SIOUX FALLS SD (MITCHELLNOW)

The Sioux Falls Storm kicked off their 2024 IFL season home opener vs the Tulsa Oilers on Sunday at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and the Storm defense took center stage as they would have to slow down the high-flying Oilers offense. After starting the season on the road, the Storm found themselves in an 0-2 hole after just two games. The Tulsa Oilers offense came out drilling as Oilers quarterback Daniel Smith rushed for a touchdown and threw three touchdowns passes as the Oilers offense put the Storm in a deep hole down 32 to 14 at the half.

The Denny Sanford Premier Center has been the home of the Sioux Falls Storm since the 2015 season as they won their 9th IFL League Championship that same season. The Sioux Storm has 11 IFL League Championships since joining the IFL as an expansion team back in 1999. The indoor war as it’s called is a turf field only fifty yards long and the padded walls that surround the field are out of bounds. Both teams play eight man across on offense and defense. The line to gain is ten yards in which you only receive four downs to make a first down which means you either have to go for it on fourth down or kick a long or short field goal. There are four fifteen-minute quarters which features a running clock and both teams must kick off from their own goal line.

 

Both teams traded scores in the third quarter as the Storms Billy Hall throws his first touchdown pass of the game and Dean Sarris splits the up rights, but the Oilers still led 46-26 after three.

The Storms Billy Hall again trying to lead his team to victory rushes for scores first touchdown of the fourth quarter to cut the Oiler lead to 46-32. The Storms fans cheer the defense on in the fourth quarter as the scoreboard reads Make Noise!

But the Oilers offense would add to the lead as the Oilers quarterback Daniel Smith would throw his fourth touchdown pass of the game to add to the Oilers lead putting them up by 21 points, 53 to 32. The Oilers Alexis Rosario skies for the catch, one of his eight on the day to go with his four-touchdown receptions on the afternoon.

The Oilers place kicker Michael Hall bangs the extra point and through and then kicks a forty-yard field goal to close out the game and the win for the Tulsa Oilers 56 to 40.

The Sioux Falls Storm fall to 0-3 on the season while the Tulsa Oilers improve their record to 2-1 on the season. The Storms Billy Hall finished the game completing 9-14 passes with 76 passing yards and he rushed 9 times for 58 yards and had a rushing touchdown. The Oilers Daniel Smith completed 18 passes on 26 attempts for 169 yards and threw 5 touchdown passes. The Sioux Falls Storm hits the road and heads to Green Bay to face the Blizzard on Friday April 19th at 6:05 pm. The Tulsa Oilers head home to face the Frisco Fighters on Saturday April 20th starting at 7:05 pm.

One thing is for sure, the fans will come out and show their support for the Sioux Falls Storm, and the other good thing for the Storm is they have plenty of road games and also six home games left to right the ship and get back on course this season.