Blaze Begin Defense of Five MFA Titles

 

DES MOINES, IA – The Des Moines Blaze had to find new ways to win last season in route to their fifth consecutive Midwest Football Alliance championship. Despite losing for the first time in five seasons (two losses, both to nationally ranked teams) the Blaze found a way to avenge an early season stumble by knocking off the Kansas City Bulldogs 16-13 in double overtime of the MFA Championship Game. Their change to avenge the second will come in week two when the NEFL Champion St. Paul Pioneers visit Williams Stadium.

 

With the league’s number two defense returning their full staff and nearly every starter from a year ago, the big question marks will be on offense. It will be first year Head Coach Tom Mihalovich calling the plays on the sideline and a familiar face calling them in the huddle.

 

Mihalovich will be banking on the return of three-time MFA Offensive MVP, quarterback DeMareo Darrah, to lift the offense. Shoulder surgery kept Darrah out of the offensive huddle last season, so he lined up at outside linebacker, which is exactly what he looks like. But this is the guy who led the Blaze to 49 consecutive victories, four league championships, and two national titles between 2011 and 2014.

 

A lot has changed since Darrah last lined up under center. Retired are two 2014 All-American receivers, five-time league receiving leader Randy Blackford and six-time all-league selection J. Heathcote. Missing are four of five starting offensive linemen, including four-time All-MFA center Robby Napoli and two-time left tackle Frank Lee. Gone is Tyrone Tyler, the Head Coach and play caller Darrah spent seven seasons under.

 

That’s a lot of production to replace.

 

2015 Blaze Offensive Newcomer of the Year Keonte White will pick up a lot of that slack at wide receiver. Veterans Chris McNiel, John Romine, and Anthony Meyer along with new additions Gunnar Wyatt and Jack Norgaard also hope to make big contributions in the passing game.

 

Three-time All-MFA guard Jim Morris Anchors a line of newcomers. Converted tight end Will Siffin takes a crack at tackle while rookies Kevin Johnson, Darron Reddick, Keandre Smith, Dominick Parrish, Tommy Nachtigal, and John Reynolds all hope to make an impact on the offense.

 

The backfield should be strong as another former Blaze All-American, tailback Marco Finley, returns after spending 2015 at the Police Academy. Former Lincoln HS standout Keevon Bernstine is among those joining him. Robert Best moves over from the defense to help out at fullback.

 

Defensive Coordinator Adam Bentz will retain much of the same lineup as a season ago. For years the Blaze was considered an offensive team. In 2014 the defense drew even, allowing a franchise low 94 points while the offense set a franchise record with 695. With the offense rebuilding, the D will be center stage in 2016.

 

It starts up front with tackle Jordan Smith, the MFA’s career leader in sacks and tackles for loss. Veterans Clarence Foy and “Shaq” Ward continue to muddle up the middle for opposing runners. Steve Sievert and 2015 Blaze Defensive Newcomer of the Year Brennon Ballentine line up on the ends along with the return of Chris Williams and Elvis Islamovic to the defensive line rotation.

 

Two-time MFA All-Star Mike Liggins will once again anchor the defense at middle linebacker. 

 

The back end of the defense is anchored by four-time All-MFA safety Antonio Alexander, the league’s leader in interceptions and defensive touchdowns. Second year man Tyrae Kemp looks to get into the starting lineup at the other safety and the Fountain brothers, Tahaun and Ryane, Matt Bruns and a host of newcomers will fill out the secondary including former Iowa Barnstormer TJ Simmons.  

 

Brent Tisl returns to handle kicking duties. Keonte White will also be among those handling returns. It was White’s 55-yard return in the waning seconds of regulation in last year’s MFA Championship that set up Tisl’s game tying field goal as time expired to send the game into its first overtime. Tisl later won the game in the second overtime.

 

Like last season, an MFA title isn’t a foregone conclusion for Des Moines. They continue to reload as the league grows more competitive with two other nationally ranked teams in Kansas City and the Sioux City Stampede, who also took the Blaze down to the wire in both the regular season and in the MFA semi-finals.

 

The road to number six begins this Saturday with the Minnesota Brawlers of the NEFL visiting Spring Creek in Altoona this Saturday. Kickoff is at 7pm.