La Crosse Spartans


The La Crosse Spartans were a professional indoor football team based in La Crosse, Wisconsin. They were a member of the Great Lakes Division, of the United Conference of the Indoor Football League. They played their home games at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
The team was founded in 2009, and was originally coached by former NFL player Gilbert Brown. They were also coached by his brother Kyle Moore-Brown.

History

On August 6, 2009, Chris Kokalis announced his intentions to start an IFL team in La Crosse for the 2010 season. Former NFL player Gilbert Brown was announced as the head coach. On August 27, the Spartans were conditionally approved as members of the IFL. Such condition is that the Spartans negotiate a successful arena lease. On September 30, the Spartans got the formal go-ahead to play at the center. The Spartans were the third indoor football team to call the La Crosse Center home, following the La Crosse River Rats and the La Crosse Night Train.

2010 season

The inaugural season for the La Crosse Spartans was a difficult one. The schedule had the Spartans start the season with 3 tough road games against some of the best teams in the IFL. They lost at both Wichita and Sioux Falls, who eventually played against each other for the United Conference finals. Just before halftime of the very first game the Spartans would lose their starting Quarterback to a knee injury, beginning a season where they would go through multiple Quarterbacks and Kickers, trying to find the right fit for the team. They finished the first half of the season 0-7. The Spartans earned their first victory against the Chicago Slaughter on April 30 in La Crosse. Their first road victory against at Chicago on June 12. They finished the season 3-11.

2011 season

The second season of the La Crosse Spartans began February 19, 2011, in the IFL’s showcase game, the Kickoff Classic. La Crosse played seven regular season games at home over the course of February through early June. Indoor football veteran Jose Jefferson joined the Spartans for the 2011 season as their Offensive Coordinator.
After four games of the 2011 season it was announced that head coach Gilbert Brown would be taking a leave of absence from the team for personal reasons, and that his brother Kyle Moore-Brown would be switching from assistant coach to head coach of the Spartans.
On April 30, 2011 the Spartans became one of the few teams in indoor football history to post a shutout, beating the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks 51-0.
On August 30, 2011, GM and co-owner Chris Kokalis announced the formation of the Cedar Rapids Titans, including former Spartans members Xzavie Jackson, Travis Miller and Mike Polaski. The Titans were listed as members of the Great Lakes division, along with the Green Bay Blizzard, Bloomington Extreme and Chicago Slaughter. The Spartans were not listed in this division. Kokalis said the Spartans franchise will "cease to exist", but also said that the team was up for sale.

Season-by-season results

Final roster

Attendance Statistics

Season By Season Average Attendance
YearAverage Attendance
20102574
20112280

Vs opponent

Year-by-Year Leaders

Passing
YearPlayerAttCompPctYdsTDIntQB RTGGP
2010Buddy Rivera1528556%8566863.47
2011Buddy Rivera1809653%978221281.013

Rushing
YearPlayerAttYdsAvgLngTDGP
2010Mark Bonds923373.731128
2011LaRon Council1776403.6341314

Rushing
YearPlayerAttYdsAvgLngTDGP
2010Buddy Rivera842863.426137
2011LaRon Council1776403.6341314

Receiving
YearPlayerRecYdsAvgLngTDGP
2010Antonio Overstreet2943715.144612
2011Christopher Headd3336010.940713

Receiving
YearPlayerRecYdsAvgLngTDGP
2010Aaron Straiten362386.64017
2011Christopher Headd3336010.940713

All Purpose
YearPlayerYdsTDGP
2010Antonio Overstreet1007912
2011LaRon Council10671814

All Purpose
YearPlayerYdsTDGP
2010Buddy Rivera286137
2011LaRon Council10671814

Returns
YearPlayerRetYdsAvgLngTDGP
2010Antonio Overstreet3049716.650112
2011Kevis Buckley3758815.948114

Returns
YearPlayerRetYdsAvgLngTDGP
2010Antonio Overstreet3049716.650112
2011*Kevis Buckley3758815.948114
2011*LaRon Council1320715.956114

Kicking
YearPlayerFGMFGAFG%LngGP
2010Jared Keating31030%444
2011Rubio Radamez31127%473

Kicking
YearPlayerEPMEPAEP%GP
2010Jared Keating111385%4
2011Mike Polaski324965%12

Tackles
YearPlayerTacSoloAstGP
2010Walner Belleus69462313
2011Joe Bevis74363812

Sacks
YearPlayerSacGP
2010Xzavie Jackson5.513
2011Xzavie Jackson12.514

Interceptions
YearPlayerIntTDGP
2010Darnell Terrell7012
2011Jamil Abdullah9012

Awards and honors

2011
2010