2016 Spokane Empire season

The 2016 Spokane Empire season was the eleventh season for the professional indoor football franchise and first in the Indoor Football League (IFL). One of ten teams that compete in the IFL for the 2016 season and members of the Intense Conference.

2016 Spokane Empire season
OwnerIFL Partners, LLC (Nader Naini, Managing Owner)
General managerRyan Eucker
Head coachAdam Shackleford
Home fieldSpokane Veterans Memorial Arena
720 W. Mallon Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Results
Record12–4
Conference place1st
Playoff finishWon Intense Conference Championship 55–44 (Danger)
Lost 2016 United Bowl 34–55 (Storm)

Led by head coach Adam Shackleford, the Empire play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington.

Schedule

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Key:   Win   Tie   Loss   Bye

Regular season

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All start times are local time

Week Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location
Score Record
1 Saturday February 20 9:05pm at Tri-Cities Fever W 60–51[1] 1–0 Toyota Center
2 Saturday February 27 9:00pm Wichita Falls Nighthawks W 66–65[2] 2–0 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
3 BYE
4 Saturday March 12 8:05pm at Billings Wolves L 22–30[3] 2–1 Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark
5 BYE
6 BYE
7 Friday April 1 9:00pm Iowa Barnstormers W 54–51[4] 3–1 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
8 Saturday April 9 9:00pm Colorado Crush W 97–72[5] 4–1 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
9 Saturday April 16 7:05pm at Iowa Barnstormers W 54–34[6] 5–1 Wells Fargo Arena
10 Saturday April 23 9:05pm at Tri-Cities Fever W 52–39[7] 6–1 Toyota Center
11 Friday April 29 9:00pm Tri-Cities Fever W 53–51[8] 7–1 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
12 Saturday May 7 9:00pm Billings Wolves W 75–28[9] 8–1 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
13 Saturday May 14 7:05pm at Sioux Falls Storm L 50–63[10] 8–2 Denny Sanford Premier Center
14 Friday May 20 9:00pm Tri-Cities Fever W 45–23[11] 9–2 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
15 Friday May 27 8:30pm at Colorado Crush W 55–44[12] 10–2 Budweiser Events Center
16 Saturday June 4 9:00pm Billings Wolves W 51–41[13] 11–2 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
17 Friday June 10 7:05pm at Nebraska Danger W 25–23[14] 12–2 Eihusen Arena
18 Saturday June 18 9:00pm Sioux Falls Storm L 35–59[15] 12–3 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
19 Saturday June 25 7:05pm at Billings Wolves L 21–35[16] 12–4 Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark

Standings

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2016 Intense Conference
W L T PCT PF PA GB STK
y-Spokane Empire 12 4 0 .750 815 709 -- L2
x-Billings Wolves 8 8 0 .500 643 647 4.0 W2
x-Nebraska Danger 6 10 0 .375 765 794 6.0 W1
Colorado Crush 4 12 0 .250 849 914 8.0 W2
Tri-Cities Fever 3 13 0 .188 577 758 9.0 L9

Postseason

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Round Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location
Score Record
Wild Card BYE
Intense Conference Championship Sunday July 17 4:00pm Nebraska Danger W 55–44 1–0 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
2016 United Bowl Saturday July 23 7:05pm at Sioux Falls Storm L 34–55 1–1 Denny Sanford Premier Center

Roster

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2016 Spokane Empire roster
Quarterbacks
  •  8 Aaron Aiken
  • 11 Charles Dowdell

Running backs

  • 30 Andrew Pierce

Wide receivers

Offensive linemen
  • 76 Michael Boyefio
  • 72 Kyle Fischer
  • 78 Brandon Haskins
  • 56 Dave Lefotu
  • 79 Mike Trice

Defensive linemen

  • 44 Brett Bowers
  • 12 Toby Jackson
  • 93 Ben Perry
  • 99 Donte Rumph
Linebackers
  • 47 Nick Haag
  • 17 Pasquale Vacchio

Defensive backs

  • 16 Rob Brown
  •  3 Josh Ferguson
  • 22 Adrian James
  •  5 Tyree Robinson
  • 21 Cassius Sendish
  •  2 Lorenzo White Jr.

Kickers

Injured reserve
  • 18 Trevor Kennedy RB
  •  4 Carl Sims WR
  • 52 D. J. Yendrey DL

Transfer list

  • Currently vacant

Refused to report

  • 86 C. J. Olaniyan DL
  • 55 Michael Reynolds LB

Rookies in italics
Roster updated June 28, 2016
25 Active, 5 Inactive

→ More rosters

References

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  1. ^ Ben Reynolds (February 20, 2016). "Empire win opener 60-51 over Tri-Cities". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  2. ^ John Blanchette (February 27, 2016). "Spokane Empire hang on for 66-65 win in IFL home debut". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  3. ^ "Empire rally in fourth, but Billings holds on for IFL victory". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. March 12, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  4. ^ Jim Meehan (April 1, 2016). "Empire build big lead, hold off Barnstormers". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  5. ^ Jim Meehan (April 9, 2016). "Empire set franchise scoring record in 97-72 win". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  6. ^ "Empire pull away in final minute to beat Barnstormers 54-34". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. April 16, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  7. ^ "Empire beats Tri-Cities Fever on the road, 52-39". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. April 23, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  8. ^ Jim Meehan (April 29, 2016). "Empire Empire edge Tri-Cities Fever 53-51". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  9. ^ Jim Meehan (May 7, 2016). "Empire avenge only loss by blowing out Billings Wolves 75-28". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  10. ^ "Late turnover costly in Empire's loss at Sioux Falls". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  11. ^ Jim Meehan (May 20, 2016). "Empire roll over Fever 45-23". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  12. ^ "Empire defeat Colorado to move closer to hosting conference title game". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. May 27, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  13. ^ Jim Meehan (June 4, 2016). "Empire clinch No. 1 seed in conference by holding off Billings". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  14. ^ "Empire Overcome Danger". www.kxly.com. Morgan Murphy Media. June 10, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  15. ^ John Blanchette (June 18, 2016). "John Blanchette: Empire find Sioux Falls in a league of its own". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  16. ^ "Turnovers plague Empire in 35-21 loss to Billings". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. June 25, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
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