Southwest Kansas Storm Week 12 Recap, Week 13 Preview

The Storm remain undefeated moving to 9-0 with just one road game remaining before the playoffs. Can they close out the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record in 2026? 

The Storm entered week 12 knowing they not only had a playoff berth clinched but also had the first seed officially in hand after Sioux City's week 11 loss. The Storm could have looked past this game and simply rested starters for the playoffs but instead, most of the players on the roster took snaps as they would have throughout the game. 

Memorial Day Weekend

Being that this game took place on Memorial Day weekend it was possible that the fans could have opted to do anything but go to a football game…however, they showed up in force once again. Even with the playoffs clinched and home-field advantage sewn up, no one wants to miss their team rewriting the franchise record books one week at a time.  

The official attendance was just over 1,600, a respectable number given the circumstances of the game. I imagine that number drifts well over 2,000 when the Storm return home for their first-ever home playoff game on June 13th. With 3 weeks remaining until then get your tickets now, let's make it the first sell-out game in franchise history as well! 

https://www.unitedwirelessarena.com/events/sporting-events

Week 12 Review 

This game started fast for the Storm and didn’t let up until they had opened up an insurmountable lead before halftime. In a game that had no bearing on playoff seeding at all, it didn’t make sense to risk injury, and it would have surprised very few people if we saw some of the veterans taking fewer snaps in this game, that was overall not the case. 

Most of the starters began the game, although as the game wore on you began to see certain players taking fewer snaps, or seeing the ball come their way less. Jaden Sutton was subbed out for Austin Bacher, who had not seen the field this season, early in the game. With Austin Bacher active, the Storm opted to rest defensive end Shay McRath. 

Keeping McRath healthy for the playoffs could end up being a very crucial move. Also inactive were OL/DL Carvelle Keeley and Dom Moore who is still working his way back from an injury. With the Storm clinching the bye week before the playoffs, the expectation should be that we won’t see Moore again until that playoff game at the earliest. 

Despite the very obvious load management for some of the stars on the Storm, they still managed a 42-0 lead going into halftime. Coming out of halftime there was a noticeable shift in strategy to burn as much time on the clock as possible every single play. In the second half, the Storm held the ball for a total of 13:03 on 4 drives, indicating a collective effort in play-calling to speed up the second half as much as possible. 

With the Louisiana game now in the books a question looms before week 13. Will the Storm look to close out the season undefeated at all costs, or will they go into Sioux City doing their best to protect their players and keep them healthy for the playoffs? 

On to Sioux City 

The Sioux City Bandits are something of a conundrum as of late. A team that as recently as two weeks ago still had an outside shot at the first seed, now looks to hold on to hope to finish as the third seed, and it likely will require a win over the Storm in week 13. Heading into week 11 the Bandits were 5-2, and looking at a three-game stretch that would decide if they would finish as high as first, and as low as fifth in the playoff seeding. 

A regional rivalry game against Omaha at home, a trip to Salina to take on a Liberty team that recently re-acquired a quarterback that helped them to back-to-back championships in 2021 and 2022, and finally a home stand against the undefeated Storm. To finish first they would need to hope the Storm lost a game, and win out. Even then it would require the use of other tie breakers. 

Unfortunately for Sioux City, they have begun that stretch 0-2. Slipping to 5-4 and having to face a team that has not lost a game in the National Arena League yet. A tall task for any team, but a particularly tall task for the Bandits looking to end a two-game skid. 

Quarterback Trouble or Outlier? 

Lorenzo Brown is a Hall of Fame quarterback who has made a name for himself over the years throwing touchdown passes, protecting the ball, and winning playoff games. For much of the 2026 season, we have been watching vintage Lorenzo Brown. In fact, his name has even been mentioned in MVP conversations.

Some people may be prepared to pump the brakes on that talk after his last game. Brown finished 7 of 25 for 63 yards, 1 touchdown, and 4 interceptions, he was sacked 3 times and scrambled 4 times for a net total of -1 yards. Salina’s defense did a great job of containing Brown, potentially giving the Storm the blueprint on how to throw Brown off his game. We could even see a Verlon Reed appearance in this game if the Bandits believe the turnovers may continue. 

Brown has a total of 7 interceptions on the season, and all 7 have come in the last 5 games. Brown managed to finish out three full games without an interception to start the season, with Reed also starting 1 game during the first 4, and throwing 1 interception. If Brown can not get these turnovers under control this week, the Storm defense could have a day in this game. 

Injury Woes for Sioux City 

Before their last game Sioux City lost one of their most impactful defenders, Fred Hargrove, to injured reserve for 20 days beginning 5/21. Hargrove has been a huge part of the Bandits defensive success. With 19 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and 1 recovery it's clear he has been a nuisance for opposing offenses. 

