Bloomington Extreme



Years of Existence: 2009-2012
Venue: U.S. Cellular Coliseum (Bloomington, IL)
Accomplishments
2009 – Playoff appearance
2010 - Playoff appearance
2011 - Playoff appearance
2012 - Playoff appearance
Lifetime Record: 38-22
Home: 23-6
Away: 15-16
Playoffs: 0-4
Average Attendance: 4,474

The Bloomington Extreme joined the new IFL from the UIF. The team was led for the majority of the year by Mitch Tanney, who passed for 32 scores and five picks. Peter Warrick was the star at wide receiver, catching 56 balls for over 600 yards and 13 scores. The defense was the story for the Extreme, however, as they intercepted 31 passes, returning five for scores. The team gave up just 28 points per game en rout to a 10-4 regular season record. The team finished second in their division and would host the red hot Wichita Wild in the first round of the postseason. Dusty Burk quarterbacked the Extreme to a 46-37 loss, throwing two touchdowns, but also two picks. A Darius Fudge 1 yard touchdown run with 1:26 in the game would secure the win for the Wild. The team returned in 2010, quarterbacked by Rocky Hines, who threw for 22 touchdowns to 12 picks. Johnny Grey caught nine touchdowns, as the ball was spread around well to several receivers. Benard Payton gained 439 yards and scored 11 times on the ground. The Extreme won their final four regular season games to finish at 9-5 and qualify for the playoffs. The first-round game would be against none other than Wichita again. This affair was back and forth one, which the Wild would again win, 61-48. Rocky Hinds led the 2011 Extreme to a 9-5 regular season, throwing for 2,219 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 18 picks. Andre Raymond scored 16 times on the ground and gained 314 yards. The receiving corps was led by James Walton, Glenn Johnson, and Johnny Gray. Walton scored 17 times and amassed 724 yards. Johnson and Gray combined for 20 scores and 1,331 yards. The Extreme defense tallied 37 sacks and 19 interceptions, holding opponents to just 33 points per game. The team got out to a 7-1 start, with the only loss being at Green Bay. Then began a three game losing streak in which the team scored just 62 points. In the final week of the season, Omaha stole the fourth seed in the playoffs and hosted Bloomington. A furious Extreme comeback fell short in the final minutes, and Omaha defeated Bloomington 39-34. The Extreme became the Edge in 2012 and went 10-4 during the regular season. The team was led by quarterback Dusty Burk. Burk threw for 2,849 yards, 57 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. John Cooper and Ricardo Lenhart combined for over 1,500 receiving yards and each had 17 touchdowns catches. On defense, James Temple picked 12 passes. The Edge played a weak schedule for most of the year, losing two games to Green Bay and once to Wichita, while defeating Lehigh Valley twice in their games against playoff teams. The team traveled to Green Bay for a first round playoff game and were soundly defeated 51-30.