2017 Spokane Empire season

The 2017 Spokane Empire season was the second season for the professional indoor football franchise in the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Empire were one of ten teams that competed in the IFL for the 2017 season and were members of the Intense Conference.

2017 Spokane Empire season
Head coach	Adam Shackleford
General manager	Ryan Eucker
Owner	IFL Partners, LLC (Nader Naini, Managing Owner)
Home field	Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Results
Record	8–8
Conference place	3rd
Playoff finish	Did not qualify

Led by head coach Adam Shackleford, the Empire played their home games at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington. After the season, the team ceased operations.

Roster changes

Free agents

Position	Player	2016 team	Notes
QB	Aaron Aiken	Arizona Rattlers	Signed with the Rattlers on November 1, 2016[1]
WR	Diondre Borel	Arizona Rattlers	Signed with the Rattlers on October 27, 2016[2]
DL	Brett Bowers	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on October 4, 2016,[2][3] released February 20, 2017[4]
OL	Michael Boyefio	TBD
DB	Robert Brown	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on August 22, 2016[5][6]
WR	Samuel Charles	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on August 23[5][7]
K	Patrick Clarke	Beijing Lions	Drafted in the 18th round of the China Arena Football League
QB	Charles Dowdell	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on August 23[5][8]
DB	Josh Ferguson	TBD
OL	Kyle Fischer	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on September 1, 2016[9][10]
LB	Nick Haag	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on October 18, 2016[2]
WR	J. J. Hayes	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on August 23[5][11]
WR	Justin Helwege	Spokane Empire
OL	Brandon Haskins	TBD
DL	Toby Jackson	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on October 18, 2016[2]
DB	Adrian James	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on September 10, 2016[9][12]
RB	Trevor Kennedy	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on February 7, 2017[4][13]
OL	Dave Lefotu	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on September 10, 2016[9]
DL	C. J. Olaniyan	TBD
DL	Ben Perry	TBD
RB	Antonio Pierce	TBD
DL	Michael Reynolds	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on August 12,[5][14] released February February 21, 2017[4]
DB	Tyree Robinson	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on August 22[5][15]
DL	Donte Rumph	TBD
DB	Cassius Sendish	TBD
WR	Carl Sims	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on February 16, 2017[4][16]
OL	Mike Trice	TBD
LB	Pasquale Vacchio	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on January 17, 2017[17][18]
DB	Lorenzo White	Spokane Empire	Re-signed on October 11, 2016,[2][19] released February February 21, 2017[4]

Signings

Position	Player	2016 Team	Notes
OL	Sedrick Flowers	Rookie	Signed August 12, 2016,[20] released February 20, 2017[4]
OL	Darren Pinnock	Rookie	Signed August 12, 2016[21]
QB	Austin Trainor	None	Signed August 12, 2016,[22] released February 20, 2017[4]
DL	Rika Levi	Rookie	Signed August 13, 2016,[23] released February 20, 2017[4]
OL	Jonah Austin	Rookie	Signed August 22, 2016[5]
OL	Larry Mazyck	Rookie	Signed August 23, 2016,[5][24] released February 16, 2017[4]
DB	John Hardy-Tuliau	None	Signed August 23, 2016[5][25]
WR	Orlandus Harris	Bloomington Edge	Signed August 30, 2016[5][26]
LB	Andrew Jackson	None	Signed August 30, 2016[5][27]
WR	Thomas Shuler	None	Signed August 30, 2016,[5][28] released February 16, 2017[4]
RB	Rob Brown	Tri-Cities Fever	Signed September 10, 2016,[9][29] released February 21, 2017[4]
RB	Mulku Kalokoh	None	Signed September 10, 2016[9]
WR	Dejuan Miller	Tri-Cities Fever	Signed September 10, 2016[9]
OL	Siosifa Tufunga	Rookie	Signed September 22, 2016[9][30]
OL	James Atoe	Colorado Crush	Signed October 4, 2016[2][31]
DL	Royce LaFrance	None	Signed October 11, 2016[2][32]
DB	Norris Wrenn III	Billings Wolves	Signed October 11, 2016,[2][33] released February February 21, 2017[4]
DL	Pat McNeil	Rookie	Signed October 15, 2016, [2] released February 16, 2017[4]
QB	Aaron Wilmer	Rookie	Signed October 15, 2016[2][34]
OL	Bill Vavau	Colorado Crush	Signed October 24, 2016[2][35]
OL	Deveric Gallington	Portland Steel	Signed November 1, 2016[1][36]
DB	Stephen Godbolt	Tri-Cities Fever	Signed November 1, 2016,[1][37] released February February 21, 2017[4]
DL	O. J. Mau	None	Signed November 11, 2016[1][38]
WR	Lamont Bryant	None	Signed January 24, 2017,[17][39] released February February 20, 2017[4]
OL	Cassidy Curtis	None	Signed January 24, 2017,[17] released February February 21, 2017[4]
DL	Junior Alexis	Rookie	Signed February 7, 2017[4][13]
OL	Mikingson Marsaille	Rookie	Signed February 7, 2017,[4][13] released February 16, 2017[4]
WR	Devonn Brown	Rookie	Signed February 8, 2017[4][40]
DL	J. D. Griggs	Colorado Crush	Signed February 9, 2017[4][40]
DB	Malcolm Griggs	Rookie	Signed February 7, 2017,[4] released February 16, 2017[13]
DL	Harold Love III	Dodge City Law	Signed February 16, 2017[4][41]
WR	Bryan Pray	Iowa Barnstormers	Signed February 16, 2017[4][16]
K	Craig Peterson	Tampa Bay Storm	Signed February 21, 2017[4]

