News: Beef streak now at 17 as they handle Bandits 33-6

Omaha controlled this 51^st meeting between the Beef and the Sioux City Bandits from the start and cruised to a 33-6 win at Liberty First Credit Union Arena Saturday night. The Beef defense forced three turnovers and only allowed 99 yards of total offense showing why they are the number one defense in the National Arena League. Omaha runs its win streak to 17 games and has won the last four games against the Bandits. Sioux City did not complete a pass for almost 46 minutes into the game as Sammie Epps caught a pass on the second play of the fourth quarter.

The two teams combined to run the ball 48 times while only passing it 27 times. Jeff Mack and Tommy Armstrong led the Beef as Mack carried the ball ten times for 54 yards, while Armstrong carried the ball 13 times for 39 yards and two touchdowns. Those two touchdowns gave Armstrong 13 on the season as he has rushed for 252 yards on 45 carries in 2024. Mack continued to have impressive performances as he increased his season total to 201 yards on 39 carries.

The Beef got the scoring started with 1:40 left in the 1^st quarter as Armstrong took it in from one yard out to complete a 12-play drive that took 8:55 off the clock. After Sioux City was stopped on fourth down, Omaha used five plays to score its second touchdown as newcomer Dequan Dudley took it around the edge from six yards out to make it a 14-0 Beef. Sioux City fumbled the ball on the first play after it had gotten the ball back as quarterback Joshua Hollins lost the ball and it was recovered by Omaha’s Camron Hunt at the Bandits 20 yardline. Four plays later Armstrong hit Troy Evans Jr on a 27-yard pass, but after Ryan Hibbets missed the extra point kick the Beef lead 20-0.

Sioux City was awarded the ball at their 20 yardline after the kickoff went out of bounds and an additional 15 yards for an unsportsmanlike penalty to start their drive at the Beef 15. Three straight rushed by Andrew Prohaska put the Bandits on the scoreboard as he took it in from the one yardline, but Jared Amundson missed the extra point, and the game was 20-6 at halftime. The Bandits had only 36 yards of offense as Hollins was 0 for 5 passing and had lost two fumbles. The Beef offense at the same time had gained 109 yards of offense.

Omaha took the opening drive of the third quarter and used four plays to go 41 yards as Armstrong hit Evans Jr for 22 yards and a second touchdown as the lead grew to 21 points. The Beef would cap the night in the fourth quarter when Armstrong went untouched from one yard out to put them up 33 to 6. Evans finished the night with four catches for 68 yards. Armstrong went 13 of 19 passing for 142 yards, as Taz Wilson finished the night at quarterback for Omaha and went 1-5 passing for 20 yards.

Hollins completed only four passes out of the 12 attempts for 25 yards. Andrew Prohaska carried the ball nine times for 41 yards. The Beef defense saw Sioux City go 2 for 8 on third down and 0-3 on fourth down as it improved its scoring defense to 26.2 points per game and allowing an average of 177.2 yards per game. Rudy Ngougni and Zion Farmer, who just came off injured reserve, led the Beef with six tackles. New defensive backs Ammari Sylla and Antonio Marshall made their present known as Sylla picked up 2 tackles and a fumble recovery as Marshall had three tackles. Omaha did not have any sacks but had four tackles for loss in the win. Sioux City linebacker Juan Moore led all players with 10 tackles. Antonio Pierce had an interception along with four tackles as Randall Blash had a sack with his three tackles. It was just the third time this season that Armstrong has been sacked.

OTHER NOTES:  

Omaha travels to Sioux City next Saturday for the 52^nd meeting of the two teams. Omaha leads the all-time series 27-24.

Beef All-Time records vs. (As of 5/11/24)