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Written by Wendy S. Ohl, Sioux City Bandits

Monday night the Sioux City Bandits celebrated the closing of an amazing whirlwind season with an awards banquet at the Tyson Event Center. Ending the season 11-3 with the first CIF Champions Bowl trophy, the Bandits not only took numerous league awards such as Erv Strohbeen, Coach of the Year; Charles Dowdell, League MVP; Freddie Bruno, Co-Special Teams Player of the Year; and organization awards Fan Base of the Year and Media Relations of the Year, but presented team awards as well as recognizing those who have helped make a successful season possible.

Managing General Partner Bob Scott started off the awards with a very special thank you to the fans who are always there and always supportive of the team and the players. Their active, and at time very loud, participation in the Champions Bowl held Saturday night made all the difference in the world and reminded the players of why they work so hard to do what they do. Without the fans, there would be no Sioux City Bandits.

Other special thanks went out to the players who have worked so hard all year. This fan-friendly, community-conscious team has worked together on and off the field, making everyone affiliated with the Bandits organization very proud. The coaching staff has worked hard all year, building a team, coaching players, watching numerous hours of film and creating an atmosphere of winning.

The Tyson Event Center staff, led by Glenn Walinski, has always had the Tyson up and running, sometimes working all night to convert it from a hockey rink to football field. The support and not only willing but eager help they offer not only on game day but throughout the entire season is invaluable to the success of the Bandits.

Game day staff, led by Melanie McNamara, keeps all game day operations running smoothly. All special groups, sponsor packages, promotions and events are organized and successfuly executed by Melanie and her capable staff and interns.

All online media is organized and run by Wendy Ohl. From Facebook and Twitter to the website, anything that goes on the internet, her dedication to the Bandits doesn't start and stop when the season does. She works hard on making the team look good in the media and online.

Wes Jones has not only been a long-time friend of Bob Scott, but has been the Team Chaplain since the second year of Bandit's history. He travels with the team, and not only acts as warm-up partner for any teammate that needs him too, but is available any time someone needs to talk.

Annette Torgerson and Carla Johnson at Fan Accommodations work behind the scenes to support game day promotions, drawings and events as well as manage the design, purchase and sale of merchandise on game day.

Andy Scott has worked hard this year on not only managing current sponsors but also signing and organizing many new sponsors for the 2015 seasons. Without the support of community sponsors, the Bandits organization couldn't stay afloat for long.

Leona Scott is not only Bob's mother, but also makes sure checks are printed and paperwork for the team organized and current. No one appreciates paychecks on time more than the players, and she never disappoints.

Receiving Staff Member of the Year is Tony Payne. Keeping uniforms and equipment in good repair and looking good takes countless hours of work, and Tony works with his father to ensure the team has what they need to be successful on the field. Tony very well may be the only equipment manager who keeps a sewing machine at hand to repair uniforms and make quick changes on uniform name tapes when needed.

Each year a Bandit is selected for the award of Bandit Team Player. This award is given to the individual who spends time in the community at events, autograph signings, participating in parades and spending time working with the young fans. Darius Barnes is this year's recipient of this award with countless hours volunteering and stepping up with last-minute requests.

The four youngest members of the Bandits staff were recognized for the work they do every game day. Carson and Jayce are always at the ready each and every game day as water boys. Abe and Ike work diligently to keep accurate stats to support the coaching staff on game day.

The 9th Man Award this year was given to Deb Hale for being not only a long-time fan of the Bandits but an avid supporter of the team and players as well.

Team awards were announced tonight with Charles Dowdell also taking Bandits Offensive Player of the Year. teammate Rahn Franklin, Jr received Defensive Player of the Year; Richard Daniel, Defensive Rookie of the Year; Brett Schlote and Willie Downs, Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year; Marlon Lobban, Most Improved Player and Freddie Bruno taking Team MVP.

