The undefeated Indianapolis Tornados minor league football team (14-0) advanced to the final four of the Gridiron Developmental Football League (GDFL) playoffs with an impressive 22-0 win over the Oklahoma Thunder last weekend. The Tornados, the state of Indiana’s only representative in the 120-team league, is currently the highest rated seed remaining in the tournament which began on August 25th, 2012. The League is divided into an “Xtreme Conference” and an “Impact Conference”. The winning teams from each conference will play in the National Championship game on October 13th, 2012.
This Saturday night, September 29th, 2012, the Tornados will host the South Buffalo Celtics in the Impact Conference Championship game for the right to play the Central Penn (Pennsylvania) Piranha. The Piranhas captured the Xtreme Conference Championship win a 28-15 win over the Carolina Venom last Saturday.
The Tornados last game featured a bitter rivalry between two of the GDFL’s elite teams. The Tornados were also undefeated last season but lost in the playoffs to the Oklahoma Thunder in Tulsa, OK. The Thunder advanced to the 2011 National Championship before being beaten by the Chambersburg (PA) Cardinals. This was a revenge game for the Tornados who wanted to make a statement to the rest of the league.
Led by quarterback, Adam Rich, the Tornados marched down the field on its first drive to take a 7-0 lead. Rich added a couple of touchdown tosses to wide receiver, Brandon Williams, who was named the MVP of the game two weeks in a row. In his previous game, Williams hauled in three passes for touchdowns.
“We are fortunate to have quality players on both sides of the ball”, observed team GM David Seiter. “Both of our wide receivers, Brandon Williams and Glen Ayro, have had looks from NFL teams and I think it is only a matter of time before some team adds them to their roster”.
Equally impressive for the Tornados was their defense. The Thunder averaged 39 points per game in the regular season but the Tornados held them scoreless. “The Tornados won a national championship before and they know what it takes to win another one” added Seiter. In 2008, the Indianapolis Tornados won a national championship in the North American Football League (NAFL).
The Tornados will host the South Buffalo Celtics on their home turf at Brebeuf Jesuit Prep School, 2801 W. 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46268. Tickets can be purchased at the gate for $10 for adults and $8 for youth (7-17). Children age 6 and under are free. Kick-off is 7:00 pm this Saturday night, September 29th, 2012.
