IFL 2026 Week 4: What We Learned
- Trey
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
In a week where every single Over hit, chapter four of #TheIndoorWar provided plenty of points, fireworks, and back and forth action for the people. Some teams got punched in the mouth, others got punched in the gut, and some have reason to be optimistic despite it all.
But what did we learn this week?
Tucson Sugar Skulls @ New Mexico Chupacabras
Result:Â 45-40 Tucson
What We Learned:Â Tucson has the pieces to make it to the playoffs & New Mexico needs depth badly
Both teams came into this one matchup looking for their first win of the season after starting 0-1, with Tucson pulling ahead and staying ahead in this one from wire-to-wire for their first win of the season. The first quarter was absolutely dominant by the Tucson Sugar Skulls, where it seemed like the Tucson defense was bullying the line of scrimmage and causing havoc.
In a game where rookie QB Draylen Ellis didn't have to do a ton, Tucson was carried by their defense and special teams making big plays and putting them in a position to really lean on their running game with RB Brandon Mackey towards the end to seal it.
WRs Javian Lofton & Brian Smith each hauled in a receiving TD and had some big plays through the air to open things up, and this Sugar Skulls team is looking like they have the pieces to be able to make a run for the 3 or 4 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
They are going to have some games this season that are going to ride or die on the arm of Draylen Ellis, but until then the veteran pieces at WR & on defense are going to keep them in these games.
For New Mexico, this offense is basically the Ja'Rome Johnson show. SIX total TDs in the game, with five coming through the air to four different receivers -- and he did all of this behind an offensive line that got crippled early in the game.
Rodrick Williams got injured early in the 1st quarter, and with no OL subs on the roster, they had to resort to flipping DL Maurice Jackson to OL for the remainder of the game to help give Ja'Rome some time to operate. Maurice Jackson is their best DL, so it was a double whammy for New Mexico: they were down their normal OL AND their best DL in one swoop.
But Ja'Rome made the absolute best of the situation, but I am begging New Mexico to find some o-line depth ASAP. Johnson had to do a LOT of wizardry in this one and due to bad snaps and poor protection. But despite that, they still nearly pulled off the comeback.
This New Mexico team can be spicy for teams down the stretch, but they gotta get some depth on the line of scrimmage first.
Green Bay Blizzard @ Iowa Barnstormers
Result:Â 50-39 Green Bay
What We Learned:Â Green Bay looks like the class of the East & Iowa is slowly starting to shift things in the right direction
These teams were on opposite ends of the spectrum heading into this one:
Green Bay was riding high with their new QB picking up where their former left off.
Iowa was looking for answers on offense and trying to form that new identity.
This game started off as you would think, with Green Bay quickly pouncing to a lead and maintaining that lead throughout the game.. but they let Iowa back into this one in the second half and made this a lot more interesting than it had any right being.
QB Liam Thompson had another really strong day with 4 total TDs, with Green Bay tacking on three more with three different players on the ground (Demilion Brown, Trevon Alexander, Sylvere Campbell). This Green Bay offense was looking potent in the first half, but kinda stalled in second half before adding a couple of garbage TDs at the end to pad the stats a bit.
The Blizzard are now sitting at 3-0 and look to be in the drivers seat in the Eastern Conference and are back to playing #BlizzBall.
For Iowa, despite what the scoreboard may show this game was a step in the right direction (if you start watching in the 2nd quarter) for this team. QB Harry Roubidoux looked a lot better in this one and was able to sling the ball around the yard to multiple receivers, to the tune of SIX passing TDs & 194 passing yards.
He's still getting his feet under him as a starter in this league, but this game had to be a good confidence booster for the young QB. RB Nasjzae Bryant-Lelei had a strong game on the ground with 16 carries for 65 yards and helped bringing some legitimate balance to an Iowa offense that has been missing it for quite some time.
Kurtis Ravenel hauled in 3 TDs, Donald McKinney caught 2 of his own & Demonte Martin snagged one as well for a big second half that made this game competitive (and scored some VERY important points for some people).
This Iowa team still has work to do, but in the second half you saw a glimpse of what they could be this year if they continue to get better every week.
