By RJ “The Bullish Brahma” Reid
Introduction
It is Week 9 of the Indoor Football League (IFL), and the 2-4 San Antonio Gunslingers head back on the road when they travel to Albuquerque to play the 0-5 Duke City Gladiators. Here’s what you need to know:
When?
Saturday, May 11, 2024 @ 7:05pm CT.
Where?
Rio Rancho Event Center, Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
Gameday Weather
As with every indoor football game, this game is obviously being played indoors; however, for those who are interested in hanging out in the parking lot before the game, it should be 48 degrees, cloudy with a 39% of rain and 8 mile per hour winds.
History
This is the first game between the two teams.
Keys to Victory
Eliminate the illegal defense penalties. San Antonio will be playing their seventh game in the IFL, but they continue to be flagged for illegal defense at least three times a game. These penalties almost always come back to bite the Gunslingers. The coaching staff needs to clean this up and it should have been cleaned up already.
Keep the running game going, even if it is not effective at the beginning. San Antonio has the 3rd worst running offense in the league (Duke City is last); however, Duke City has the 6th best rush defense. An effective running game keeps the defense honest. Everyone knows that San Antonio is going to be slinging the ball all around. Quarterback Sam Castronova by far and away leads the IFL in almost every passing category, but the Gunslingers do need to keep the defenses off balance by sprinkling in the run.
San Antonio needs to stop Duke City at least once a quarter and keep doing what they do best. The Gunslingers have the best offense in the IFL, scoring 54.3 points per game and Duke City has the second worst scoring offense, managing only 34.2 points per game. With such a huge difference in scoring, all San Antonio needs to do is stop Duke City once a quarter and exert their will over an inferior opponent.
Predictions
Let’s look at how my predictions from last week fared:
Austin Upshaw will have at least 5 catches for at least 40 yards.
Incorrect. He had 4 catches and 70 yards.
Keyshawn Harper will have over 20 yards of rushing.
Correct. He had 37 yards rushing.
Tristen Vance will lead the team in tackles.
Correct. He had 11 tackles, 4.5 more than the next player.
The defense will force and recover a fumble.
Incorrect. The Gunslingers did not force a turnover.
Week 8 results: 2-2.
Overall results: 9-25.
And now my predictions for this week, hopefully I’ll be a “straightshooter”:
Sam Castronova will throw at least 7 touchdowns.
The defense will turn over Duke City on downs at least three times.
DJ Myers will have at least 3 touchdowns.
TC Stevens will kick at least one deuce.
Final Thoughts
Can a team that is 2-4 have a trap game? If so, for the Gunslingers, it is this game. The Gladiators are the worst team in the IFL, and the only winless team in the league. In their last game, Duke City was crushed by the Vegas Knight Hawks, the only remaining undefeated team. Meanwhile the Gunslingers are coming off a hard-fought loss to the Frisco Fighters. The Gunslingers absolutely cannot overlook Duke City and their record and cannot come into this game overconfident. As mentioned in my keys to victory, this game is the best chance for San Antonio to impose their will over an opponent that, at least on paper, looks to be inferior. The Gunslingers are entering the portion of their schedule that looks to be favorable. Three of the next four games are against opponents that appears to be beatable, and if they want any chance of getting into the playoffs, they need to start by dominating Duke City from the beginning and not letting up. The offense is clicking, the defense is getting better, and their opponent seemingly is inferior. The Gunslingers cannot hesitate, and they cannot show mercy, for victory is within their grasp.