NAL Championship Preview

The Omaha Beef (8-1) make their five straight appearance in a championship game as they travel to Beaumont, Texas on Monday night to take on the expansion Renegades (8-1). Omaha won championships in 2021 (CIF), 2023 (CIF), and 2024 (NAL), and the 8^th championship game of the National Arena League will see the Beef face the team that handed them their only loss of the season and ended their 24-game winning streak. In their first matchup in April, Omaha led 31-24 going into the fourth quarter, but we held scoreless in the last quarter as Beaumont scored twice on the way to its 36-31 victory.

The 2025 season saw the Beef suffer their first loss and make a change at head coach, but the winning continues. The loss at Beaumont was the first game for head coach Brandon Negron as he took over for Mike Tatum during the previous bye week. Since that game, the Beef are 6-0 and the offense went from averaging 34 points per game to 55.5 points per game. The offense saw the return of RB Tabyus Taylor, who ranks 5^th in the NAL in rushing average (38.2 ypg), 2024 NAL MVP Tommy Armstrong and wide receiver Jordan Barton. Armstrong, who started the Divisional game, has seen action in three games averaging 88.3 passing yards per game and has a passing efficiency of 150.2. The defense leads in scoring defense (24.9 PPG), turnover margin (+11), and ranks second in total defense (156.3 YPG).

Veteran quarterbacks Lorenzo Brown and Armstrong have gone 91 for 160, 1032 yards, 23 touchdowns with three interceptions while running the ball 49 times for 193 yards and five touchdowns. Taylor leads the team in rushing, carrying the ball 55 times for 229 yards and nine touchdowns in six games. Second year wide receiver Korell Koehlmoos leads the team in receptions with 32 (32-291 yds, 4 TD), while Devanaire Conliffe leads the team with receiving yards (19-319 yds, 10 TD). Newly acquired wide receiver Jordan Barton has averaged 16.2 ypg (9-146 yds, 2 TD) in his three games with the Beef. Koehlmoos sits 4^th in the NAL in receptions per game (3.6), while Conliffe is 2^nd with 53.0 ypg and tied for 7th with 10.0 ppg, while Barton is third averaging 48.7 ypg. The offensive line has had various players contribute, but the main group of Josh Fields, Reggie Patrick, and Olukayode Akinmoladun has permitted only six sacks this season. Rookie kicker Caleb Shudak has made great strides over the season after a rough start. Shudak has hit 29 of 39 extra points after going 1 for 3 on PATs in the opener, has made 4 of 13 field goals, and produced five deuces. He ranks second in field goals percentage (30.8) and fourth in extra point percentage (74.4).

Omaha’s defense remains one of the best of the last couple of seasons. They have the NAL’s leading tackler in Marcus Gray (8.9 tpg) and Trey Dudley-Giles is leading the NAL with six interceptions. The team is allowing on average 55 yards on the ground and 100 yards through the air. Omaha ranks second in interceptions with 15, fourth in sacks (9), and league best 10.9 first downs per game. The defensive line of Jayshawn Washington (42 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT), Ralph Green (3 tackles), DeAnthony Hall-Steele (23 tackles, .5 sack) with linebackers Rodell Rahmaan (55 tackles, 3 sacks) and Kye Black (29 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT) have helped produce enough pressure that the Beef have forced 15 interceptions and 17 pass breakups. Defensive backfield includes Terrance Jackson (27 tackles, 1 INT), Dudley-Giles (17 tackles, 6 INT), Jonathan Adams (12 tackles, 2 INT), and Gray (71 tackles, 2 INT). They will get help from Chris Perry, Ponce Deleon, and Ralph Turner trying to stop the top scoring offense with leading MVP candidate, quarterback Carl Robinson III.

The Beaumont offensive leads the NAL in scoring (46.6 ppg) and yards (222.6 ypg). Carl Robinson III, a two-time offensive player of the week and NAL Offensive Rookie of the Year, leads the NAL in rushing (68 rushes, 432 yds, 48.0 avg), third in passing 135.3 ypg, second in passing efficiency 113.7. 2^nd in total offense (183.3), first in touchdown passes (28), and second in total offense (1650) with 183.3 ypg. The Renegades added two big pieces to their offense with their trades with the Shreveport Rouxgaroux. On May 14^th they got running back D’Nerius Antoine and on May 15^th, they got receiver Rashad Ridley. Antoine, offensive player of the week 13, has averaged 44 ypg in three games with Beaumont, between Shreveport and Beaumont, he had 71 carries for 320 yards, 14 touchdowns (4^th most rushing yards) and 2^nd with 12.5 ppg. The teams average a league best 95.8 yards per game rushing and 126.8 yards per game passing. Robinson III has a four headed monster for him to throw to. Vincent Wilkerson (24-338 yds, 9 TD), Zuri Davis (22-351 yds, 11 TD), Joshua Neal (13-97 yds, 2 TD) and Rashad Ridley (15 rec 191 yds, 3 TD between the two teams). Vincent Wilkerson is tied for 9th with 3.0 rebounds per game and ranks 7th with 42.2 yards per game. Meanwhile, Davis is in ninth place with an average of 39.0 yards per game. Kicker Ryan Hibbets, a two-time special teams’ player of the week, has connected on 30 of 39 extra point attempts, one of four field goals, and one deuce.

