2015 Wichita Force season
The 2015 Wichita Force season is the team's first season as a professional indoor football franchise and first as a member of Champions Indoor Football (CIF).[1] One of nine teams in the CIF for the inaugural 2015 season, the Wichita Force is owned by Wichita Indoor Football LLC, led by managing partner Marv Fisher.[2] The Force play their home games at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas, under the direction of head coach Paco Martinez.[3][4]
2015 Wichita Force season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Paco Martinez |
General manager | Ashley Lawless |
Owner | Wichita Indoor Football LLC |
Home field | Intrust Bank Arena |
Results | |
Record | 8-4 |
League place | 3rd |
Playoff finish | Lost Semi-finals (Revolution) 27-39 |
Season summary
The Force's announced schedule for the 2015 season was not directly affected when the New Mexico Stars abruptly postponed their entry into the league on February 21, just one week before the season began.[5] On March 3, the Albuquerque-based Duke City Gladiators were announced as a late entry into the league, partially replacing the Stars in the CIF schedule with a plan to play 11 games in 2015.[6]
Off-field moves
After the 2014 season ended, the Champions Professional Indoor Football League announced it was merging with teams from other leagues to form a new league, Champions Indoor Football.[7] The Wichita Wild franchise folded after eight seasons and a new ownership group launched the Wichita Force as an expansion franchise in the CIF with the Wild's head coach and a significant number of their former players.[2][3]
Awards and honors
Each week of the regular season, the CIF named league-wide Players of the Week in offensive, defensive, and special teams categories. For Week 1, the CIF named running back Tywon Hubbard as one of two Special Teams Players of the Week.[8] For Week 2, the CIF named kick returner Clarence Anderson as the Special Teams Player of the Week.[9] For Week 6, the CIF again named kick returner Clarence Anderson as the Special Teams Player of the Week.[10] For Week 9, the CIF named kicker Ernesto Lacayo as the Special Teams Player of the Week.[11] For Week 11, the CIF again named kicker Ernesto Lacayo as the Special Teams Player of the Week.[12] For Week 13, the CIF yet again named kick returner Clarence Anderson as the Special Teams Player of the Week.[13] For Week 14, the CIF named quarterback Emmanuel Taylor as the Offensive Player of the Week.[14]
Schedule
Key: Win Tie Loss Bye
Regular season
Week | Day | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | Location | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Score | Record | ||||||
1 | Saturday | February 28 | 7:05pm | Salina Bombers | L 61–64[15] | 0–1 | Intrust Bank Arena[4][16] |
2 | Friday | March 6 | 7:05pm | at Omaha Beef | W 45–42[17] | 1–1 | Ralston Arena[18] |
3 | BYE | ||||||
4 | Saturday | March 21 | 7:05pm | at Amarillo Venom | W 43–30[19] | 2–1 | Amarillo Civic Center[20] |
5 | Saturday | March 28 | 7:05pm | Sioux City Bandits | W 42–35[21][22] | 3–1 | Intrust Bank Arena[23] |
6 | Friday | April 3 | 7:05pm | Omaha Beef | W 59–42[24][25] | 4–1 | Intrust Bank Arena[26] |
7 | Saturday | April 11 | 7:05pm | at Texas Revolution | L 21–48[27] | 4–2 | Allen Event Center[28][29] |
8 | BYE | ||||||
9 | Saturday | April 25 | 7:05pm | at Salina Bombers | W 45–32[30][31] | 5–2 | Bicentennial Center[32] |
10 | Saturday | May 2 | 7:05pm | at Sioux City Bandits | L 42–56[33][34] | 5–3 | Tyson Events Center[35] |
11 | Friday | May 8 | 7:05pm | Dodge City Law | W 52–49[36][37] | 6–3 | Intrust Bank Arena[38] |
12 | Saturday | May 16 | 7:05pm | Salina Bombers | W 46–40 (OT)[39][40] | 7–3 | Intrust Bank Arena[41][42] |
13 | Saturday | May 23 | 7:05pm | Sioux City Bandits | L 45–55[43][44] | 7–4 | Intrust Bank Arena[45][46] |
14 | Saturday | May 30 | 7:05pm | at Omaha Beef | W 52–43[47][48] | 8–4 | Ralston Arena[49][50] |
Post-season
Round | Day | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | Location | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Score | Record | ||||||
Semi-final | Thursday | June 11 | 7:00pm | at Texas Revolution | L 39–27[51][52] | 0–1 | Allen Event Center[53][54][55] |
Roster
2015 Wichita Force roster | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Back
Wide Receivers
|
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Kickers
|
Injured Reserve
Transfer List
Refuse to Report
Roster updated June 11, 2015 |
Standings
2015 Champions Indoor Football | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | PCT | PF | PA | |||||
z-Sioux City Bandits | 9 | 3 | .750 | 697 | 536 | ||||
y-Texas Revolution | 8 | 4 | .667 | 638 | 475 | ||||
x-Wichita Force | 8 | 4 | .667 | 553 | 536 | ||||
x-Amarillo Venom | 7 | 5 | .583 | 647 | 598 | ||||
Dodge City Law | 7 | 5 | .583 | 635 | 578 | ||||