In addition to the team awards, individuals were recognized for statistical performances within the league. Marlon Lobban was third in the league in tackles with 105 total tackles for an average of 7.5 tackles per game. Willie Downs led the league in yards per catch with a whopping 19.3 average yards per catch. He was also seventh in the league in receiving yards with 49.4 per game. He totaled 23 receptions for nine touchdowns for the season. Brett Schlote played left tackle on a line that gave up only ten sacks on the season ranking them second in the league. He also helped pave the way for the number two rushing attack in the league. Richard Daniel, despite limited action on the defensive line, finished 11th in the league in sacks and 12th in tackles for loss. Daniel played multiple positions effectively to help the Bandits win the 2015 title. Charles Dowdell, CIF MVP, ranked first in pass efficiency with a rating of 117.1. His other totals were an astounding 64.9% completion rate, 45 touchdowns, only nine interceptions and 2128 yards passing. Rahn Franklin Jr topped the league with 30 total passes defended, 11 interceptions, 19 passes broken up. Freddie Bruno, CIF Special Teams Co-Player of the Year, ended his season leading the league with seven kick returns for touchdowns. He was number two in the league in scoring with 31 touchdowns and 14.3 points per game. Bruno was also fourth in all-purpose yards with 124.5 yards per game.

As the lights are turned off at the Tyson Event Center, friends say so long for now, and the 2015 season comes to a close, there is the promise of tomorrow, of a strong beginning on a 2016 season, and the Champions Bowl trophy to remind us all what can be accomplished when you work hard and work together toward a common cause.

Follow us online at twitter.com/scbanditfans, Like us on facebook.com/SiouxCityBandits, or catch us online at scbandits.com for updates and information during the off-season.

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Written by Jeff Budlong, Sioux City Journal;

The Sioux City Bandits made the first of their Texas two-step challenge to a championship look too easy.

The Bandits jumped out to a big lead and dominated in nearly every facet of the game in beating Amarillo 83-52 at the Tyson Events Center on Saturday night.

The win improved the Bandits to 7-0 at the Tyson Events Center this season as they now host Texas for the inaugural Champions Indoor Football league title. Texas downed Wichita 39-27 on Thursday to reach the championship game.

"We are playing at a high rate right now and the offense is executing real well right now," said Bandits receiver Damon Mothershead.

The Bandits dominated the first half scoring all eight times they had the ball and added two safeties. That gave Sioux City four safeties against the Venom in two games this season as the Bandits raced out to a 59-21 halftime lead.

Running backs Johnny Bentley and Drew Prohaska combined for five touchdowns in the first half as they racked up 117 yards on the ground. Bentley scored on runs of 16, 7 and and 10 yards while Prohaska had a 1-yard TD run and a 31-yard pass from Charles Dowdell.

"It is just a matter of giving effort and going out and closing the deal out," said Prohaska, who added a 2-yard TD run in the fourth quarter and held on to a key onside kick attempt in third quarter despite being hit hard in the air. "It might have looked impressive but it didn't feel impressive."

"Me an him complement each other real well and they think he doesn't have any power but he does," said Bentley, who finished with 64 yards on nine carries.

Dowdell was 7-for-7 in the first half for 118 yards and two scores with his other touchdown going to Willie Downs, for 22 yards, 19 seconds before halftime. Mothershead and Frederick Bruno had matching runs of 11 yards in the second quarter for the team's other scores.

Marlon Lobban and Cliff Stokes grabbed interceptions for the Bandits on Amarillo's final two possessions of the first half to help the lead balloon.

"That is just part of our method to our madness, just control the game as much as possible," said Lobban. "We are just out to wreck some havoc especially the way our back end is playing right now and our D-line is playing great right now."

The Bandit defense bothered Amarillo quarterback Nate Davis all game and limited him to 17 of 39 for 164. By contrast, Dowdell threw just 11 passes in the game connecting on 10 as the league MVP had three TD passes and no picks.

"I think that goes to the offense and the guys that call the plays because they put us in great position to make plays," said Dowdell of his performance. "It is a blessing to have those guys around me and it makes my job easy."

Amarillo did get a 51-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and an 8-yard TD reception in the third quarter from Raymond Johnson Jr., but it was too little too late as the Venom ended their season at 7-6.

