Post by 50yardfan on Jul 10, 2010 9:16:08 GMT -5
BLOOMINGTON, (Ill.)-Questions were raised half-way through the 2010 season as the Bloomington Extreme held a losing record with the road to the play-offs appeared bleak. After a coaching change, the Extreme pulled up their pants and got to business, achieving a franchise best six-straight wins to propel the team into the IFL play-offs. Bloomington suffered a quick, first-round exit with a defeat delivered by the Wichita Wild.
Bloomington began the 2010 season against the new expansion team to the IFL, Richmond Revolution, in U.S. Cellular Coliseum. To the surprise of many, Richmond played with veteran talent and won the first game of the Revolution franchise, defeating the Extreme at home, 49-37.
The next week, Bloomington rebounded from the season-opening loss by defeating division rival, Green Bay Blizzard, 24-20. This game came down to the wire, as Wide Receiver Johnny Gray caught the game-winning touchdown with 17 seconds remaining, Bloomington leveled their record, 1-1.
Traveling two and a half hours to the north, the Chicago Slaughter hosted Bloomington for another nail-bitter. Bloomington held the lead, 27-26 with Chicago kicking the game-tying extra-point, but a botched the snap resulted in a missed the kick. Bloomington has their first winning record of the season, 2-1
Fourth game of the season, Bloomington fell in a rematch with the Green Bay Blizzard. The contest stung with disappointment, as the Extreme offense could only put up seven second-half points for a 35-21 loss and end their two-game win streak.
The losses began to pile-up when Bloomington dropped another home game to the Chicago Slaughter, 50-43. This was the Extreme's third loss of the season, and second loss in U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Luckily the next opponent for Bloomington was the winless Maryland Maniacs. Bloomington's defense dominated the match with a 32-6 victory. Again, Bloomington had restored their record to .500, 3-3.
Bloomington then made a trip to Rochester, New York where the Raiders dominated the Extreme from start to finish, 56-41.
Linebacker Justin Harrison made his debut for the Extreme when the team traveled to Omaha, Nebraska to take on the Beef. However the new addition did nothing to bolster the defense, as Omaha trampled Bloomington in a major 66-25 defeat.
Now 3-5, Extreme General Manager Beau Bradle decided a coaching change would be the only way to reach the play-offs. Former Head Coach Kenton Carr was relieved of this duties and Ted Schmitz was named the new Head Coach. With a fresh leader to command the Extreme, the team routed division rival La Crosse Spartans in a 54-18 victory.
Next up for the revived Extreme was another rematch with the Chicago Slaughter at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Bloomington won this game with a score of 33-30 on the boots of Pete Christofilakos, who nailed four field goals. Christofilakos earned the IFL Special Teams Player of the Week with his performance.
Bloomington, now 5-5, must win out the remainder of the season to earn a spot in the post-season, and they did just that. On the road, the Extreme traveled to La Crosse and won a close match against the Spartans, 40-37. Then in the last home game of the season, Bloomington earned an electrifying win against the then 5-5 West Michigan Thunderhawks. Extreme Running Back, Bernard Payton, rushed for a franchise record 119 yards in the victory.
Two road games remained, first against the still winless Maryland Maniacs, who Bloomington manhandled in a 51-7 victory. Then Bloomington then made a season sweep of the La Crosse Spartans in a 35-21 victory, solidifying their play-off position and pushing the win streak to a franchise best six straight.
Finishing the season with a 9-5 record, Bloomington earned a seventh seed of eight teams in the United Conference. However, the regions in which the teams are located determined who played what teams. The Extreme were pitted against the fourth seeded Wichita Wild in an epic first round match-up. Though Bloomington fought through adversity to end the season on the highest possible note, the Wild proved to be a formidable opponent and sent the Extreme packing in a 61-48 defeat.
The Bloomington Extreme, ending with a 9-6 record, saw plenty of drama this season as the team managed to reach the IFL play-offs for a fourth straight year. Schmitz, who salvaged Bloomington's season, will return to his previous role of Player Personnel Director for the Extreme, while a Head Coach is still to be determined.
Bloomington began the 2010 season against the new expansion team to the IFL, Richmond Revolution, in U.S. Cellular Coliseum. To the surprise of many, Richmond played with veteran talent and won the first game of the Revolution franchise, defeating the Extreme at home, 49-37.
The next week, Bloomington rebounded from the season-opening loss by defeating division rival, Green Bay Blizzard, 24-20. This game came down to the wire, as Wide Receiver Johnny Gray caught the game-winning touchdown with 17 seconds remaining, Bloomington leveled their record, 1-1.
Traveling two and a half hours to the north, the Chicago Slaughter hosted Bloomington for another nail-bitter. Bloomington held the lead, 27-26 with Chicago kicking the game-tying extra-point, but a botched the snap resulted in a missed the kick. Bloomington has their first winning record of the season, 2-1
Fourth game of the season, Bloomington fell in a rematch with the Green Bay Blizzard. The contest stung with disappointment, as the Extreme offense could only put up seven second-half points for a 35-21 loss and end their two-game win streak.
The losses began to pile-up when Bloomington dropped another home game to the Chicago Slaughter, 50-43. This was the Extreme's third loss of the season, and second loss in U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Luckily the next opponent for Bloomington was the winless Maryland Maniacs. Bloomington's defense dominated the match with a 32-6 victory. Again, Bloomington had restored their record to .500, 3-3.
Bloomington then made a trip to Rochester, New York where the Raiders dominated the Extreme from start to finish, 56-41.
Linebacker Justin Harrison made his debut for the Extreme when the team traveled to Omaha, Nebraska to take on the Beef. However the new addition did nothing to bolster the defense, as Omaha trampled Bloomington in a major 66-25 defeat.
Now 3-5, Extreme General Manager Beau Bradle decided a coaching change would be the only way to reach the play-offs. Former Head Coach Kenton Carr was relieved of this duties and Ted Schmitz was named the new Head Coach. With a fresh leader to command the Extreme, the team routed division rival La Crosse Spartans in a 54-18 victory.
Next up for the revived Extreme was another rematch with the Chicago Slaughter at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Bloomington won this game with a score of 33-30 on the boots of Pete Christofilakos, who nailed four field goals. Christofilakos earned the IFL Special Teams Player of the Week with his performance.
Bloomington, now 5-5, must win out the remainder of the season to earn a spot in the post-season, and they did just that. On the road, the Extreme traveled to La Crosse and won a close match against the Spartans, 40-37. Then in the last home game of the season, Bloomington earned an electrifying win against the then 5-5 West Michigan Thunderhawks. Extreme Running Back, Bernard Payton, rushed for a franchise record 119 yards in the victory.
Two road games remained, first against the still winless Maryland Maniacs, who Bloomington manhandled in a 51-7 victory. Then Bloomington then made a season sweep of the La Crosse Spartans in a 35-21 victory, solidifying their play-off position and pushing the win streak to a franchise best six straight.
Finishing the season with a 9-5 record, Bloomington earned a seventh seed of eight teams in the United Conference. However, the regions in which the teams are located determined who played what teams. The Extreme were pitted against the fourth seeded Wichita Wild in an epic first round match-up. Though Bloomington fought through adversity to end the season on the highest possible note, the Wild proved to be a formidable opponent and sent the Extreme packing in a 61-48 defeat.
The Bloomington Extreme, ending with a 9-6 record, saw plenty of drama this season as the team managed to reach the IFL play-offs for a fourth straight year. Schmitz, who salvaged Bloomington's season, will return to his previous role of Player Personnel Director for the Extreme, while a Head Coach is still to be determined.