Beef/Spartans preview

Omaha Beef @ Colorado Spartans  

June 1st – 8:00pm CT

Blue Arena


The Omaha Beef hit the road hopefully for the last time in the 2024 season this Saturday as they travel to Loveland, Colorado to take on the 3-4 Colorado Spartans at Blue Arena for an 8pm CT kickoff. The Beef have clinched at least a berth in the Championship game as they sit 6-0 in the National Arena League. Carolina Cobras (5-2) are currently in second place, and they travel to Sioux City to take on the Bandits (4-3) this Saturday. The Cobras and Beef meet in the final week of the regular season at Liberty First Credit Union Arena on June 8th. The Cobras need to win one of those two road games to meet Omaha in the June 15th Championship game, or if the Cobras lose both of those games the Bandits would play Omaha.

The Beef defense will be going up against the top-rated passing offense. The Spartans offense has averaged 237.6 yards per game, 208.7 ypg through the air, while scoring an average 44.4 points per game. They average 28.9 ypg on the ground. Omaha on the other hand has the top-rated defense allowing only 174.3 ypg and only 106.3 ypg through the air while giving up 27.2 ppg.

Tommy Armstrong leads the Beef offense as their top rusher and passer. Armstrong averages 52.5 ypg rushing the ball (54 attempts for 315 yards) and 120.5 ypg passing (52 completions for 723 yards) and has scored 15 touchdowns. He leads the NAL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns and sits third in passing yards and passing touchdowns. His passing efficiency of 110.6 also leads the NAL while going 52 of 90 with only two interceptions. Running back Jeff Mack sits fourth in the NAL averaging 42.4 ypg while scoring five touchdowns. Troy Evans Jr. (13 receptions for 235 yards, 7 touchdowns) and Korrell Koehlmoos (13 receptions for 204 yards and four touchdowns) are the top targets for Armstrong. The offensive line for the Beef has been great again allowed only 3 sacks this season and if you count the 2023 season, they have only allowed 5 sacks in 18 games. The Omaha offensive will be tested by Colorado who has the second most sacks (65) in the NAL.

Omaha’s leading tackler is a two-time Defensive Player of the Week winner, defensive back Ponce Deleon. Deleon has 44 tackles, 7.3 tackles per game, while grabbing three interceptions. Defensive back Terrance Jackson Jr (29 tackles, 2 interceptions), defensive linemen Rudy Ngougni (23 tackles, 3 sacks) and Rodell Rahmaan (22 tackles, 4 sacks) and linebackers Cameron Hunt (20 tackles, 1 sack) and Dylan Pettway (20 tackles 1.5 sacks) have 20 or more tackles on the season. The Beef lead the NAL with 70 sacks and are third in interceptions as the team has a plus 11 turnovers margin.

The Spartans offense is led by quarterback Jason Whittaker who is completing 61.6 of his passing (122-198 for 1495 yds and 35 TD) and is the team’s leading rusher running 20 times for 84 yards and four touchdowns. Whittaker leads the NAL in total offense, completions, passing attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and interceptions. Colorado has two receivers with over 30 catches in Steven Newbold (34-531 yds 15 TD) and Deonte Rarrieck (30-396 yds, 7 TD) as well as Khalil Hayes (23-311 yds, 7 TD), Ladarius Skelton (19-152 2 TD), and KaDarrius Campbell (12-81 yds, 3 TD). Newbold is tied with Omaha’s Tommy Armstrong in scoring, averaging 15.7 ppg to pace the NAL and his 1008 of all-purpose yards is the most. Spartans’ kicker Luis Ferreira is second in kicker scoring of the year, has made 11 of 18 extra point kicks and two deuces.

Colorado’s defense leading tackler is linebacker Justin Castell with 56 tackles, whose 8.0 tpg leads the NAL. The defensive line is manned by leading NAL sack man, Sam Hammond (26 tackles, 5.5 sacks) and Cory Henry (16 tackles, 5 sacks). Javarius Thompson (47 tackles) leads the team with 3 interceptions while Travion Mosby (17 tackles) and Rick Rumph (14 tackles) each have two.

 

OTHER NOTES

Omaha is currently on an 18-game winning streak and if they win Saturday, they will be hosting the NAL 2024 Championship on June 15 at Liberty First Credit Union Arena.

