In December 2018, the San Diego Strike Force became the 10th team to join the Indoor Football League. Their home opener will take place at 5:05 p.m. on March 3 at Pechanga Arena, located on Sports Arena Boulevard in the Midway District. The band CrazyTownX, known for their song “Butterfly,” will perform before the game.
On Feb. 22, the Strike Force played its first game as a franchise and lost to the Quad City Steamwheelers 66-50. After trailing 7-0 early, San Diego tied the game at 7-7 in the first as quarterback Derek Bernard scored the Strike Force’s first touchdown on an 8-yard run. After the Steamwheelers scored to go up 14-7, the Strike Force’s Bernard threw a 23 yard pass to Marquez Rodgers tied the score 14-14. The Steamwheelers scored two more touchdowns to lead 28-14. But Bernard threw a 35-yard pass to Julian Stafford to get within 28-21. In the second half, the Steamwheelers pulled away to lead 60-35 before Bernard threw an 8-yard pass to Rashad Ridley get within 60-43. After another Steamwheelers TD, the Strike Force scored late to make it a 66-50 final. Bernard finished with 17 completions out of 25 attempts for 245 yards, along with six touchdown passes. He also scored on an 8-yard touchdown run.
Marques Rodgers had seven receptions for 123 yards scored two touchdowns. Julian Stafford had four receptions for 66 yards two touchdowns, and Rashad Ridley contributed four receptions for 25 yards with one touchdown.
The Strike Force’s head coach, Burt Grossman, was a 1989 first round draft choice of the San Diego Chargers. The former Pittsburgh Panther played from 1989 to 1993 with the Chargers, from 1994-1995 with the Philadelphia Eagles, and ended the season with an injured neck injury in 1996. Grossman registered a total of 276 tackles and 43.5 sacks.
After football, Grossman has been involved in various areas in youth sports. In 2013, Grossman received the San Diego County’s High School Sports Community Service Award.
The Strike Force will play a 14-game season with seven games at the Pechanga Arena and seven on the road. All IFL games are streamed free on YouTube. For more information on the Indoor Football League, visit ifl.com. For tickets and information on the San Diego Strike Force, visit strikeforce.com. STRIKE FORCE DEPTH CHART QB, running backs, and receivers:
Derek Bernard, QB, Sul Rose State University;
George Moreira, RB and WR and defense, Illinois State;
Marquez Rodgers, WR and defense, Western New Mexico;
Julian Stafford, WR, Mississippi Valley State University;
Rashad Ridley, WR and defense, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology;
David Carter, WR, Seton Hill University;
Ernest Lacayo, kicker, Hastings College. Offensive line: Isaiah Folasa Lutui, New Mexico State;
Zian Jones, two-way on offense and defense, Syracuse University;
Brian Leaupepe, San Diego State;
Russell Faleaoga, Lincoln University. Defense:
Timothy Moten, Benedictine College;
Kenric Young Jr., University of Utah;
Cory Butler Byrd, University of Utah;
Brian Khoury, Carnegie Mellon;
Tyrie Mack, Eastern Michigan University;
Sean Potts Harris, Coffeyville Community College;
Mikell Mair, Texas A&M Commerce;
Terrance Fulum, University of Richmond;
Kori Hurd II, Arizona Christian University.
