Beef win 18th straight after big comeback in the I-29 rematch

It was a much different game for the 52nd meeting between Sioux City and Omaha Saturday at the Tyson Events Center than last Saturday in Ralston. This was a classic I-29 battle that saw the Beef come back from being down 20 points in the fourth quarter then watching to see if Sioux City could kick the winning field goal with no time left on the clock. The Beef were down 32-12 after Bandits quarterback Verlon Reed Jr scrambled from 18 yards out with 10:26 left in the game.  Beef quarterback Tommy Armstrong then led his team to 22 unanswered points as he threw two touchdown and took the third one in on his own plus converted two extra points plays as the 6-0 Beef won for the 18^th straight time and now five in a row over the Bandits with a 34-32 victory.

Sioux City (3-3) opened the game with a 12-play drive and took 9:23 off the clock before Andrew Prohaska scored on a 9-yard touchdown run. The Beef got the ball back at their own 8-yard line and on their only play in the first quarter quarterback Tommy Armstrong busted through the line for a 42-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 6. Sioux City was on another long drive, but Prohaska was hit by Cameron Hunt at the Beef 1 and the ball was recovered by Omaha's Terrance Jackson Jr in the endzone. However, one play later the snapped ball went over Armstrong's head, and it was recovered by the Bandits Devin Groenhagen for a touchdown. The Beef then used a 4-play drive to tie the game at 12 when Jeff Mack took it in from 14 yards. Omaha’s Ponce Deleon then picked off Verlon Reed Jr and Beef started a 9-play drive then ended on downs with :56 left in the half at the Bandits 12-yard line. The Bandits took the lead again after a 7-play drive ended as time expired with a Reed Jr 1 yd run to give the Bandits an 18-12 halftime lead.

The third quarter started with two beef turnovers on downs and a missed field goal by Sioux City before the Bandit scored as the third quarter ended when Reed Jr hit Fred Bruno from six yards to build a 12-point lead as the Bandits led 24-12 to start the fourth quarter. The Bandits got the ball back when Jeff Mack fumbled after he was hit by Juan Moore, and it was recovered by Carlton Walkins at the Beef 17. On third down Reed Jr scrambled 18 yards for a touchdown and with the two-point pass to Brandon Sheperd, Sioux City lead 32 to 12 with 9:35 remaining in the game.

Omaha closed the gap on the next drive as Armstong hit DaQuan Dudley on a 45 yd touchdown and Armstrong’s 2 pt run made it a 12-point game with 8:22 remaining. After a missed field goal by Sioux City, the Beef trimmed the lead again as Armstrong hit Troy Evans Jr from 15 yards and with 3:05 left it was Sioux City 32 and Omaha 26. Then with one minute left in the game a 58-yard field goal by Sioux City was short and Beef got the ball at their own 5-yard line. Armstrong hit Evans Jr on a 42-yard pass to get the ball to the Sioux City 3-yard line. Armstrong took it the last three yards and the game was tied at 32 with nine seconds left.  The Beef took the lead when Armstrong then hit Korrell Koehlmoos on the two point try and the Beef had their first lead of the game, 34-32.

Sioux City had one last chance to win the game as Ryan Hibbets kickoff went out of bounds and gave the Bandits the ball at their own 20-yard line. Reed Jr’s pass into the endzone was picked off, but a defensive penalty was called, and Sioux City had one play left with no time left on the clock.  The Bandits’ Jared Amundson lined up for a 40-yard attempt that went wide right of the nets and after a mad scramble for the live ball it was recovered by Omaha and their 28^th win in the I-29 series.

Armstong finished the night with 63 yards on nine rushing attempts and two touchdowns while going nine of 16 passing for 149 yards and two more touchdowns. Jeff Mack added 11 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown.  Dudley caught four balls for 64 yards and one touchdown as Evans Jr ended with 66 yards on three catches and one touchdown. The Beef defense was led by Ponce Deleon with 10 tackles, one interception, and one pass breakup. Terrance Jackson Jr, Rodell Rahmaan, and Dylan Pettway each had six tackles. Rahmaan had the only sack for the Beef.

Sioux City saw new quarterback Reed Jr gain 62 yards on the ground for two touchdowns as he went 10 for 20 passing with one interception and one touchdown.  Andrew Prohaska ended with 36 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown.  Fred Bruno, the all-time leading receiver for Sioux City, finished with five catches for 23 yards and one touchdown.  Carlton Watkins led the Bandits with six tackles and a fumble recovery.

OTHER NOTES:  

Omaha has a bye next week before heading to Colorado on June 1st.

The NAL has changed the playoff format now as the top two teams will meet June 15^th for the championship.

2024 Omaha Beef Schedule (6-0)

Beef All-Time records vs. (As of 5/18/24)