# 2017 Spokane Empire season

The 2017 Spokane Empire season was the second season for the professional indoor football franchise in the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Empire were one of ten teams that competed in the IFL for the 2017 season and were members of the Intense Conference.
Led by head coach Adam Shackleford, the Empire played their home games at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington. After the season, the team ceased operations.

## Roster changes
### Free agents

| Position | Player | 2016 team | Notes |
| QB | Aaron Aiken | Arizona Rattlers | Signed with the Rattlers on November 1, 2016 |
| WR | Diondre Borel | Arizona Rattlers | Signed with the Rattlers on October 27, 2016 |
| DL | Brett Bowers | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on October 4, 2016, released February 20, 2017 |
| OL | Michael Boyefio | TBD | |
| DB | Robert Brown | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on August 22, 2016 |
| WR | Samuel Charles | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on August 23 |
| K | Patrick Clarke | Beijing Lions | Drafted in the 18th round of the China Arena Football League |
| QB | Charles Dowdell | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on August 23 |
| DB | Josh Ferguson | TBD | |
| OL | Kyle Fischer | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on September 1, 2016 |
| LB | Nick Haag | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on October 18, 2016 |
| WR | J. J. Hayes | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on August 23 |
| WR | Justin Helwege | Spokane Empire | |
| OL | Brandon Haskins | TBD | |
| DL | Toby Jackson | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on October 18, 2016 |
| DB | Adrian James | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on September 10, 2016 |
| RB | Trevor Kennedy | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on February 7, 2017 |
| OL | Dave Lefotu | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on September 10, 2016 |
| DL | C. J. Olaniyan | TBD | |
| DL | Ben Perry | TBD | |
| RB | Antonio Pierce | TBD | |
| DL | Michael Reynolds | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on August 12, released February February 21, 2017 |
| DB | Tyree Robinson | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on August 22 |
| DL | Donte Rumph | TBD | |
| DB | Cassius Sendish | TBD | |
| WR | Carl Sims | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on February 16, 2017 |
| OL | Mike Trice | TBD | |
| LB | Pasquale Vacchio | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on January 17, 2017 |
| DB | Lorenzo White | Spokane Empire | Re-signed on October 11, 2016, released February February 21, 2017 |

### Signings

| Position | Player | 2016 Team | Notes |
| OL | Sedrick Flowers | Rookie | Signed August 12, 2016, released February 20, 2017 |
| OL | Darren Pinnock | Rookie | Signed August 12, 2016 |
| QB | Austin Trainor | None | Signed August 12, 2016, released February 20, 2017 |
| DL | Rika Levi | Rookie | Signed August 13, 2016, released February 20, 2017 |
| OL | Jonah Austin | Rookie | Signed August 22, 2016 |
| OL | Larry Mazyck | Rookie | Signed August 23, 2016, released February 16, 2017 |
| DB | John Hardy-Tuliau | None | Signed August 23, 2016 |
| WR | Orlandus Harris | Bloomington Edge | Signed August 30, 2016 |
| LB | Andrew Jackson | None | Signed August 30, 2016 |
| WR | Thomas Shuler | None | Signed August 30, 2016, released February 16, 2017 |
| RB | Rob Brown | Tri-Cities Fever | Signed September 10, 2016, released February 21, 2017 |
| RB | Mulku Kalokoh | None | Signed September 10, 2016 |
| WR | Dejuan Miller | Tri-Cities Fever | Signed September 10, 2016 |
| OL | Siosifa Tufunga | Rookie | Signed September 22, 2016 |
| OL | James Atoe | Colorado Crush | Signed October 4, 2016 |
| DL | Royce LaFrance | None | Signed October 11, 2016 |
| DB | Norris Wrenn III | Billings Wolves | Signed October 11, 2016, released February February 21, 2017 |
| DL | Pat McNeil | Rookie | Signed October 15, 2016, released February 16, 2017 |
| QB | Aaron Wilmer | Rookie | Signed October 15, 2016 |
| OL | Bill Vavau | Colorado Crush | Signed October 24, 2016 |
| OL | Deveric Gallington | Portland Steel | Signed November 1, 2016 |
| DB | Stephen Godbolt | Tri-Cities Fever | Signed November 1, 2016, released February February 21, 2017 |
| DL | O. J. Mau | None | Signed November 11, 2016 |
| WR | Lamont Bryant | None | Signed January 24, 2017, released February February 20, 2017 |
| OL | Cassidy Curtis | None | Signed January 24, 2017, released February February 21, 2017 |
| DL | Junior Alexis | Rookie | Signed February 7, 2017 |
| OL | Mikingson Marsaille | Rookie | Signed February 7, 2017, released February 16, 2017 |
| WR | Devonn Brown | Rookie | Signed February 8, 2017 |
| DL | J. D. Griggs | Colorado Crush | Signed February 9, 2017 |
| DB | Malcolm Griggs | Rookie | Signed February 7, 2017, released February 16, 2017 |
| DL | Harold Love III | Dodge City Law | Signed February 16, 2017 |
| WR | Bryan Pray | Iowa Barnstormers | Signed February 16, 2017 |
| K | Craig Peterson | Tampa Bay Storm | Signed February 21, 2017 |
* Indicates that the player was a free agent at the end of his respective team's 2016 season.

