Beef head to the Tropics

by Randy Kascht

Omaha Beef @ Topeka Tropics

April 1, 2023 – 7pm

Stormont Vail Events Center

March 30, 2023

The 2-0 Omaha Beef fresh off their bye week hit the road for the second time this season traveling to Topeka, Kansas to take on the 0-3 Tropics. Kickoff is set for 7pm at the Stormont Vail Events Center.

Quarterback Tommy Armstrong leads the second highest scoring CIF offense into the Week 5 matchup having only 8 incomplete passes.  Armstrong has gone 21-29, 233 yards, and 8 touchdowns for an efficiency rating of 135.5 in the first two games of the season.  The Beef QB has rushed for another 52 yards and 4 touchdowns and stands fourth in the CIF in total offense averaging 142.5 yards per game.  Omaha’s running game is led by Jailin Singleton, who ranks 8th with 27.5 rushing yards per game.  The receiving core of Gourney Sloane (9-118, 2 TD’s), Devanaire Conliffe (5-58, 3 TD’s),  Dre’Sonte Dorton (2-14, 1 TD), and Singleton (3-24, 2 TD’s) make it tough on opponents defenses to focus on any single wide receiver.

The Beef’s top ranked defense has allowed only four touchdowns in the two games while giving up 229 yards.  They are first in turnover margin with a plus eight and have five interceptions and four sacks on the season.  Leading tackler JayShawn Washington as 12 total tackles with 2 sacks, while Cameron Hunt and Tamar Heart are next in line with 11 total tackles each.

The Tropics are led by quarterback and week four Offensive Player of the Week, Lorenz Stefan, who leads the CIF in total offense averaging 222.0 yards per game.  Topeka is coming off a tough home overtime loss to Salina, in which they had a chance to win with no time left on the clock, but the PAT was no good and the Liberty went on to win 66-65.  Max Novak leads the Tropics with 25 receptions, 262 yards and 6 touchdowns and Ryan Martinez has added 16 receptions for 211 yards and 6 touchdowns.  Topeka defense is led by defensive backs Marcus Gray (22 tackles), Tyrun Lemon (16 tackles), DeWayne Autrey II (15 tackles), and Dale Williamson (14 tackles).

On April 8th, the Beef will return home to host the Gillette Mustangs, while the Tropics will travel to Dodge City for a matchup with the SW Kansas Storm.

2023 Omaha Beef Schedule (2-0)

March 4, 6:30pm CT

Vs Omaha Stockman (EX)

W 71-0


Topeka

Omaha

March 10, 7pm CT

Vs Billing Outlaws

W 47-19

Avg Pts Scored/G

45.7 (4)

57.5 (2)

March 18, 6pm CT

@ Southwest Kansas

W 68-15

Avg Pts Allow/G

69.0 (8)

17.0 (2)

April 1, 7pm CT

@ Topeka Tropics


Total Offense/G

247.3 (3)

183.0 (4)

April 8, 7pm CT

Vs Gillette Mustangs


Total Defense/G

259.7 (8)

114.5 (1)

April 15, 6:35pm CT

@ Salina Liberty


Turnover Margin

-3 (5)

+8 (1)

April 22,7:30pm CT

@ Billings Outlaws





April 29, 6:30pm CT

Vs Rapid City Marshals


Home Record

0-1

1-0

May 6, 7pm CT

@ Sioux City Bandits


Road Record

0-2

1-0

May 13, 7pm CT

Vs Topeka Tropics


All-time Record

Beef lead series 2-0

May 27, 6:30pm CT

Vs Sioux City Bandits


Last Meeting

6/4/22 Beef 42-21

(CIF rank after week 4)

Projected Starters


Omaha Beef

 

Topeka

 

QB

#10 Tommy Armstrong

21-29, 233 yds 8 TD 0 INT, 8 Rush for 52 yds 4 TD

#7 Lorenz Stefan

52-89-4, 652 yds, 16 TD’s

Rush: 5-14, 2 TD

RB

#22 Jailin Singleton

Rush: 13-55 Yds 0 TD

Rec: 3-24 Yds 2 TD

#24 Javontae Matthew

Rush: 13-24, 1 TD

Rec: 3-11

WR

#80 Dre’Sonte Dorton

Rec: 2-14 Yds 1 TD

Rush: 1-4 Yds 0 TD

#1 Julian Walker

Rec: 6-89, 2TD


WR

#5 Devanaire Conliffe

Rec: 5-58 YDS 3 TD

Rush: 3-8 YDS 0 TD

#10 Ryan Martinez

Rec: 16-211, 6 TD

KR: 13-191

WR

#8 Gourney Sloan

Rec: 9-118 YDS 2 TD


#0 Max Novak

Rec: 25-262, 6 TD


OL

#50 Olu’kayode Akinmoladun


#72 Lawrence Smith


OL

#70 Reggie Patrick


Orlando Parra-Alvarez


OL

#99 Steven Fluker


#73 Gene Tapia


 



 


DL

#2 JayShawn Washington

12 TACK, 2 SACK, 3 TFL


#17 Darius Pitts

1 TACK,

DL

#15 Tamar Heart

11 TACK, 1 sack, 3.5 TFL, 2 PB

#55 Tamatoa Silva

1 TACK,

DL

#55 Jamar Claibourn

9 TACK, 1 SACK, 2 TFL

#43 Taeshon Agee

2 TACK, 1 SACK, 1.5 TFL

LB

#7 Cameron Hunt

11 TACK, 1.5 TFL, 2 FR

#59 Tony Nelms

4 TACK,


DB

#3 Chris Perry

7 TACK, 1 TFL, 1 INT,


#8 Dale Williamson

14 TACK, 2 PB, 1 INT

DB

#4 Aaron Jackson

5 TACK, 1 INT

#6 Tyrun Lemon

16 TACK, 1 INT


DB

#6 Dreko Statham

6 TACK, 2 INT, 1 PB

#5 DeWayne Autrey II

15 TACK, 3 PB


DB

#21 Trey Dudley-Giles

8 TACK, 4 PB


#4 Marcus Gray

22 TACK, 1 TFL

 

 


 


K

#13 Brandon Stewart

0-4 FG, 4-8 PAT Kick

#25 Billy Perry

1-2 FG, 2-5 PAT KICK


CIF Player of the Week Awards-

Tommy Armstrong – Week 2 Offensive

JayShawn Washington – Week 3 Defensive

Dre’Sonte Dorton – Week 3 Special Teams

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