News: Beef/Cobras preview – Omaha Beef

The Omaha Beef (7-0) are hosting the championship game on June 15 at Liberty First Credit Union, but their opponent will be determined this Saturday when the Beef hosts the Carolina Cobras in the 2024 regular season’s final game. The Cobras (5-3) control their own destiny as if they win, they will return to Ralston next week, however if they lose the Sioux City Bandits will travel south for the championship game. Carolina had a chance last Saturday night to clinch a spot, but lost at Sioux City, 62-35. Omaha beat Carolina 54-43 in the season’s opening game in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The Beef will be looking to extend their winning streak to 20 games and complete their second consecutive undefeated regular season. Omaha will be making their fourth straight appearance in a championship game, while the Cobras are looking to make their third straight champion game. (2022 lost @ Albany, 2023 lost @ Jacksonville).

Quarterback Tommy Armstrong leads the Beef in passing, rushing, and scoring. He has completed 58.7 % of his passes going 61 of 104 for 852 yards with 2 interceptions and 15 TD. He has run 60 times for 336 yards and 18 touchdowns. For the season his total offense of 1188 yards is 3^rd in the NAL, scoring 112 points (1^st in NAL). He stands second in the NAL in rushing, 3^rd in passing, and leads the league in pass efficiency. Jeff Mack joined Armstrong in the backfield fulltime in the third game of the season and has rushed 62 times for 275 yards (4^th in NAL) and five touchdowns and has caught 12 passes for 97 yards. Troy Evans Jr. leads the receiver group in receiving yards catching 15 balls for 249 yards and 7 touchdowns. Rookie Korrell Koehlmoos has 15 receptions for 221 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Jordan Barton has caught 13 for 155 yards and three touchdowns. Paul Ortiz, star of the 2023 Beef special teams and awarded Week 12 Special Teams Player of the Week, returned to the Beef last week going 0 for 2 on field goals, 4 of 7 on extra points, and made two deuces. Omaha offense leads the NAL in rushing (111 ypg), pass efficiency (101.7) and sacks allowed (5), but their defense leads the NAL in scoring defense (28.1 ppg), total defense (174.1 ypg), rushing defense (67.6 ypg), pass defense (106.6 ypg), pass defense efficiency (56.1), sacks (18), turnover margin (+11), red zone defense (64%), and tied with Carolina with 12 team interceptions.

The Beef defense is led by Rodell Rahmaan (25 tackles) six sacks, Rudy Ngougni (29 tackles) five sacks, Dylan Pettway (26 tackles) 2.5 sacks, Zion Farmer (12 tackles) 1.5 sacks, and Cameron Hunt (21 tackles) 1 sack. Omaha has intercepted 12 passes led by leading tackler Ponce Deleon’s (57 tackles) 4 interceptions, Terrance Jackson Jr (31 tackles) and Trey Dudley-Giles (15 tackles) have two while Cameron Hunt has one interception.

Guy Myers leads the Cobras and the NAL in rushing yards rushing 74 times for 393 yards and his 16 rushing touchdowns are second to Tommy Armstrong. Myers has completed 58.3 of his passes going 127 for 218 with six interceptions while throwing 24 touchdowns. Myers favorite receiver is Adam Smith who has caught 31 passes (4^th rpg) for 395 yards (3^rd ypg) and six touchdowns. Running back James Summers has caught 28 passes for 271 yards and seven touchdowns while running the ball 52 times for 161 yards and four touchdowns. Donovan Rasberry has 15 receptions for 161 yards and one touchdown and newcomer Riley Stapleton has caught six balls in two games for 52 yards and 1 touchdown.

The NAL best kicker is the Cobras Kevin DiDio-Weber (47 points) who has hit 39 of 44 extra points, two of six field goals and has one deuce on the season.

Former Beef defensive lineman Gibson Zion leads the Cobras making 35 tackles with five sacks, and 12 tackles for loss. He has 4 quarterback hurries, 1 pass breakup, two forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 kick block. Zion is joined by defensive backs Kevin Simmions 33 tackles, Jamarii Milliken 19 tackles and 1 interception, Javon Hayes 18 tackles and 1 interception.

OTHER NOTES: 

The Omaha Beef have announced their 2024 Hall of Fame class; Running Back RJ Rollins, TE/OL/WR Chad Mustard, QB Matt LaFleur, Kicker Brandon Stewart, Rump Roaster Doc Southwick, and super fan Pat Kenison will be honored at halftime of the June 8^th game between the Beef and Carolina Cobras.

Tickets are on sale starting at just $23.00, you can buy them by visiting the arena box office or online at Omaha Beef Football | Liberty First Credit Union Arena

The coaches show will be every Monday at Phoenix 120 Food & Spirit starting at 6pm.

Any questions call the Beef office at 402.346.2333.

2024 Omaha Beef Schedule (7-0)

Projected Starters

NAL Player of the Week Awards-

Tommy Armstrong- (Offensive) Week 2, Week 6, Week 9

Dylan Pettway – (Defensive) Week 2

Camron Hunt II (Defensive) Week 6

Rudy Ngougni – (Defensive) Week 8

Ponce Deleon – (Defensive) Week 9, Week 10

Paul Ortiz – (Special Teams) week 12

Web information

Livestream – youtube.com/@NationalArenaLeague/streams

Website – beeffootball.com

Facebook- facebook.com/TheOmahaBeef

Beef All-Time records vs. (As of 5/27/24)

Beef Championships-

CIF Champions Bowl VI (2021) and VIII (2023)