Salina Bombers | 6 | 5 | .545 | 538 | 483 | ||||
Duke City Gladiators | 4 | 4 | .500 | 403 | 389 | ||||
San Angelo Bandits | 1 | 10 | .091 | 388 | 627 | ||||
Omaha Beef | 1 | 11 | .083 | 395 | 672 |
x = clinched playoffs, y = clinched home playoffs, z = clinched top seed
Playoffs
Semifinals | Champions Bowl I | ||||||||
3 | Wichita | 27 | |||||||
2 | Texas | 39 | |||||||
2 | Texas | 61 | |||||||
1 | Sioux City | 76 | |||||||
4 | Amarillo | 52 | |||||||
1 | Sioux City | 83 | |||||||
References
- Adame, Tony (June 11, 2015). "Wichita's top 10 indoor football players". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- Suellentrop, Paul (August 21, 2014). "Indoor football to return with same players, coach – but with new name, owner, league". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
- Heck, Josh (March 2, 2015). "Wichita Force launch new era of indoor football". Wichita Business Journal. Wichita, KS: Advance Publications. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
- Lutz, Jeffrey (February 23, 2015). "Force indoor team prepares for Saturday opener at Intrust Bank Arena". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- Christ, Bob (February 22, 2015). "NM Stars owners pull plug on season". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
- "CIF Enjoys Relief and Balance with Replacement Team in New Mexico". Champions Indoor Football. March 4, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015 – via Our Sports Central.
- Krieger, Dan (September 22, 2014). "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Our Sports Central. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- "CIF Players of the Week - Week 1". Champions Indoor Football. March 4, 2015. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
- "CIF Players of the Week - Week 2". Champions Indoor Football. March 11, 2015. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
- "CIF Players of the Week - Week 6". Champions Indoor Football. April 8, 2015. Archived from the original on April 25, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
- "CIF Players of the Week - Week 9". Champions Indoor Football. April 29, 2015. Archived from the original on April 25, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
- "CIF Players of the Week - Week 11". Champions Indoor Football. May 13, 2015. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- "CIF Players of the Week - Week 13". Champions Indoor Football. May 27, 2015. Archived from the original on May 31, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
- "CIF Players of the Week - Week 14". Champions Indoor Football. June 4, 2015. Archived from the original on May 31, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
- Lutz, Jeffrey (February 28, 2015). "Salina rallies past Force football team in inaugural game". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- Davidson, Bob (February 28, 2015). "Bombers open today at Wichita". The Salina Journal. Salina, KS: Harris Enterprises. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- Perera, Tim (March 7, 2015). "Offense comes to life a little too late for Beef". Omaha World-Herald. Omaha, NE: Berkshire Hathaway. p. 2C. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
- Lutz, Jeffrey (March 5, 2015). "Force forced to adapt after quarterback injury". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- Steed, Kale (March 22, 2015). "Wichita tops Venom in home opener". Amarillo Globe-News. Amarillo, TX: Morris Communications. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
- Steed, Kale (March 20, 2015). "Venom set to open home schedule". Amarillo Globe-News. Amarillo, TX: Morris Communications. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
- Tipton, Lionel (March 28, 2015). "Strong second half on defense leads Force to win". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- "Bandits fall to Wichita". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, IA: Lee Enterprises. March 28, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- "Force back home to take on high-scoring Sioux City". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. March 27, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
- "Beef come up short against Wichita". Omaha World-Herald. Omaha, NE: Berkshire Hathaway. April 3, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
- Adame, Tpny (April 3, 2015). "Wichita Force grabs fourth straight win". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
- Rubek, Nick (April 2, 2015). "Indoor football: Omaha Beef at Wichita Force". Omaha World-Herald. Omaha, NE: Berkshire Hathaway. p. 2C. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
- "Wichita Force @ Texas Revolution - April 11, 2015 @ 7:00pm". Champions Indoor Football. April 11, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2015 – via ScoreStream.