He also happens to have added depth at running back when needed. He had 4 carries for 14 yards on offense and also added 1 kick return for 11 yards. He likely would have held a much bigger role on offense if not for his injury. The move to bring back running back Drew Prohaska back and immediately give him 7 touches against Salina would indicate they may have had other plans for Hargrove down the stretch. 

This injury only exacerbated the depth concerns that Sioux City had at running back after releasing one of the top 5 players, in terms of rushing yards, in the league. Jeff Mack now with Pueblo had been a big part of Sioux City’s offense and vacated a significant amount of touches. 

Offensive Versatility 

The Bandits run a very old school offense that has adapted concepts from multiple well-known playbooks over the years. While Strohbeen will get creative, he is also one of the few offensive play callers indoors that has consistently found success utilizing a 3-back set. This season his running game has taken a backseat to Lorenzo Brown for the most part, averaging about a 60/40 split.

In the past Sioux City was a much more run heavy team, but Salina seemingly exposed just how much their offense runs through Brown last week. This could make for some interesting decisions. Does the Storm coaching staff decide to activate all three defensive ends to keep them fresh via a rotation keeping pressure on Brown all day? 

Or do they decide to continue activating both defensive tackles to utilize a rotation, and allow them to bring in the "bigs" situationally when needed? If I had to guess, I would expect to see both defensive tackles activated in this game once again. 

Defensive Match-Up

Part of what has helped Lorenzo Brown play at the level he has this season has been that Sioux City is simply a well coached and disciplined team overall. Where this shows up is the sum of the parts not in any individual's statistics. 

The Bandits have held their opponents to 22 or less points in four games this season, including just 6 points in two separate games. What is more important about this fact is that it typically means games like the past one against Salina are an outlier. In 2026 Sioux City has beaten Salina, Pueblo, Omaha, Amarillo, and lost by just 3 points to the Storm. 

Last time we played Sioux City they managed to all but stop our ability to run the ball effectively, something that has not happened often during the 2026 season. On 16 carries, Matt Struck, Jaden Sutton, and Mason Pierce combined for 31 yards. However the stat that matters the most is the four rushing touchdowns they still managed to produce. 

Their defense also intercepted two passes from Matt Struck, but still allowed 303 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. This last fact may bode well for the Storm with Trae Self at the helm.

Of these two players, Struck is likely the better athlete, but at least on paper Trae Self is the more accomplished passer. This could lead Coach Thomas to throw the ball early and often against Sioux City. Self will need to be careful however as Sioux City has a pair of ballhawks in their secondary with Defensive Player of the Year candidate Laronji Vason-McCoy, and Marzion Crosby. 

Vason-McCoy is not the only DPOY candidate on the Bandits defense to contend with either. Dajon Emory on the defensive line for Sioux City is a menace. He and Evan DiMaggio have essentially been in a race for the sack title this season. Emory currently has 6, but these are far from the only impact plays he has had with 4 pass deflections, 3 blocked kicks, and 1 forced fumble this season. 

Reality of the Game

The reality of this game is that Sioux City is virtually desperate for a win to finish above .500, and avoid muddying their playoff picture by very likely finishing in a 3-way tie at 5-5 with Omaha, and Colorado. The Storm however are looking at gaining nothing but bragging rights. Whether they are 10-0 or 9-1, they go into the playoffs as the favorite to be one of two championship teams. 

The logical move here is to go into this game as if it is a glorified preseason game. Use a vanilla game plan, protect the players as much as possible, chew up clock on offense and limit possessions for Sioux City similar to their strategy of the second half against Louisiana. 

Award Watch 

As it stands heading into the post season there are several members of the Storm in the conversation for year-end awards, no matter what happens in week 13. 

Jaden Sutton, Offensive Player of the Year/MVP

Jaden Sutton should be the favorite to win Offensive Player of the Year currently given his touchdown numbers. In 9 games he has scored 18 times, and that is considering against Louisiana he only touched the ball four times. Sutton has been unbelievable this season in the run game often producing highlight reel runs and big plays by dragging or running over defenders. 

What may affect Sutton is his impact in other ways at times. Sutton has not been used on special teams often, and has not yet proven to be the type of running back who will see 3-5 targets in the passing game each week. 

In a league where some of the other top rushing threats in the league are dual threat quarterbacks; Josh Hollins, or Lorenzo Brown, or dual-threat players seeing more of an even split as a runner and a receiver; Tracy Brooks, or Jo-El Shaw. While his work as a runner by far stands out from the pack, and he did just score his first receiving touchdown but only time will tell if it's enough. 

