Wikipedia

2022 National Arena League season

The 2022 National Arena League season was the fifth season of the National Arena League (NAL).[1] The league played with only six teams mostly based in the Eastern United States, with one new team arriving from the American Arena League, the San Antonio Gunslingers, based in Texas.[2] The season ended with the Albany Empire, Carolina Cobras, Columbus Lions, and Jacksonville Sharks qualifying for the playoffs[3] and the Albany Empire winning the championship.[4]

2022 NAL season
LeagueNational Arena League
SportIndoor American football
Number of teams6
Regular season
Season championsAlbany Empire
2022 NAL Championship
ChampionsAlbany Empire
  Runners-upCarolina Cobras
NAL seasons
← 2021

Ironman football

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For the season, the league re-introduced ironman football rules.[5] This concept had previously been used by the Arena Football League from 1987 up to 2007.[5] Ironman football is a variant that allows players to play in both the offense and the defense for the game.[6] Only two players from the offense, two players from the defense, and one player from the special teams can have a player who has their position for just one side of the ball.[6] The stated goal of the ironman football rules is to see players become more creative by showing their skills on offense and defense.[6]

Teams

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For 2022, the NAL consisted of six teams without conferences or divisions. Each team played 12 games, six home and six away, with the exception of the Carolina Cobras and the Jacksonville Sharks who both played 14 games,[7][8][9] seven home and seven away.[10][11] During the season, there were two byes given out,[7] with the exception of the Carolina Cobras and the Jacksonville Sharks, where they do not get a bye week.[7]

2022 National Arena League Season
Teams Location Arena Capacity Founded Joined Head Coach
Albany Empire Albany, New York MVP Arena[12] 13,000[13] 2020 2021 Tom Menas
Carolina Cobras Greensboro, North Carolina[14] Greensboro Coliseum Complex[15][16] 5,000[15] 2018[16] 2018 Josh Resignalo
Columbus Lions Columbus, Georgia Columbus Civic Center[17] 10,000 2006 2017 Jason Gibson
Jacksonville Sharks Jacksonville, Florida VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena[18] 15,000 2009 2017 Siaha Burley
Orlando Predators Orlando, Florida Amway Center 20,000 2019 2019 Jeff Higgins
San Antonio Gunslingers San Antonio, Texas Freeman Coliseum[19] 11,700 2020 2021[20] Fred Shaw[21]

Reference for teams in 2022:[22]

Standings

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2022 National Arena League Standings
Team Win Loss PCT PF PA STK
z – Albany Empire 8 4 .667 717 619 W4
y – Carolina Cobras 9 5 .643 725 676 W1
x – Columbus Lions 7 5 .583 576 554 W3
x – Jacksonville Sharks 7 7 .500 707 663 L2
e – San Antonio Gunslingers 4 8 .333 647 720 L1
e – Orlando Predators 3 9 .250 492 632 L6

z – clinched home field advantage

y – clinched home playoff game

e – eliminated from playoffs

Reference:[3][23]

Playoffs

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Semifinal 2022 NAL Championship
      
1 Albany Empire 68
4 Jacksonville Sharks 67
1 Albany Empire 47
2 Carolina Cobras 20
2 Carolina Cobras 65
3 Columbus Lions 51

Reference:[3][4][24][25]

Controversies

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  • In a game between the Orlando Predators and the San Antonio Gunslingers, after official Andrew McGrath got injured and taken to the hospital in the second quarter due to a broken clavicle and a face laceration, and there were only four referees left. In the fourth quarter, with 24 seconds left, a Gunslinger was close to the end zone, and one referee signaled touchdown while the other signaled him short of the goal line, however, the clock kept until the time was out while the referees were discussing the play. After review, the runner was short of the goal line. The clock was set to four seconds left, however, per league rules there was a 10 second run-off since the ball was not spotted before the previous play. The Gunslingers then scored the game-winning play. After a review by commissioner Chris Siegfried, the lead official, and the supervisor of officials, they decided that that was the correct call.[26]

