Week Five of the 2024 IFL season is here, and as far as the 19-week regular season is concerned, the first quarter is about to wrap up. There’s plenty of season left and with the parity on display in the IFL, any team can win on any day.  
 
Week Five kicks off on Friday night with Darius-James Peterson and the Iowa Barnstormers traveling to the Tsongas Center to take on Alejandro Bennifield and the Massachusetts Pirates.
 
The Iowa Barnstormers hit the road again, having been the away team in both of their matchups this season. Iowa heads into hostile territory, as the Barnstormers search for their first victory of the season against an undefeated Massachusetts Pirates team. Offensively, Iowa hasn’t found their groove, ranking 15th in the league in points per game with an average of 27.5 points. However, their defense ranks among the best, allowing the third-fewest yards per game with 181 yards. The Barnstormers have their work cut out for them, facing an offensive juggernaut in the Massachusetts Pirates. If Iowa’s defense can continue to hold opposing offenses to low production, the Barnstormers could find their first win of the season on the road.
 
Massachusetts enters Week Five following a bye week, as they look to extend their winning streak to a league-best 4-0. Each game with the Pirates has come down to the wire, as all three victories came within one score. The Pirates walk into Week Five as one of the best passing offenses in the IFL with Alejandro Bennifield’s league-leading 12 touchdown passes. Along with a league-leader in passing touchdowns, the Pirates have a league-leader in rushing yards, as Jimmie Robinson has rushed for a league-best 195 yards.
 
To wrap-up the Friday night action, the San Antonio Gunslingers take on the Vegas Knight Hawks, as San Antonio searches for their first-ever victory in the IFL. Vegas enters this game undefeated, returning from a Week Four bye. 
 
Though the San Antonio Gunslingers remain winless, they have one of the most explosive offenses in the league. With only two games under their belt as members of the IFL, their offense leads the league with 55.5 points scored per game. Offensively, Sam Castronova has found his footing in the IFL, ranking top five in the league for both passing (4th) and rushing (3rd) touchdowns. While their offense is humming, their defense is still adjusting. In both points per game (64.5) and yards per game (264.5), the Gunslingers rank worst in the league. To earn that first IFL victory, the San Antonio defense will need to tighten up. 
 
The Vegas Knight Hawks enter Week Five well-rested, following a Week Four bye. Vegas comes into the week as one of the top offenses in the league, averaging over 250 yards of offense per game. After two games, quarterback Ja’Rome Johnson is one of the more complete quarterbacks, combining for 424 yards on the ground and through the air. For the defensive unit in Vegas, they’ve allowed the third-fewest touchdowns in the league, which could be a true test for the Gunslingers’ high-flying offense.
 
Both teams have the offensive firepower to go score-for-score, but the Vegas Knight Hawks’ defense could be the difference-maker in this Week Five matchup.
 
In Saturday’s only game, the Quad City Steamwheelers travel to the Comerica Center to take on T.J. Edwards and the Frisco Fighters. Quad City comes into Week Five following a loss to the Green Bay Blizzard, while the Frisco Fighters play in front of a home crowd for the third time this season.
 
The Steamwheelers look to bounce back in Week Five, as they stand at .500 for the season. Quad City has found themselves in two close games this season, winning their first game in overtime against the Storm, while dropping their second game to Green Bay last week by one possession. Defensively, however, the Steamwheelers are one of the league’s stingier teams, allowing 32 points per game, which ranks top three in the league. Offensively, however, they average fewer points than they allow, scoring an average of 31 points per game. The difference is minimal, but against an offense like the Frisco Fighters, Quad City will need their defense to stand tall if they want to walk away from Week Five with a win.
 
Frisco comes into Week Five well-rested following a Week Four bye for the Fighters. This week, they face off against the Quad City Steamwheelers, as Frisco looks to continue their winning streak. The Frisco Fighters head into battle behind quarterback T.J. Edwards, who ranks second in the league in rushing touchdowns with seven. Edwards has cemented himself as one of the more mobile quarterbacks in the league, forcing defenses to give attention to his legs on each play.
 
To begin Sunday’s Week Five action, the Tulsa Oilers make the trip to Sioux Falls to take on the Storm, kicking off at 3:05 p.m. CT. Tulsa enters Week Five after a victory against Iowa the week prior, while Sioux Falls is still looking for their first win of the season.
 
