News: Beef host Bandits in 50th meeting on HOF, Hero’s Night

The inaugural class of the Omaha Beef Hall of Fame will be inducted Saturday as the Beef host the Sioux City Bandits for the 50th all-time meeting on Hero’s Night at Liberty First Credit Union Arena. Omaha defeated Sioux City 48-45 on May 6th as Paul Ortiz made the game-winning 31-yard FG with six seconds left in the game to take a 25-24 advantage in the series.  

Jim & Sandy Klimshot, the first owners of the Omaha Beef, start the list of eight who will be inducted into the HOF. Offensive Lineman Dan Potsmeil, Quarterback James McNear, Defensive Lineman DeWayne Harris, and defensive back Troy Travis are the four players making in on the first ballot. Also being inducted are the first head coach of the Beef, Sandy Buda, Rump Roaster Kris “Moose” Orr, and former Prime Dancer and Dance Team Director Samantha Lucile. 

The Beef, who have locked up the top seed and a first-round bye, will look to stay healthy while trying to stay perfect and win their 10th game for the 8th time in team history. The team won 10 or more games in 2001 (15), 2003 (12), 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2013. Tommy Armstrong, Gourney Sloan, and Dreko Statham also look to climb higher in the seasonal record books as they continue their efforts to lead Omaha towards the 2023 Championship. Armstrong is currently 6th with 17 rushing touchdowns, 19th in passing attempts and completions, 14th in passing touchdowns, and 17th in passing yards. Sloan is currently 19th in receiving yards and 6th in receiving touchdowns. Statham is second in interceptions with 10, trying to catch the record set by Dontae Jones in 2003 with 11 interceptions. 

Armstrong continues to lead the offense with 266 yards of rushing (55 attempts) and 17 TD’s, while passing for 890 yards on 76 of 120 passing attempts while throwing for 24 touchdowns and only four interceptions. The offensive line has only allowed one sack this season and helped three players rush for over 100 yards with the latest being Tabyus Taylor who has rushed for 120 yards in three games for the Beef. Sloan is Omaha’s top pass catcher having caught 37 passes for 497 yards and 12 touchdowns in nine games. 

The number one ranked defense of the Beef continues its own push towards the record books. Omaha has allowed an average of 22 points per game which is currently better than the record of 23.9 set in 2017 by Salina. The Beef defense currently allows 135 yards per game which is better than that of the 2021 Wichita Force that allowed 144.5 ypg. JayShawn Washington (44 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries for TDs), Jamar Claibourn (10 tackles, 1 sack), and Tamar Heart (37 tackles, 3.5 sacks) lead the defensive line play. Linebackers Key James Black (27 tackles, 3 sacks) and Cameron Hunt (25 tackles, 2 sacks) man the middle while ball hawker and CIF Interceptions Leader Dreko Statham (32 tackles, 10 interceptions), Aaron Jackson (44 tackles, 3 interceptions), Ponce Deleone (28 tackles, 1 interception), and Chris Perry (24 tackles, 1 interception) control the defensive backfield. 

The Bandits are led by quarterback Tasleem Wilson who leads the CIF with 31 passing touchdowns. Drew Prohaska is currently ranked 7th in the CIF in rushing with 276 yards. Prohaska has reached the endzone eight times on the ground and twice through the air. Sioux City receiver Fred Bruno has racked up 26 receptions for 399 yards and 11 TD catches, while picking up another 4 rushing touchdowns, and two kick returns touchdowns. For his CIF career (2015-current) he is the league leader in touchdowns (133), points (822), and third in receptions (250), third in receiving yards (2803) and fourth in receiving touchdowns (69). Bruno has played with the Bandits since 2011 (127 games) and has rushed for 2273 yards and 71 TDs, caught 339 passes for 4175 yards and 104 touchdowns, returned 17 kick returns for TDs. Bruno has score 197 touchdowns and 1214 points in his career for the Bandits. 

The Beef earned the top seed and a bye week before starting the post-season back at the Slaughterhouse on June 10th in the CIF Semi-Finals. Sioux City and Billings will meet in the 4 vs 5 game June 3rd. 

OTHER NOTES: 2023 playoffs begin next Saturday, and we know the teams but not the seeding until after this weekend. Omaha has the first seed, then the winner of the Salina/Gillette game will get the number two seed and the bye into the semi-finals. The loser of that game will be the three seed and have a home matchup with Southwest Kansas. The four vs five seed game is set between Sioux City and Billings, but where it will be played is still up in the air. If Sioux City beats Omaha, they will host otherwise the Bandits will travel to Billings. 

Help us pack the Slaughterhouse and be there for our quest to win the championship at home! Any questions call the Beef office at 402.346.2333 

2023 Omaha Beef Schedule (9-0) 

(CIF rank after week 12) 

CIF Player of the Week Awards– 

Tommy Armstrong (3)– Week 2, Week 10, Week 11 – Offensive 

JayShawn Washington (3)– Week 3, Week 6, Week 8 – Defensive 

Paul Ortiz (2)– Week 5, Week 7 – Special Teams  

Dre’Sonte Dorton (1)– Week 3 – Special Teams 

Tamar Heart (1) – Week 11 – Defensive 

Sioux City vs Omaha Beef History (24-24) Omaha wins in orange 

  
Overall: Beef leads 25-24 
Conference:  SC leads 19-17 
Home: SC Leads 13-12 
Away: Omaha leads 13-11 

Playoffs: Omaha leads 4-0