News: Beef/Spartans preview – Omaha Beef

The Omaha Beef hit the road hopefully for the last time in the 2024 season this Saturday as they travel to Loveland, Colorado to take on the 3-4 Colorado Spartans at Blue Arena for an 8pm CT kickoff. The Beef have clinched at least a berth in the Championship game as they sit 6-0 in the National Arena League. Carolina Cobras (5-2) are currently in second place, and they travel to Sioux City to take on the Bandits (4-3) this Saturday. The Cobras and Beef meet in the final week of the regular season at Liberty First Credit Union Arena on June 8^th. The Cobras need to win one of those two road games to meet Omaha in the June 15^th Championship game, or if the Cobras lose both of those games the Bandits would play Omaha.

The Beef defense will be going up against the top-rated passing offense. The Spartans offense has averaged 237.6 yards per game, 208.7 ypg through the air, while scoring an average 44.4 points per game. They average 28.9 ypg on the ground. Omaha on the other hand has the top-rated defense allowing only 174.3 ypg and only 106.3 ypg through the air while giving up 27.2 ppg.

Tommy Armstrong leads the Beef offense as their top rusher and passer. Armstrong averages 52.5 ypg rushing the ball (54 attempts for 315 yards) and 120.5 ypg passing (52 completions for 723 yards) and has scored 15 touchdowns. He leads the NAL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns and sits third in passing yards and passing touchdowns. His passing efficiency of 110.6 also leads the NAL while going 52 of 90 with only two interceptions. Running back Jeff Mack sits fourth in the NAL averaging 42.4 ypg while scoring five touchdowns. Troy Evans Jr. (13 receptions for 235 yards, 7 touchdowns) and Korrell Koehlmoos (13 receptions for 204 yards and four touchdowns) are the top targets for Armstrong. The offensive line for the Beef has been great again allowed only 3 sacks this season and if you count the 2023 season, they have only allowed 5 sacks in 18 games. The Omaha offensive will be tested by Colorado who has the second most sacks (65) in the NAL.

Omaha’s leading tackler is a two-time Defensive Player of the Week winner, defensive back Ponce Deleon. Deleon has 44 tackles, 7.3 tackles per game, while grabbing three interceptions. Defensive back Terrance Jackson Jr (29 tackles, 2 interceptions), defensive linemen Rudy Ngougni (23 tackles, 3 sacks) and Rodell Rahmaan (22 tackles, 4 sacks) and linebackers Cameron Hunt (20 tackles, 1 sack) and Dylan Pettway (20 tackles 1.5 sacks) have 20 or more tackles on the season. The Beef lead the NAL with 70 sacks and are third in interceptions as the team has a plus 11 turnovers margin.

The Spartans offense is led by quarterback Jason Whittaker who is completing 61.6 of his passing (122-198 for 1495 yds and 35 TD) and is the team’s leading rusher running 20 times for 84 yards and four touchdowns. Whittaker leads the NAL in total offense, completions, passing attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and interceptions. Colorado has two receivers with over 30 catches in Steven Newbold (34-531 yds 15 TD) and Deonte Rarrieck (30-396 yds, 7 TD) as well as Khalil Hayes (23-311 yds, 7 TD), Ladarius Skelton (19-152 2 TD), and KaDarrius Campbell (12-81 yds, 3 TD). Newbold is tied with Omaha’s Tommy Armstrong in scoring, averaging 15.7 ppg to pace the NAL and his 1008 of all-purpose yards is the most. Spartans’ kicker Luis Ferreira is second in kicker scoring of the year, has made 11 of 18 extra point kicks and two deuces.

Colorado’s defense leading tackler is linebacker Justin Castell with 56 tackles, whose 8.0 tpg leads the NAL. The defensive line is manned by leading NAL sack man, Sam Hammond (26 tackles, 5.5 sacks) and Cory Henry (16 tackles, 5 sacks). Javarius Thompson (47 tackles) leads the team with 3 interceptions while Travion Mosby (17 tackles) and Rick Rumph (14 tackles) each have two.

OTHER NOTES: 

Omaha is currently on an 18-game winning streak and if they win Saturday, they will be hosting the NAL 2024 Championship on June 15 at Liberty First Credit Union Arena.

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

If you are not making the trip to Colorado, no worries the official “Watch Party” will be at Hurrdat Sports Bar in La Vista hosted by DJ K DuB Omaha! Pre-sign up via link if you plan to be in attendance to secure your spot and get an extra ticket for giveaway drawings.

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 (6-0)

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

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)