2019 Championship
The 2019 United Bowl served as the championship game of the 2019 Indoor Football League season and delivered one of the most dramatic finishes in league history. Played on July 13, 2019, at Gila River Arena, the United Conference champion Sioux Falls Storm defeated the Intense Conference champion Arizona Rattlers, 56–53, in front of 14,635 fans, setting a new United Bowl attendance record.
Arizona entered the championship undefeated at 15–0, while Sioux Falls advanced with a 13–3 record after defeating the Iowa Barnstormers in the semifinals. The matchup marked a rematch between the teams, who had split their regular-season meetings, with Arizona winning both contests.
Game Recap
The championship opened at a blistering pace. Sioux Falls jumped out to an early lead behind quarterback Lorenzo Brown, who connected with Brandon Sheperd on a 40-yard touchdown pass to give the Storm a 14–7 first-quarter advantage. Arizona responded with opportunistic execution, capitalizing on a kickoff fumble recovery that led to a short touchdown run by Jamal Miles, tying the game at 14–14.
The first half continued as a back-and-forth affair, featuring multiple lead changes and explosive plays on both sides. Arizona edged ahead at halftime, 31–28, punctuated by a 31-yard field goal from Ernesto Camacho as time expired. Sioux Falls remained within striking distance thanks to Brown’s dual-threat ability and steady contributions from running back Chris Campbell.
Momentum swung in the Storm’s favor in the second half. Sioux Falls seized control in the third quarter, highlighted by Campbell’s 2-yard rushing touchdown following a Rattlers turnover on downs. The Storm outscored Arizona 28–25 over the final two quarters, steadily building separation in a game that featured nine lead changes and constant momentum swings.
A pivotal moment came late in the fourth quarter when Storm linebacker T.J. Neal forced a critical fumble, setting up a 9-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Kamron Shelby. The score extended Sioux Falls’ lead to 56–45 with 3:38 remaining.
Arizona mounted a furious rally, as quarterback Drew Powell scrambled for an 11-yard touchdown and converted the ensuing two-point attempt, narrowing the margin to 56–53 with 53 seconds left. However, an offside penalty on the Rattlers’ onside kick attempt gave Sioux Falls favorable field position, allowing the Storm to run out the clock and secure the victory.
Brown delivered a championship-caliber performance, completing 15 of 19 passes for 200 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 19 rushing yards and a rushing score. His efficiency and poise under pressure earned him United Bowl MVP honors.
The victory ended Arizona’s bid for a perfect season and denied the Rattlers a return to championship glory, while securing the Sioux Falls Storm’s seventh United Bowl championship and further solidifying the franchise’s legacy as one of the most successful postseason teams in IFL history.