Awards

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Players of the Week

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Players of the Week throughout the 2022 NAL Season
Weeks Offensive Player of the Week Defensive Player of the Week Special Team Player of the Week Ironman Player of the Week
1 Devin Wilson, Jacksonville Sharks Walter Thomas, Carolina Cobras Darius Prince, Albany Empire (1/4) Jarmon Fortson, Columbus Lions
2 Sam Castronova, Albany Empire (1/3) Rob Jones, Jacksonville Sharks Marc Orozco, Albany Empire (1/3) Darius Prince, Albany Empire (2/4)
3 Darius Prince, Albany Empire (3/4) Cris Page, Carolina Cobras (1/2) Marc Orozco, Albany Empire (2/3) Zack Brown, Carolina Cobras (1/2)
4 Malik Henry, Jacksonville Sharks Kwan Stallworth, Jacksonville Sharks TC Stevens, Carolina Cobras (1/3) Miles Kelly, Jacksonville Sharks
5 Darius Prince, Albany Empire (4/4) Cris Page, Carolina Cobras (2/2) Marc Orozco, Albany Empire (3/3) Dwayne Hollis, Albany Empire
6 Rakeem Cato, Orlando Predators Droell Greene, Columbus Lions Cody Barber, Jacksonville Sharks Anthony Johnson, Jacksonville Sharks
7 Arvell Nelson, Jacksonville Sharks Rodney Hall Jr., Columbus Lions TC Stevens, Carolina Cobras (2/3) Zack Brown, Carolina Cobras (2/2)
8 Robert Kent, San Antonio Gunslingers (1/2) Kenny Starks, Columbus Lions Darien Townsend, Columbus Lions (1/2) Darien Townsend, Columbus Lions (2/2)
9 Robert Kent, San Antonio Gunslingers (2/2) Droell Greene, Columbus Lions Daniel Justino, Orlando Predators Kendrick Ings, Carolina Cobras
10 Sam Castronova, Albany Empire (2/3) Marvin Ross, Albany Empire Drew Pearson, San Antonio Gunslingers Trevon Shorts, Albany Empire
11 Sam Castronova, Albany Empire (3/3) Joshua Jenkins, Orlando Predators TC Stevens, Carolina Cobras (3/3) DJ Myers, Carolina Cobras
12 Mason Espinosa, Columbus Lions Maurice Leggett, Columbus Lions Nick Belcher, Orlando Predators Kamrin Solomon, Jacksonville Sharks

Reference:[29][30]

The 2022 All-National Arena League Team

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2022 All-NAL Second Team

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Offense
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Position Player Team Former PotW awards
QB Robert Kent San Antonio Gunslingers Back-to-back 2022 Offensive Player of the Week.
FB Pierre Turner San Antonio Gunslingers
WR Khali Rashaad San Antonio Gunslingers
WR DJ Myers Carolina Cobras
WR Phillip Barnett San Antonio Gunslingers
OL Dashawn Johnson Carolina Cobras
OL Brandon Turner Columbus Lions
C Melvin Hollins Albany Empire
Defense
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Position Player Team Former PotW awards
ML Zack Brown Carolina Cobras Two time 2022 Ironman Player of the Week.
WL Trevon Shorts Albany Empire 2022 Ironman Player of the Week.
DB Delvon Randall Orlando Predators
DB Maurice Leggett Orlando Predators
DB Droell Green Columbus Lions
DE Chei Hill Jacksonville Sharks
DE Larry Ford Carolina Cobras
DT Kwan Stallworth Jacksonville Sharks
Special Teams
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Position Player Team Former PotW awards
K Marc Orzoco Albany Empire Three time 2022 Special Team Player of the Week.
KR Darien Townsend Columbus Lions

Reference:[31]