The Renegades defense consists of linemen Metoriah Faoliu (37 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT), Sidney Jones (17 tackles), and JD Griggs (32 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 Defensive POW). Linebackers are Kewan Alfred (34 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Quentin Peeples (25 tackles, 3 sacks) with defensive backs Trey Taylor (40 tackles, 1 INT), Jalen Hicks (31 tackles, 1 Defensive POW), Maleek Jones (30 tackles, 2 INT), Jordus Smith (12 tackles), and Corey Mayfield Jr (3 tackles). Antoine will also play defensively along with Devante Wright and Garret Pemelton. The defense has given up the most first down (152, 16.9 per game), are fifth in Opponent 3^rd down rate (38%), and fifth in opponent 4^th down rate (46.7%). They are seventh in pass defense giving up 120.9 ypg and seventh in rushing defense allowing 90.8 ypg.

OTHER NOTES: 

The two teams have the best fourth-down conversion rate with Beaumont first with 60 percent and Beef second with 59.3 percent.

Beaumont is fifth in the time of possession (28:51) while Omaha is last at 24:41.

Red Zone offense Omaha second at 84.4 percent and Renegades fourth at 78.9 percent, while their red zone defense is rank second (63.4 percent) while the Beef are 8^th at 82.8 percent.

The Omaha Beef won the NAL’s Best Community Relations award on Friday.

The coaching show takes place on Monday from 6-7pm at Let It Fly Sport Bar, located at 1080 Capital Ave, Omaha.

A watch party for away games will take place at Hurrdat Sports Bar, located at 12744 Westport Pkwy. There will be a prize board, giveaway items, along with great food and drinks!!!

Any questions call the Beef office at 402.346.2333.

2025 Omaha Beef Schedule (9-1, 5-0)

NAL Player of the Week Awards-

Trey Dudley-Giles - Week 2 Defensive Player of the Week

Marcus Gray – Week 4 Defensive Player of the Week

Lorenzo Brown – Week 10 Offensive Player of the Week

Caleb Shudak – Week 10, Week 13 Special Teams Player of the Week

Tommy Armstrong – Playoff Week, Offensive Player of the Week

Terrance Jackson - Playoff Week, Defensive Player of the Week

Web information

Livestream – youtube.com/@NationalArenaLeague/streams

Website – beeffootball.com

Facebook- facebook.com/TheOmahaBeef

Beef All-Time records vs. (As of 6/8/25)

Beef Championships-

CIF Champions Bowl VI (2021) and VIII (2023), NAL (2024)

Omaha Championship results (3/5)

IFPL Championship (2001)- Tennessee Thundercats @ Omaha - Tennessee 47-38

CIF Champions Bowl 6 (2021) – Omaha @ Salina – Omaha 40-39

CIF Champions Bowl 7 (2022) – Omaha @ Salina – Salina 38-34

CIF Champions Bowl 8 (2023) – Salina @ Omaha – Omaha 50-30

NAL Championship (2024) – Sioux City @ Omaha – Omaha 47-46 2 OT’s

NAL Championship (2025) – Omaha @ Beaumont – ???

National Arena League Championship-

2017 – Columbus @ Jacksonville – Jacksonville 27-21

2018 – Columbus @ Carolina – Carolina 66-8

2019 – Carolina Cobras @ Jacksonville – Jacksonville 52-48

2021 – Columbus Lions @ Albany Empire – Albany 79-62

2022 – Carolina Cobras @ Albany Empire – Albany 47-20

2023 – Carolina Cobras @ Jacksonville – Jacksonville 54-45

2024 – Sioux City @ Omaha – Omaha 47-46, 2 OT’s

2025 Omaha Season Quick Review

Game 1 - @Shreveport (41-18) – Omaha scored first and never looked back. The defense had three interceptions, Lorenzo Brown and Jeff Mack had two rushing touchdowns each while Brown threw for two touchdowns.

Game 2 – Colorado (33-12) – The defense forced five turnovers and scored 20 points off them. Jeff Mack had two rushing touchdowns; Brown ran for one and threw for two touchdowns. Trey Dudley-Giles had two interceptions.