The Omaha Beef have announced their 2024 Hall of Fame class; Running Back RJ Rollins, TE/OL/WR Chad Mustard, QB Matt LaFleur, Kicker Brandon Stewart, Rump Roaster Doc Southwick, and super fan Pat Kenison will be honored at halftime of the June 8th game between the Beef and Carolina Cobras.

Tickets are on sale starting at just $23.00, you can buy them by visiting the arena box office or online at Omaha Beef Football | Liberty First Credit Union Arena

If you are not making the trip to Colorado, no worries the official “Watch Party” will be at Hurrdat Sports Bar in La Vista hosted by DJ K DuB Omaha! Pre-sign up via link if you plan to be in attendance to secure your spot and get an extra ticket for giveaway drawings.

The coaches show will be every Monday at Phoenix 120 Food & Spirit starting at 6pm.

Any questions call the Beef office at 402.346.2333.

 

2024 Omaha Beef Schedule (6-0)

 

 

 


Colorado

Omaha

March 24, 2pm CT

@ Carolina Cobras

W 54-43

Avg Pts Scored/G

44.4 (3rd)

45.2 (2ndt)

March 30, 6:30pm CT

Vs Colorado Spartans

W 45-32

Avg Pts Allow/G

41.9 (4th)

27.2 (1st)

April 20, 7pm CT

Vs Idaho Horsemen

W 63-14

Total Offense/G

237.6 (1st)

235.8 (2nd)

May 4, 6:30pm CT

Vs Oklahoma Flying Aces

W 42-36

Total Defense/G

212.3 (3rd)

174.3 (1st)

May 11, 6:30pm CT

Vs Sioux City Bandits

W 33-6

Turnover Margin

-11 (6th)

+11 (1st)

May 18, 7:10pm CT

@ Sioux City Bandits

W 34-32




June 1, 8pm CT

@Colorado Spartans


Home Record

3-0

4-0

June 8, 6:30pm CT 

Vs Carolina Cobras


Road Record

0-2

1-0

 

 


All-time Record

1-0 Omaha

 

 


Last Meeting

3/30/24, a 45-32 Omaha win in Ralston

 

 




 

 



NAL games only for team rank


Projected Starters


Omaha Beef

 

Oklahoma Flying Aces

 

QB

#10 Tommy Armstrong

52/90 passing 723 yds, 13 TD, 2 Int

54-315 yds rushing, 15 TD

#13 Jason Whittaker

122/198 1495 yds, 35 TD, 16 Int, 20-90 yds rushing, 4 TD

RB

#5 Jeff Mack

49-212 rushing 5 TD; 8-43 rec

# 8 Ladarius Skelton

14-35 yds rushing, 3 TD; 19 rec 152 yds 2 TD

WR

#13 Korrell Koehlmoos

13 rec 204 yds 4 TD

# 3 Steve Newbold

34 rec 531 yds, 15 TD; 3-9 yds rushing

WR

#18 Jordon Barton

11 rec 143 yds 2 TD, 5-20 yds rush 1 TD

#16 Khalil Hayes

23 rec 311 yds, 7 TD; 9-37 yds rushing

WR

#8 Troy Evans Jr

13 rec 235 yds 7 TD, 4-29 yds rush

#4 Deonte Rarrieck 

30 rec 396 yds, 7 TD; 1-12 yds rushing

OL

#50 Olu’kayode Akinmoladun


#73 Anthony Wilson


OL

#52 Edarius Anderson

OL has given up 3 sack on season

#72 Jordan Burny

OL has given up 8 sack on season

OL

#92 Nathan Roehr


#1 Leslie Turner


 



 


DL

#1 Rudy Ngougni

23 tackles, 3 sack, 4 TFL, safety

#10 Samuele Hammond

26 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 9 TFL, 2 PB, 3 QBH

DL

#44 Zion Farmer

11 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 TFL, 2 QBH

#70 Cory Henry

16 tackles, 5 sacks, 7 TFL

DL

#15 Rodell Rahmaan

22 tackles, 4 sacks, 5 TFL, 2 FF, safety

#14 Jack Robinson

4 tackles

LB

#7 Cameron Hunt

20 tackles, 1 sack, 4.5 TFL, 3 FF, 2 FR, 1 INT, 1 PB, 5 QBH

#21 Justin Castell

56 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 PB, 2 QBH

DB

#21 Trey Dudley-Giles

14 tackles, 2 INT, 1 TFL, 1 PB

#7 Javarius Thompson

47 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 INT, 3 PB, 1 FF

DB

#6 Ammari Sylla

2 tackles 1 FR

#20 Arnell Anderson

10 tackles, 1 PB

DB

#0 Ponce Deleon

44 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 FF, 3 INT, 1 PB

#9 Travion Mosby

17 tackles, 1 TFL 2 INT, 5 PB

DB

#2 Terrance Jackson Jr

29 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 2 INT, 2 PB, 1 FR

#2 Rick Rump

14 tackles, 2 INT, 1 PB, 1 FF

 