2022 All-NAL First Team

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Offense
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Position Player Team Former PotW awards
QB Sam Castronova Albany Empire Three time 2022 Offensive Player of the Week.
FB Zack Brown Carolina Cobras Two time 2022 Ironman Player of the Week.
WR Darius Prince Albany Empire Two time 2022 Offensive Player of the Week, 2022 Special Team Player of the Week, and 2022 Ironman Player of the Week.
WR Nyqwan Murray Jacksonville Sharks
WR Darien Townsend Columbus Lions 2022 Special Teams Player of the Week, 2022 Ironman Player of the Week.
OL Cornelius Lewis Albany Empire
OL Faleoga Russell Jacksonville Sharks
C Derrick Zeigler Carolina Cobras
Defense
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Position Player Team Former PotW awards
ML Kerry Starks Columbus Lions
WL DJ Myers Carolina Cobras 2022 Ironman Player of the Week
DB Josh Jenkins Orlando Predators
DB Markus Smith Jacksonville Sharks
DB Dwayne Hollis Albany Empire 2022 Ironman Player of the Week
DE Ken Washington Columbus Lions
DE Justin Alexandre San Antonio Gunslingers
DT Walter Thomas Carolina Cobras 2022 Defensive Player of the Week
Special Teams
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Position Player Team Former PotW awards
K TC Stevens Carolina Cobras Three time 2022 Special Teams Player of the Week
KR Kali Rashaad San Antonio Gunslingers

Reference:[32]

References

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  1. ^ "About the NAL - National Arena League". www.nationalarenaleague.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  2. ^ "NAL Announces San Antonio Gunslingers as Expansion Franchise". XFL Newsroom. 2021-11-11. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
  3. ^ a b c "News: Playoff Preview - National Arena League". www.nationalarenaleague.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  4. ^ a b "Stats - National Arena League". www.nationalarenaleague.com. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
  5. ^ a b "The NAL Becomes the New Home for Ironman Football". www.nationalarenaleague.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  6. ^ a b c Rubel, Abigail (2022-06-29). "Here's what Albany Empire players, fans say about NAL's two-way play". Times Union. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  7. ^ a b c "Stats - National Arena League". www.nationalarenaleague.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  8. ^ "Stats - San Antonio Gunslingers". www.sanantoniogunslingers.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  9. ^ "Stats - San Antonio Gunslingers". www.sanantoniogunslingers.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  10. ^ "Stats - Jacksonville Sharks". www.jaxsharks.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  11. ^ "Stats - Jacksonville Sharks". www.jaxsharks.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  12. ^ Singelais, Mark (2021-12-22). "Albany Empire's 2022 schedule is announced". Times Union. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  13. ^ "MVP Arena". www.albany.org. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  14. ^ "Carolina Cobras - Indoor/Arena Football on OurSports Central". www.oursportscentral.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  15. ^ a b "Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center". Greensboro Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  16. ^ a b "Carolina Cobras Arena Football". Greensboro Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  17. ^ "Lions | Columbus Civic Center". civiccenter.columbusga.gov. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  18. ^ "Jacksonville Sharks". Downtown Jacksonville. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  19. ^ Ramirez, Daniel Villanueva, Mark Mendez, Larry (2022-04-22). "The San Antonio Gunslingers are headed to Freeman Coliseum". KSAT. Retrieved 2022-07-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Rachuk, Stephan (2021-11-11). "NAL Announces San Antonio Gunslingers as Expansion Franchise". XFL Newsroom. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  21. ^ "Staff - San Antonio Gunslingers". www.sanantoniogunslingers.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  22. ^ "Stats - National Arena League". www.nationalarenaleague.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  23. ^ "Stats - National Arena League". www.nationalarenaleague.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  24. ^ "Stats - National Arena League". www.nationalarenaleague.com. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
  25. ^ "Stats - National Arena League". www.nationalarenaleague.com. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
  26. ^ "News: NAL Statement Regarding Friday's Orlando vs San Antonio Game - National Arena League". www.nationalarenaleague.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  27. ^ "News: NAL Incident Report Regarding Week 13 - National Arena League". www.nationalarenaleague.com. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
  28. ^ Badillo, Andrew (July 21, 2022). "Sharks top wideout Devin Wilson indefinitely suspended by NAL after altercation with a referee". firstcoastnews.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  29. ^ "Players of the Week - National Arena League". www.nationalarenaleague.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  30. ^ "News: THE EMPIRE LEAVES JACKSONVILLE IN WEEK TWO WITH THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON - National Arena League". www.nationalarenaleague.com. Team for Rob Jones. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  31. ^ "News: 2022 All-NAL Second Team Announced - National Arena League". www.nationalarenaleague.com. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  32. ^ "News: 2022 All-NAL First Team Announced - National Arena League". www.nationalarenaleague.com. Retrieved 2022-08-12.

See also

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