Indicates that the player was a free agent at the end of his respective team's 2016 season.

Staff

2017 Spokane Empire staff
	Front Office Majority owner – IFL Partners, LLC General manager – Ryan Eucker Director of sponsorship sales – Suzie Dunn Director of game operations – Karen Kiehl Director of community relations – Crystal Medina Director of ticket sales – Chris Combo Group tickets coordinator – Hannah Holman Corporate account executive – Jake Martin Account executive – Ryan Hagel			Coaches Head coach – Adam Shackleford Assistant head coach – Cleveland Pratt Other assistant coaches Anthony Payton Marquise Liverpool Marshall Hart

Schedule

Key:   Win   Tie   Loss   Bye

Regular season

All start times are local time[42]

Week	Day	Date	Kickoff	Opponent	Results		Location	Attendance
					Score	Record
1	BYE
2	Thursday	February 23	7:00pm	Green Bay Blizzard	W 34–31[43]	1–0	Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
3	Friday	March 3	5:05pm	at Wichita Falls Nighthawks	L 56–57 (2OT)[44]	1–1	Kay Yeager Coliseum
4	Monday	March 13	6:00pm	at Salt Lake Screaming Eagles	W 41–35[45]	2–1	Maverik Center	4,196
5	Friday	March 17	5:00pm	at Colorado Crush	W 70–37[46]	3–1	Budweiser Events Center
6	Friday	March 24	7:00pm	Salt Lake Screaming Eagles	W 53–36[47]	4–1	Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
7	Saturday	April 1	7:00pm	Nebraska Danger	L 36–42[48]	4–2	Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
8	BYE
9	Friday	April 14	7:00pm	Colorado Crush	W 36–24	5–2	Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
10	Saturday	April 22	7:00pm	at Arizona Rattlers	W 60–51	6–2	Talking Stick Resort Arena	12,725
11	Sunday	April 30	3:00pm	Salt Lake Screaming Eagles	W 31–29	7–2	Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
12	Saturday	May 6	5:05pm	at Sioux Falls Storm	L 32–62	7–3	Denny Sanford Premier Center
13	Friday	May 12	7:00pm	Arizona Rattlers	L 35–49	7–4	Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
14	Thursday	May 18	5:00pm	at Colorado Crush	L 36–45	7–5	Budweiser Events Center
15	Friday	May 26	7:00pm	Colorado Crush	W 48–43	8–5	Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
16	Saturday	June 3	7:00pm	Arizona Rattlers	L 16–33	8–6	Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
17	Friday	June 9	5:05pm	at Iowa Barnstormers	L 28–58	8–7	Wells Fargo Arena	7,153
18	Friday	June 16	6:00pm	at Salt Lake Screaming Eagles	L 42–45	8–8	Maverik Center	4,581

Standings

2017 Intense Conference
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	CON	GB	STK
y - Arizona Rattlers	12	4	0	.750	782	610	8–1	—	W8
x - Nebraska Danger	9	7	0	.563	717	660	5–2	3.0	W1
Spokane Empire	8	8	0	.500	654	677	7–5	4.0	L3
Salt Lake Screaming Eagles	5	11	0	.313	675	762	4–8	7.0	W1
Colorado Crush	3	13	0	.188	629	821	2–10	8.0	L4

