The Shortest Season In Pro Sports History? The 2020 IFL Season Recap

Originally published on Sept. 3, 2020

By Zane Miller

The 2020 Indoor Football League season was the 12th season in the league’s history. However, only a total of two games were played due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the season beginning on Saturday, March 7th and concluding early on Sunday, March 8th.

To my knowledge, this is the shortest season for any North American professional sports league. The only other seasons I could think of that even came close were the 1996 Indy Racing League season, which had three races, the 2002 Indy Lights season with seven races, and the 1989 Arena Football League season with four regular season games for each of the five teams for a total of 10 games played, not including three postseason games.

The first game on saw the Quad City Steamwheelers defeat the Cedar Rapids River Kings 54-39, while in the second game, the San Diego Strike Force took down the Bismarck Bucks 50-36.

Quad City Steamwheelers v. Cedar Rapids River Kings

1Q 14:54 #13 Keyvan Rudd 40-yd TD kick return (PAT no good)- Steamwheelers 6-0

1Q 8:19 #12 EJ Hilliard 1-yd TD run (PAT good)- Steamwheelers 13-0

1Q 6:59 #8 Chris Franklin 55-yd TD kick return (PAT good)- Steamwheelers 13-7

1Q 2:11 #19 Quinton Pedroza 1-yd TD run (2-pt conv. no good)- Steamwheelers 19-7

2Q 13:58 #7 Derrick Bernard 21-yd TD run (2-pt conv. no good)- Steamwheelers 19-13

2Q 12:11 #13 Keyvan Rudd 34-yd TD pass from #12 EJ Hilliard Jr. (PAT good)- Steamwheelers 26-13

2Q 7:14 #12 EJ Hilliard Jr. 1-yd TD run (PAT good)- Steamwheelers 33-13

2Q 0:13 #12 EJ Hilliard Jr. 10-yd TD run (PAT good)- Steamwheelers 40-13

3Q 12:17 #9 Shaquan Curenton 17-yd TD pass from #7 Derrick Bernard (2-pt conv. good)- Steamwheelers 40-21

3Q 3:48 #5 Marcus Bagley 3-yd TD run (PAT good)- Steamwheelers 47-21

4Q 13:37 #0 Bones Baguante 2-yd TD pass from #7 Derrick Bernard (2-pt conv. no good)- Steamwheelers 47-27

4Q 0:57 #41 Tre Harvey 1-yd TD run (PAT good)- Steamwheelers 54-27

4Q 0:39 #6 Elijah Johnson (2-pt conv. no good)- Steamwheelers 54-33

4Q 0:32 #4 Dionte Thomas 0-yd TD fumble recovery (2-pt conv. no good)- Steamwheelers 54-39

Final Score: Steamwheelers 54, River Kings 39

 

San Diego Strike Force v. Bismarck Bucks

1Q 12:31 #1 Eric Lauderdale 3-yd TD run (PAT good)- Bucks 7-0

1Q 7:55 #2 Tesleem Wilson 9-yd TD run (PAT good)- Bucks 14-0

1Q 5:45 #25 Nathaniel Chavious 31-yd TD pass from #3 Michael Carillo (PAT good)- Bucks 14-7

2Q 12:43 #23 Cody Barber 38-yd FG- Bucks 17-7

2Q 5:49 #25 Nathaniel Chavious 1-yd TD run (PAT good)- Bucks 17-14

2Q 0:42 #12 Marques Rodgers 42-yd TD pass from #3 Michael Carillo (PAT good)- Strike Force 21-17

3Q 7:29 #10 Shad Thorton 12-yd TD pass from #2 Tesleem Wilson (PAT good)- Bucks 24-21

3Q 6:45 #12 Marques Rodgers 45-yd TD kick return (PAT good)- Strike Force 28-24

3Q 0:10 #30 Justin Owens SAF- Strike Force 28-26

4Q 12:29 #23 Cody Barber 40-yd FG- Bucks 29-28

4Q 9:55 #17 Donta Armstrong 18-yd TD pass from #3 Michael Carillo (PAT good)- Strike Force 35-29

4Q 2:23 #14 Zuril Hendrick 50-yd TD missed FG return (PAT good)- Bucks 36-35

4Q 1:10 #19 Isaiah Bernard 45-yd TD kick return (2-pt conv. good)- Strike Force 43-36

4Q 0:19 #25 Nathaniel Chavious 6-yd TD run (PAT good)- Strike Force 50-36

Final Score: Strike Force 50, Bucks 36