Quad City Steamwheelers @ Orlando Pirates
Result:Â 49-46 Orlando
What We Learned:Â Quad City needs someone other than Quian Williams to step up on offense & Orlando stumbled into a formula for winning ball games
Quad City jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the 1st quarter and won the first round, but the rest of the game was controlled by the Orlando Pirates in their Central Florida home debut.
QB Paxton DeLaurent looked rough at the beginning of this one, but seemed to kick it into gear in the 2nd quarter. Three different receivers had 5+ catches in this one and four different players hauling in receiving TDs, with Teo Redding leading the way with 6 catches for 88 yards & a TD.
The Pirates started the game off with quite a few QB runs, but eventually got into a groove of getting the ball out PDL's hands quickly and letting those elite receivers get to work.
They will probably want to get RB Pooka Williams more involved on the ground going forward (and they will be able to against other D-lines in the league), but that is the formula that will make this Pirates offense tick this season: quick passes and getting Pooka engaged early.
For Quad City, they need to find a receiver that can rise up and be a consistent playmaker opposite of WR Quian Williams. Quian had a phenomenal game with 6 catches for 100 yards & 2 TDs, and should've had more if a couple of penalties didn't call back some of his other catches. It feels like Jordan Vesey is the answer there, but he got a little ding'd up in this one after a tough collision into the wall in the 2nd half.
The Steamwheelers were able to get some ground game going, with Daquan Neal getting 2 TDs & WR Keyvan Rudd accoutning for another, but the offense just stalled out one too many times.
But something that stood out to me early in this one was chasing points early. They found themselves down 33-35 after a touchdown in the 3rd quarter, and went for the 2-point conversion to tie it up after a previously failed extra point attempt -- but were unsuccessful. There was also some confusion and dysfunction in the 4th quarter that ended up costing them yardage on a PAT attempt.
Ultimately, one the last drive of the game they were down three and went to the end zone to try to win the game with no time left. But if they had just gone for the extra point in the 3rd quarter, they would've been down 2 and kicking a very manageable field goal would've been for the win instead of overtime.
The same thing happened with them in the Eastern Conference championship last season and I can't help but notice patterns when they occur.
Arizona Rattlers @ Fishers Freight
Result:Â 63-42 Fishers
What We Learned:Â Fishers at home is a nightmare for visiting teams & Arizona needs help on defense ASAP
In their opening game, the Arizona Rattlers looked like they were going to be on a warpath in 2026.. and less than a week later they got absolutely bullied in Fishers Indiana in their first ever clash with the Freight.
The Freight offense was unstoppable in this game on the ground, accounting for 167 rushing yards & FIVE TDs between Josiah King & Dominic Roberto, while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. QB Felix Harper tacked on an addition 3 TDs through the air that provided just enough balance to really roll in this one.
But the part that was absolutely dominating is that it was no secret what they were going to do. They made it very clear and they were STILL able to absolutely control the line of scrimmage and push this Arizona defensive line around.
The Freight played just about a perfect game on offense in the first of two showdowns between these two teams this season, and it looks like the Freight might be the best home field team in the league based on how their first games at home have turned out.
For Arizona, they need to find some answers on defense very quickly, and based on the halftime interview with Kevin Guy, he may not have wasted much time getting some of his ducks in a row after the game. This defense was getting run over and just seemed out of position constantly.
I don't know if it was due to personnel, defensive play-calling or a combination of both, but it was an uncharacteristic performance from a Rattlers defense that typically can hold their own in games like that. On offense, they played pretty good all things considered, they just didn't have the A+++ game that would have been needed to keep up with the Freight. QB Max Meylor had 198 yards through the air & 4 TDs, and the season debut of RB Kimo Clarke didn't disappoint with a couple of touchdowns including a burner up the sideline early in the game to get the offense going.
Offensively, I don't have any worries with this Rattlers team. But defensively, they knew they "were gonna be baptized" (as Coach Guy put it) with a younger defensive group at some point this season and it happened almost immediately. But you'd rather it happen early than late, so I have no doubt that this Arizona team is gonna get it back together and be back on track sooner than later.
What did YOU think of IFL Week 4? What were your takeaways?