Entering the week 1-1, the Tulsa Oilers look to build on their momentum from last week. On the offensive side of the ball, Tulsa hasn’t gelled completely, causing them to rank lower in the league offensively. Of the 16 teams, Tulsa ranks 15th with 64 points on the season. Defensively, however, the Tulsa Oilers are one of the league’s best at keeping their opposition out of the end zone. In their first two games of the season, Tulsa has allowed a league-low eight touchdowns. Tulsa also ranks first in interceptions, hauling in four over the span of two games. While the offensive side of the ball is forming its shape, the Oilers defense have shown they’re one of the league’s best.
 
Hosting the Oilers, Sioux Falls comes into this week, having last played over two calendar weeks ago against the Pirates. The Storm fell short on the road in Week Three, however, this week Sioux Falls gets to make their home-opener. Quarterback Billy Hall faces a stout defense this week, but his true dual-threat ability could stretch Tulsa thin. Through two games, Billy Hall has completed 18/30 passes for 254 yards and four touchdowns, while on the ground, he’s rushed for 93 yards and four more touchdowns. Hall is a threat to score on the ground and through the air, giving Tulsa’s defense a tough challenge on Sunday.
 
Later Sunday night, the San Diego Strike Force take on the Arizona Rattlers in a battle of two high-flying offenses. Both teams come into Week Five well-rested, returning to play from bye weeks the week prior.
 
San Diego hits the road, following a record-breaking performance by Nate Davis in the highest-scoring match of Week Three. Davis threw for nine touchdowns against San Antonio, earning him Week Three Offensive Player of the Week and a spot on the IFL record books. With how explosive their pass game was in Week Three, opposing teams will be focusing on stopping Nate Davis from this point forward. Defenses have been able to keep the Strike Force’s run game in check, as San Diego ranks last in rushing yards across the league. In two games, the Strike Force have rushed for 25 yards and four touchdowns. Another aspect of San Diego’s team to keep note of is their defense. On the season, San Diego has allowed just 288 yards, putting them at the top of the league for least yards allowed through two games. 
 
Facing off against the undefeated Strike Force, the Arizona Rattlers also had an extra week to prepare, as they return from a bye week. The last time Arizona took the field, they lost to the Bay Area Panthers in a high-scoring matchup. Quarterback Lorenzo Brown Jr. found the end zone five times in his last appearance, while running back Carl Odom was efficient on the ground, averaging over six yards per carry. Arizona enters the week as one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league, scoring 135 points through three games. Defensively, however, they’ve given up 132 points, which ranks third-most in the league.
 
The Rattlers have dropped two-straight following an Opening Weekend victory and look to get back on-track this weekend, while the Strike Force aim to build on last week’s record-breaking performance with another win.  
 
To wrap up Week Five, the undefeated Bay Area Panthers take on the Tucson Sugar Skulls in a highly anticipated Western Conference battle. Both teams find the end zone with ease, however, Bay Area has the edge on allowing fewer points per game defensively.
 
For Bay Area, quarterback Daquan Neal is one of the league’s more precise passers, completing 28/39 passes for 300 yards and five touchdowns through two games. Along with running back Shane Simpson’s four rushing touchdowns on the season, the Panthers have been able to find success offensively both on the ground and through the air. Not only do the Panthers find the end zone on a consistent basis, but they also hold other teams out of the end zone at a similar rate. After two appearances, the Panthers defense has allowed 32.5 points per game, putting them in the top five for points allowed per game. Given their four-week streak of leading the IFL Coaches Poll, the Panthers are showing each week why they’re one of the top teams in the league.
 
Hosting Bay Area, the Tucson Sugar Skulls come into Week Five behind a rising IFL star in quarterback Mylik Mitchell. Through two weeks, the Sugar Skulls have a league-leading 11 rushing touchdowns with eight belonging to Mitchell. On the season, Mitchell has rushed for 154 yards and eight touchdowns, while completing 24/35 passes for 282 yards and four scores. Defensively, Tucson allows 52 points per game, which is exactly as many as they score per week on average.
 
In a game featuring two high-scoring offenses, the difference will lie within which defense can stand taller.
 
Starting Friday at 6:05 p.m. CT, all of Week Five can be streamed live from the IFL YouTube Channel or Caffeine TV.