SIOUX CITY, IA – The Des Moines Blaze (8-0) and Sioux City Stampede (7-0) sit at third and second in the nation respectively in the most recent Semi-Pro Elite rankings. That should make for an intriguing MFA regular season Finale this Saturday when the two go head to head in Sioux City.

                The top seed in the MFA Playoffs is up for grabs, along with bragging rights. But the Blaze is 4-0 all-time versus the Stampede, defeating the third year team in the regular season as well as the 2014 MFA Championship and the 2015 semi-finals.

                Despite two losses last season, Des Moines has won 57 straight contests with Quarterback DeMareo Darrah in the lineup. He’s the frontrunner for his fourth league MVP crown this year but he’s not alone. The game will showcase the league’s top two passers, four of the top five rushers, and the top two receivers. But in a game full of offensive weapons it may come down to which team’s defense comes to play.

               That shouldn’t be a problem either. The league’s two top sack artists will line up on either side of the ball along as well as two of the top three pass interceptors.

The list of All-MFA players, MFA All-Stars, and All-Americans is impressive on either side. Throw in the handful of former Blaze players playing key rolls in the Stampede’s success and Sioux City is one win away from making the twice the year meeting a full-fledged rivalry.

              With bragging rights and a post-season edge on the line, things are sure to be heated Saturday night at South Sioux City High School when the two teams kickoff at 7 pm.