- "Wichita Force prepare for Saturday trip to Texas". Wichita, KS: KAKE. April 9, 2015. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
- "Force to face Texas Revolution". The Newton Kansan. Newton, KS: GateHouse Media. April 10, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
- "New QBs help Force win at Salina". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. April 25, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- Davidson, Bob (April 25, 2015). "Bombers fizzle". The Salina Journal. Salina, KS: Harris Enterprises. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- Lutz, Jeffrey (April 24, 2015). "Force tries to work through three injured quarterbacks". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- Poe, Barry (May 2, 2015). "Bandits win third straight, tied for second in league". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, IA: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
- Freund, Mark (May 2, 2015). "Bandits clip Wichita; Stampede roll Lincoln". Sioux City, IA: KTIV. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- "Wichita Force ends three-game road trip at Sioux City". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. May 1, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- Seminoff, Kirk (May 8, 2015). "Force knocks off league-leading Dodge City 52-49". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
- Curtis, John (May 9, 2015). "Law early miscues lose to Force". Dodge City Daily Globe. Dodge City, KS: GateHouse Media. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- Adame, Tony (May 7, 2015). "Force returns home for season-defining stretch". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
- "Bombers lose to Force". The Salina Journal. Salina, KS: Harris Enterprises. May 16, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- Adame, Tony (May 16, 2015). "Force rallies to win on 49-yard interception return in overtime". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- Davidson, Bob (May 16, 2015). "Bombers not sure what to expect". The Salina Journal. Salina, KS: Harris Enterprises. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- Lutz, Jeffrey (May 15, 2015). "Tywon Hubbard is a reliable back for the Force". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- "Bandits down Wichita; move into first place". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, IA: Lee Enterprises. May 23, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
- Lutz, Jeffrey (May 23, 2015). "Force drops out of league lead with loss to Sioux City". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
- Budlong, Jeff (May 22, 2015). "Bandits ready for first-place showdown with Wichita". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, IA: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- Lutz, Jeffrey (May 22, 2015). "Force football team thriving on winning late in games". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- Perera, Tim (May 30, 2015). "Veteran QB is solid in his final game, but Beef lose again". Omaha World-Herald. Omaha, NE: Berkshire Hathaway. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
- "Force wins regular-season finale". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. May 30, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
- Rubek, Nick (May 29, 2015). "Beef have chance to save face in season finale". Omaha World-Herald. Omaha, NE: Berkshire Hathaway. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
- Lutz, Jeffrey (May 29, 2015). "Force heads into indoor football finale trying to secure playoff spot". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
- "Texas eliminates Force from CIF playoff semifinals". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. June 11, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- Grant, Ethan (June 11, 2015). "Revs win first-ever playoff game, move on to Champions Bowl I". Allen American. Allen, TX: Star Local News. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- "Revolution to host Force in playoff opener". Allen American. Allen, TX: Star Local News. June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
- Grant, Ethan (June 10, 2015). "The Force against you: Previewing Revs' first-round CIF playoff matchup". Allen American. Allen, TX: Star Local News. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- Lutz, Jeffrey (June 10, 2015). "Force begins playoffs with chip on its shoulder". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
External links
- Wichita Force official website
- Wichita Force at The Wichita Eagle
- Wichita Force at Our Sports Central