Roster

2017 Spokane Empire roster
Quarterbacks  3 Marcus McDade 16 Aaron Wilmer Running backs 18 Trevor Kennedy 30 Andrew Pierce Wide receivers 10 Devonn Brown  6 Rashaad Carter  1 Samuel Charles  2 Orlandus Harris  2 Bryan Pray		Offensive linemen 70 Jonah Austin 66 Deveric Gallington 57 Dante Moses 74 Darren Pinnock 55 Bill Vavau Defensive linemen 12 Kaelin Burnett 93 J. D. Griggs 95 Terrance Woodard		Linebackers 47 Nick Haag  8 Andrew Jackson  7 Joseph Thornton 13 Pasquale Vacchio Defensive backs 20 Qua Cox 33 John Hardy-Tuliau 21 Antoine Tharpe Special teams 19 Craig Peterson		Reserve lists 60 James Atoe OL (Exempt) 79 Cassidy Curtis OL (Exempt) 72 Kyle Fischer IR 80 J. J. Hayes WR (Did Not Report) 12 Toby Jackson DL (Did Not Report) 22 Adrian James DB (Exempt) 48 Royce LaFrance DL (Exempt) 56 Dave Lefotu OL (Exempt) 91 O. J. Mau DL (IR-DFR)  5 Tyree Robinson DB (IR) Rookies in italics Roster updated June 14, 2017 26 Active, 10 Inactive

References

1. "IFL Transactions November 2016". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
2. "IFL Transactions October 2016". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
3. "Empire Re-Signs DL Brett Bowers". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 6, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
4. "IFL Transactions February 2017". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
5. "IFL Transactions August 2016". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
6. "Spokane Re-Signs All-IFL DB Robert Brown". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. August 31, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
7. "Spokane Re-Signs WR Samuel Charles". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. August 29, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
8. "Quarterback Charles Dowdell re-signs with Spokane Empire". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. August 22, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
9. "IFL Transactions September 2016". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
10. "Empire Re-Signs OL Kyle Fischer". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. September 8, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
11. "Spokane Re-Signs WR J.J. Hayes". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. August 30, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
12. "Empire Re-Signs DB Adrian James". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 7, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
13. "Empire Makes Roster Moves as Training Camp Opens". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
14. "Empire Signs DL Michael Reynolds". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. August 15, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
15. "DB Tyree Robinson Returns to Empire". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. August 23, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
16. "Empire Adds Top Two IFL Career Receiving Leaders". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. February 17, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
17. "IFL Transactions January 2017". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
18. "Empire Re-Signs LB Pasquale Vacchio". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. January 11, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
19. "Empire Re-Signs DB Lorenzo White Jr". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 12, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
20. "Empire Signs OL Sedrick Flowers". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. August 16, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
21. "Spokane strengthens offensive line with free agent talent". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. August 12, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
22. "Empire Signs QB Austin Trainor". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. August 14, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
23. "Empire signs defensive lineman". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. August 18, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
24. "Spokane Signs OL Larry Mazyck". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. August 24, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
25. "Spokane Signs DB John Hardy-Tuliau". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. August 25, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
26. "Spokane Signs WR Orlandus Harris". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. September 6, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
27. "Spokane Signs Lb Andrew Jackson". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. September 1, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
28. "Spokane Signs WR Thomas Shuler". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. September 7, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
29. "Empire Signs Veteran IFL Rb Rob Brown". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 1, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
30. "Empire Signs OL Siosifa Tufunga". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. September 30, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
31. "Empire Adds ALL-FL OL James Atoe". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 5, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
32. "Empire Signs DL Royce Lafrance". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 16, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
33. "Empire Signs DB Norris Wrenn". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 11, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
34. "Empire Signs QB Aaron Wilmer". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 26, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
35. "Empire Signs Former Colorado Ol Bill Vavau". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. November 3, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
36. "Empire Signs Veteran Ol Deveric Gallington". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. November 5, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
37. "Empire Signs Former Fever DB Godbolt". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. November 4, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
38. "Empire Signs DL O.J. Mau". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. November 11, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
39. "Empire Signs WR Lamont Bryant". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. January 24, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
40. "Empire Signs WR Brown and DL Griggs". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
41. "Empire Signs DL Harold Love III". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. February 17, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
42. "2017 Schedule : Spokane Empire". Indoor Football League. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
43. Josh Horton (February 23, 2017). "Rusty Empire edge Green Bay 34-31 in season opener". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
44. "Spokane Empire fall in double overtime to Wichita Falls". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. March 3, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
45. "Empire ground Screaming Eagles in IFL action". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. March 13, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
46. "Devonn Brown catches 4 touchdowns in Spokane Empire's rout of Colorado Crush". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. March 17, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
47. "Spokane Empire thwarts Salt Lake – and its play-calling fans". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. March 24, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
48. Steve Christilaw (April 1, 2017). "Spokane Empire lose to Nebraska, fall into first-place tie". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved April 3, 2017.

External links

• Spokane Empire official statistics