Colorado Ice Lose Final Game & the Opportunity to Host Playoff Game

In order to assure themselves a home game in the Indoor Football League (IFL) Playoffs, the Colorado Ice had to beat a team that hardly ever loses at home, hardly ever loses at all. The Sioux Falls Storm actually haven't lost at all this season, and continued that trend on Saturday as they routed the Ice 69-26. The loss eliminated the Ice’s shot at home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Stopping Colorado’s run game was high on the Storm’s agenda, and that point was reinforced when the Ice’s Cordera Eason burst through the middle and went 30 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter to pull the visitors within four at 14-10. That was apparently the wake-up call the Storm needed, as they would score 28 of the next 35 points, including two scores before half that gave them a 28-10 lead at the break.

Ice quarterback Jeremy Sanders, who had breathed new life into the Colorado offense since being installed as the starter, was held to just 37 yards on 15 rushes while throwing for only 82 yards on 12-for-23 passing.

All is not lost, however, as Colorado (8-6) will still make the Indoor Football League playoffs, currently sitting at fourth place in the Intense Conference. That seeding could change, depending on how the Wichita Wild and Allen Wranglers fair next week. Wichita plays at Green Bay while Allen hosts New Mexico. Both would have to lose in order for the Ice to have an opportunity at the No. 3 seed, but coach Hernon O’Neal knows that’s not likely. “The first thing we wanted to do this season was get in the playoffs, and we accomplished that. Now we just sit back and wait.” O’Neal said.