The Bandits scored every time the offense got the ball in the game, but Max Martin's 25-yard field goal with 11:49 to play in the fourth quarter was the only scoring drive not to end in a touchdown. The drive also saw Dowdell throw his lone incompletion of the game.

Andre Jones had the final score of the game for the Bandits as he intercepted Davis for the third time and raced 39 yards for the touchdown.

The win improved the Bandits, who have won eight straight games, to 10-3 on the season giving Sioux City five consecutive years of at least 10 victories.

The Bandits downed the Venom 79-58 in their only meeting of the regular season on May 30 at the Tyson Events Center.

Sioux City is looking to claim its first football championship since back-to-back titles in the American Professional Football League in 2011 and 2012. Two years ago the team lost in the first round of the playoffs, and followed that up with a runner-up finish to Wichita with both results coming in the Champions Professional Indoor Football League.

Sioux City 83, Amarillo 52

Amarillo 14 7 17 14 -- 52

Sioux City 30 29 7 17 -- 83

First Quarter

SC: Johnny Bentley 16 run (Max Martin kick), 14:00

SC: Bandits safety, 13:02

SC: Bentley 7 run (Martin kick), 11:13

A: Percy Turner 12 pass from Nate Davis (Jacob Felton kick), 8:44

SC: Drew Prohaska 31 pass from Charles Dowdell (Martin kick), 8:14

A: Martee Tenner 16 run (Felton kick), 4:35

SC: Prohaska 1 run (Martin kick), 2:13

Second Quarter

SC: Bandits safety, 14:56

SC: Damon Mothershead 11 run (kick blocked), 13:08

A: Wyreaz Bradley 4 pass from Davis (Felton kick), 9:23

SC: Bentley 10 run (Martin kick), 5:16

SC: Frederick Bruno 11 run (Martin kick), 1:25

SC: Willie Downs 23 pass from Dowdell (Martin kick), :19

Third Quarter

A: Felton 28 FG, 8:29

SC: Bruno 5 pass from Dowdell (Martin kick), 6:48

A: Raymond Johnson Jr. 51 kickoff return (Martin kick), 6:38

A: Johnson Jr. 8 pass from Davis (Felton kick), 1:42

Fourth Quarter

SC: Martin 25 field goal, 11:49

A: Johnson Jr. 6 pass from Davis (Felton kick), 7:55

SC: Prohaska 1 run (Martin kick), 6:08

SC: Andre Jones 39 interception return (Martin kick), 3:19

A: Johnson Jr. 8 pass from Davis (Felton kick), 2:15

TEAM STATISTICS

Amarillo Sioux City

First downs 19 20

Rushes-yards 21-92 23-132

Passing yards 164 142

Passes 17-39-3 11-12-0

Total plays-yards 60-256 35-274

Fumbles-lost 2-0`1-0

Penalties-yards 10-47 8-43

Possession time 35:48 24:12

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Amarillo –Martee Tenner 16-69, Nate avis 2-41, Wyreaz Bradley 3-15, Team 0-(-33) . Sioux City – Drew Prohaska 6-37, Johnny Bentley 9-64, Damon Mothershead 1-11, Charles Dowdell 2-(-2), Frederick Bruno 2-17, Willie Downs 1-3, Anthony Thomas 2-2.

PASSING: Amarillo – Davis 17-39-3 164. Sioux City – Dowdell 10-11-0 136 yards, Mothershead 1-1-0 6.

RECEIVING: Amarillo – Percy Turner 5-48, Raymond Johnson 5-39, Julian Walker 2-36, Tenner 2-18, Brock Ringo 1-13, Shu Richardson 1-6, Bradley 1-4. Sioux City – Bruno 6-61, Mothershead 1-8, Prohaska 1-31, Willie Downs 1-22, Bentley 1-14, Dowdell 1-6.

TACKLES

(Solo-Assist-Total)

AMARILLO: Ronne Goforth 7-0--7, Cameron Gupton 3-2--5, Nate DAvis 2-3--5, Tenner 3-0--3,Kendrick Causey 3-3--6.