Demarius Washington, Offensive Player of the Year/MVP 

Dee Wash currently has 42 receptions for 614 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is second in receptions, and touchdowns but leads the league in yards, and yards per game. Currently he is 6 receptions and 1 touchdown away from leading every major category. He should be in the conversation for Offensive Player of the Year off of that alone. 

When you talk about MVP, it's always tough for any player that does not play quarterback to win it. If anyone on the Storm has a case to be made for the MVP award, it should be Washington. If we are talking the true essence of the award: Most Valuable Player it should not be limited to their statistical impact. 

Dee Wash is the vocal leader of this team, he is the tone setter, and he is the player who keeps fans engaged and involved throughout the game. His value to the Storm is immeasurable by statistics and numbers, unless of course we want to start factoring in decibel levels after he scores a touchdown. Few players match the value Washington brings ON or OFF the field, and the total package is unrivaled anywhere in the National Arena League. This should all be considered when determining which player deserves to be named MVP. 

Evan DiMaggio, Defensive Player of the Year 

Evan DiMaggio is your leader in sacks, top five in tackles, and also brings 4 pass deflections to the table. This is a pretty convincing stat line in itself. DiMaggio should likely have at least a couple of interceptions, however in all of those scenarios the ball fell to the turf and not into a receiver’s hands. 

DiMaggio could see himself passed over given his lack of turnovers produced versus some of the other contenders for this award such as the two players mentioned above, but he again is a player whose overall body of work on defense needs to be considered. 

DiMaggio is a team captain, and he is a leader on the defensive side of the ball. Much like Washington on the offensive side of the ball he is a tone setter, and his relentless motor in games has rubbed off on teammates and together the team has built a mantra of playing through the whistle and never taking plays off. Every team needs a player that can lead by example, and the Storm are blessed to have a roster full of them, including DiMaggio. 

Gary Thomas, Coach of the Year  

Coach Thomas is not the type to campaign for an award for himself, but that's okay because I am happy to do it for him. If he does not take home the 2026 Coach of the Year award it will be a slap in the face. Not only have the Storm proceeded to remain undefeated heading into the final week of the season, but Coach Thomas serves as the offensive play caller and has had players putting up video game numbers in 2026. 

The diversity and creativity on offense have left teams unable to completely stop the unit at any point, with 6 games with 41 points or more. His best work may have come when he had to transition from Matt Struck to Trae Self on the fly. He could teach classes on how to ease a quarterback into the lineup after his work in that area this season. 

Pat Callahan, Assistant Coach of the Year 

Coach Callahan is arguably one of the most valuable members of the entire Storm team. Not only has he served as Assistant Head Coach, Secondary Coach, and Co-Defensive Coordinator over the past several seasons, but he has done much of the film cut-ups after games and practices. To top it off he is arguably the most experienced coach in the entire National Arena League. 

In speaking to Coach Thomas he is always quick to heap praise on his entire staff and roster but he has mentioned on more than one occasion he doesn’t know if anyone outside the Storm organization realizes the value that Callahan brings to the table. Coach Callahan is the unsung hero more often than not, and here's hoping that in 2026 the NAL chooses to sing his praises and give him an award he is very deserving of. 

UFL/CFL Check In

Jalen Morton

Jalen Morton received his first start outdoors since college and LIT IT UP. Leading his team to a victory and keeping them alive in the playoff race. Morton would finish 14 of 30 for 213 yards 3 touchdowns, 1 interception (off a wide receiver’s finger tips into a DB’s hands), he also added 13 carries for 96 yards and 1 rushing touchdown. Safe to say he will be holding onto that starting job for one more week.

Michael Lawson 

Lawson played significant defensive snaps in this one accounting for 4 total tackles. He also returned 3 punts for 35 yards with a long of 22 yards. A productive day for the former AF1 DPOY. 

Desmond Bland 

The Toronto Argonauts won their first preseason game 20-10 over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and in this game, Desmond Bland was listed as the starter at left tackle. He was part of a unit that produced 110 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground. While they allowed 2 sacks, the offense still managed 214 yards passing despite four quarterbacks taking snaps. 

Kevon Latulas

Kevon Latulas is arguably the most successful name on this list of call-ups, not because of anything spectacular in a single game or season, but because of his longevity. He is nearing the completion of his third season straight with the St. Louis Battlehawks. Although Latulas's time with the Storm was short, he has been with the Battlehawks since. He also was able to enjoy a win this weekend as his team defeated the Houston Gamblers. 

The do-it-all running back for the Battlehawks managed 1 carry for 7 yards, and 2 kick returns for 35 yards. On the season the Missouri State product has proven to be effective in multiple areas for St. Louis. He has 45 carries for 136 net yards, 12 receptions for 121 yards, and 8 kick returns for 184 yards. He also has 4 total tackles on special teams.