Game 3 – Idaho (28-24) – Omaha trailed 18-15 with 10 minutes left in the game then went on a 13-6 run to finish game. QB Joshua Hollins ran for three touchdowns.

Game 4 - @Beaumont (31-36) – With new head coach Brandon Negron the Beef lost their first game after 24 straight wins. Omaha led 31-24 to start 4^th Qtr. Omaha did not score in 1^st or 4^th Qtr. Brown threw for 2 touchdowns and ran for one.

Game 5 – Sioux City (24-17) - The Omaha Beef scored 14 unanswered points to come from behind to beat the Sioux City Bandits for the seventh straight time. The 54^th all-time meeting between the two teams came down to final seconds again, but Omaha’s defense got a big turnover and another big stop on downs.

Game 6 – Dallas (70-0) – Dallas, a non-league opponent, never stood a chance as the Beef jumped all-over the Falcons scoring 21 points in each of the first two quarters.

Game 7 - @Sioux City (55-42)- The Omaha Beef jumped out to a 17-point lead and beat the Sioux City Bandits for the eighth straight. The 55^th all-time meeting between the two teams saw the Beef passing game getting 200 yards and the defense getting a pick six. Brown threw four touchdowns.

Game 8 – Shreveport (47-12) – Omaha jumped out to a 34-point lead as the defense picked up two safeties and two interceptions as Tabyus Taylor ran for two touchdowns and Brown threw 2 of his 3 touchdown passes to Devanaire Conliffe.

Game 9 - @Colorado (35-34) – Omaha built a 16-point lead only to see Colorado score 27 unanswered points. Caleb Shudak had two deuces, including the game winning score. Armstrong threw two touchdowns, Brown threw one.

Game 10 - Colorado (71-54) - Tommy Armstrong led Omaha’s offense connecting on 12 of 14 passes for 178 yards and six touchdowns while gaining 74 yards on 8 carries and one touchdown as the Beef won the total offensive battle 296 to 280 yards while running 19 less plays. The biggest play of the game came with under nine minutes remaining when Colorado faced fourth and four at the Omaha ten yardline. The Spartans had gone 4 for 4 previously on fourth down scoring three touchdowns, however this time the Sale missed an open Steven Newbold, and the Beef went on to score again to take a 52-40 lead.

2025 Beaumont Season Quick Review

Game 1 – Sioux City (49-46) – Robinson III hit Vincent Wilkerson with a 20-yard TD pass to retake the lead with :43 remaining. It was the third TD pass for the rookie QB. Erick Young added two of the teams four rushing touchdowns.

Game 2 – Omaha (36-31) – Scored twice in 4^th Qtr., while holding Omaha scoreless in 1^st and 4^th. Robinson went 11 for 14, 129 yds, 3 TD.

Game 3 – @Columbus (44-37) – The Renegades scored with :49 remaining as Robinson scored on a four-yard run. The team ran for a total of five rushing touchdowns while Robinson threw 1 TD.

Game 4 - @Sioux City (38-35) – Beaumont did it again as they won as time expired when Robinson hit Joshua Neal for the winning score. Robinson went 14 for 20 for 135 yards and five touchdowns.

Game 5 – Shreveport (55-54) - This time the Renegades scored the winning TD with :02 remaining as Wilkerson hauled in a 26 yd pass from Robinson. Robinson went 11 for 17 for 169 yards and six touchdowns. Defense had two interceptions.

Game 6 – @Wheeling (41-26) – With the game tied at 20 with 9 minutes left in the third quarter then Beaumont went on a 21-6 run to finish the game. Robinson threw for two touchdowns and ran for one touchdown as they scored 15 points off turnovers. Kam Prewitt had both interceptions.

Game 7 – Columbus (37-40) – The Lions built a 26-10 halftime lead then hung on to defeat the Renegades at home. D’Nerius Antoine ran for two touchdowns and Robinson ran for one and threw two touchdowns. Lions outgained Beaumont 261 to 184 as Vincent Espinoza went 12 of 19 for 136 yards and four touchdowns.

Game 8 – Alabama (1-0) Forfeit – Non-league opponent

Game 9 - @Shreveport (63-12) – Beaumont built a 49-12 halftime lead as they scored the most points in a game this season. Robinson threw three touchdown passes, Antoine ran for two touchdowns, as they scored 21 points off turnovers. Renegades out gained the Rouxgaroux 210 to 93.

Game 10 – Columbus (56-45) – Beaumont led 21-19 after three quarters as we saw 61 points scored in the fourth quarter. The Renegades ran the ball 25 times for 127 yards and five touchdowns. Robinson ran the ball 13 times for 85 yards and scored three times. He also threw for three touchdowns, and he went 6 for 9 passing.