachusetts[95] 44
2 Massachusetts 37
(Pairings are reseeded after the first round)
1 Arizona 34
6 Spokane 33
3 Frisco[96] 44
3 Frisco 22
2 Massachusetts 43
5 Duke City[97] 34
4 Iowa 33

References

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