 


 


K

#35 Ryan Hibbets

12-26 PAT, 0-2 FG, 1 Deuce

#12 Luiz Ferreira

11-18 PAT, 0-0 FG, 2 deuce


NAL Player of the Week Awards-

Tommy Armstrong- (Offensive) Week 2, Week 6, Week 9

Dylan Pettway – (Defensive) Week 2

Camron Hunt II (Defensive) Week 6

Rudy Ngougni – (Defensive) Week 8

Ponce Deleon – (Defensive) Week 9, Week 10

Web information

Livestream – youtube.com/@NationalArenaLeague/streams

Website – beeffootball.com

Facebook- facebook.com/TheOmahaBeef

Beef All-Time records vs. (As of 5/27/24)

 

Overall record

Regular Season

Post-Season

Home

Away

Sioux City Bandits

28-24

24-24

4-0

15-11

13-13

Oklahoma Fly Aces

4-0

4-0

0-0

3-0

1-0

Carolina Cobras

1-0

1-0

0-0

0-0

1-0

Colorado Spartans

1-0

1-0

0-0

1-0

0-0

Idaho Horsemen

1-0

1-0

0-0

1-0

0-0

 

Beef Championships-

CIF Champions Bowl VI (2021) and VIII (2023)

Name 

Beef Record for

current rank

Prior Stat

2024

Current total

up next

Jeff Mack

 rushing yds

4

793

212

1005

3rd Clinton Childs (2000-03) 1797

Jeff Mack

rushing attempts

4

244

49

293

3rd James McNear (2007-13) 379

Jeff Mack

rushing TD

8

17

5

22

 7th Anthony Iannotti 28

Jeff Mack

pass receptions

14

59

8

67

13th 69 Montero Debose 69, 12th Norman Darden 72

Jeff Mack

All-purpose

6

1719

389

2108

 5th LeAndrew Moore 2234

Jeff Mack

TD Scored

13

20

5

25

12th Jonathan Ray 26, 10th Iannotti/Moore 28

Jeff Mack

kick returns

11th

25

7

32

10th Lawrence Pullen 38

Jeff Mack

kick return yards

12

393

134

527

11th 562 Allen Burrell 562, 10th Lawrence Pullen 689

Tommy Armstrong

rushing yards

8

384

315

699

7th Le'Andre Moore (2002-04) 736

Tommy Armstrong

rushing attempts

11

80

54

134

 10th 134 Jamar Day

Tommy Armstrong

rushing TD

3

19

15

34

3rd James McNear (2007-13) 47

Tommy Armstrong

passing attempts

8

164

90

254

7th Chris Cofin (2014) 317

Tommy Armstrong

Passing completions

8

102

52

154

7th Chris Cofin 200

Tommy Armstrong

passing yards

7th

1279

723

2002

6th John McMenamin 2202

Tommy Armstrong

passing TD

7

32

13

45

 6th Anthony Iannotti (2017-18) 49

Tommy Armstrong

Total offense

6

1663

1038

2701

5th Chuck Wright 2716, 4th Troy Travis 3327

Tommy Armstrong

TD Responsible

5

51

28

79

4th Andrew Jackson 93, 3rd Troy Travis 87

Trey Dudley-Giles

kick return yards

15th

442

1

443

13th David Horne (2008-09) 464

Trey Dudley-Giles

kick returns

11th

29

0

29

10th Lawrence Pullen (2007) 38

Trey Dudley-Giles

interceptions

3rd

14

2

16

2nd Chris Perry

Trey Dudley-Giles

interception yards

2

232

74

306

2nd to Chris Perry

Trey Dudley-Giles

Tackles

3

221

14

235

3rd Chris Perry 235, 2nd Chris Eads 256

Trey Dudley-Giles

pass defended

6th

32

3

35

5th Taylor Hawkins (2019-21,22) 36, 4th Diezeas Calbert (2008-15) 37