SIOUX CITY: Marlon Lobban 7-1--8, Drew Prohaska 5-2--7, Andre Jones 5-2--7, Jonathan Smith 3-2--5, Marcus Miles 3-2--5, Cliff Stokes 3-2--5.

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Written by Jeff Budlong, Sioux City Journal; Sioux City, Iowa

In the minutes after capturing the Champions Indoor Football championship, a veteran group of Sioux City Bandits were focusing on what allowed them to navigate a trying season and come out on top.

Neither key injuries nor a 2-3 start to the season was enough to derail a Bandits team that seemed to use adversity to strengthen the bond of a team that finished with an 11-3 record. A 76-61 win over Texas enabled Sioux City to claim its third title in the last five seasons.

"We started a motto after (Sean) Kelly went down because he was the leader of our team, he was the foundation ... that motto was hunt," Lobban said. "Just like lions we wanted to hunt and we figured it out. It was tough at times but the coaches stuck with us and we hunted it out, we figured it out."

Kelly, a defensive lineman who led the team in sacks, suffered a leg injury late in the season. However, he was one of numerous veteran players who played key roles throughout the season and in the title game that allowed Sioux City to walk away victorious.

"It was a great team effort and we fought through it all season from camp on," said running back Johnny Bentley, who said he is retiring from the game. "This is a real life brotherhood, this is real love right here. This is great to come back to this.

"I am glad I came back and went out like this. Last year it wasn't fair but we came back for the redemption."

Sioux City rebounded from a runner-up finish last year to get the win to finish its season this time around.

Bandits head coach Erv Strohbeen felt he had the best team in the league from the start of camp. It was proven as the Sioux City defense came up with two key stops in the second half that saw a two-point lead grow to 16 with just over five minutes to play.

The offense, for its part, scored a touchdown every time it touched the ball in the second half.

"If you would have told me when we were sitting at 2-3 that we would have gone undefeated the rest of the season I probably would have called you crazy," he said. "I saw the amount of work these guys were putting in, but still, to run the table and go undefeated I figured we would drop one.

"We felt like we had the best team the past two years ... and then the way we started this year you start wondering what are we doing wrong here. But the guys buckled down and it makes it that much sweeter."

Much of the talk coming into the title game was about Texas' defense that led the league in points allowed. Strohbeen believed his team used any of that talk as motivation.

"I said that our defense was going to win this game because everyone was talking about our offense and their defense," he said. "Our defense stepped up and it started with those stops in the second half.

"Our offense minus the one fumble against what was supposedly the No. 1 defense, and I never like to talk trash, but all these guys read everything that Texas said all week about how this offense wasn't ready for the defense they were bringing to town."

The Bandits proved more than ready for the challenge. So was the crowd of 3,757 at the Tyson Events Center as it made things hard on Texas. The noise made communication hard and led to several of the 15 penalties thrown on the Revolution.

"This crowd was definitely the difference," Strohbeen said. "It is the greatest crowd I have seen all year. Third down, fourth down they were there when we needed it. The fans should be proud of themselves because they helped us get that championship."

This championship was hard earned by team and fans.

"It has been a long 18 weeks and without these fans here it wouldn't be nothing. This city deserves a title and we brought it back," Lobban said.

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Written by Alex Walker, Siouxland Matters;

The stage is set for Saturday's CIF semifinals and the road to a championship runs through Sioux City.

The Bandits are the number one seed and they kick things off on Saturday against Amarillo.

Sioux City is undefeated at home in 2015 and the guys are excited to defend home turf at the Tyson Events Center.

"I think these guys are confident gaining that number one seed," said Bandits head coach Erv Strohbeen. "They love playing at home. We are averaging 68 points a game at home and anytime you can put up that many points against your opponents, your win loss percentage is going to be pretty good."

"Right now, we are undefeated at home and kind of flying on a high. I think the guys are definitely confident going into Saturday," said Strohbeen.

"We love this city and it's just kind of a pleasure to bring the playoffs back through the city that we love," said Bandits defensive back Rahn Franklin. "We are really comfortable and it's hard for teams to come into Sioux City and get a win with our fans and the way we play."