## Schedule

Key:  Win  Tie  Loss  Bye

### Regular season

All start times are local time
| Week | Day | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | Results | Location | Attendance |
| Week | Day | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Score | Record | Location | Attendance |
| 1 | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE |
| 2 | Thursday | February 23 | 7:00pm | Green Bay Blizzard | W 34–31 | 1–0 | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena | |
| 3 | Friday | March 3 | 5:05pm | at Wichita Falls Nighthawks | L 56–57 (2OT) | 1–1 | Kay Yeager Coliseum | |
| 4 | Monday | March 13 | 6:00pm | at Salt Lake Screaming Eagles | W 41–35 | 2–1 | Maverik Center | 4,196 |
| 5 | Friday | March 17 | 5:00pm | at Colorado Crush | W 70–37 | 3–1 | Budweiser Events Center | |
| 6 | Friday | March 24 | 7:00pm | Salt Lake Screaming Eagles | W 53–36 | 4–1 | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena | |
| 7 | Saturday | April 1 | 7:00pm | Nebraska Danger | L 36–42 | 4–2 | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena | |
| 8 | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE |
| 9 | Friday | April 14 | 7:00pm | Colorado Crush | W 36–24 | 5–2 | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena | |
| 10 | Saturday | April 22 | 7:00pm | at Arizona Rattlers | W 60–51 | 6–2 | Talking Stick Resort Arena | 12,725 |
| 11 | Sunday | April 30 | 3:00pm | Salt Lake Screaming Eagles | W 31–29 | 7–2 | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena | |
| 12 | Saturday | May 6 | 5:05pm | at Sioux Falls Storm | L 32–62 | 7–3 | Denny Sanford Premier Center | |
| 13 | Friday | May 12 | 7:00pm | Arizona Rattlers | L 35–49 | 7–4 | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena | |
| 14 | Thursday | May 18 | 5:00pm | at Colorado Crush | L 36–45 | 7–5 | Budweiser Events Center | |
| 15 | Friday | May 26 | 7:00pm | Colorado Crush | W 48–43 | 8–5 | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena | |
| 16 | Saturday | June 3 | 7:00pm | Arizona Rattlers | L 16–33 | 8–6 | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena | |
| 17 | Friday | June 9 | 5:05pm | at Iowa Barnstormers | L 28–58 | 8–7 | Wells Fargo Arena | 7,153 |
| 18 | Friday | June 16 | 6:00pm | at Salt Lake Screaming Eagles | L 42–45 | 8–8 | Maverik Center | 4,581 |

#### Standings

2017 Intense Conference :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | CON | GB | STK |
| y - Arizona Rattlers | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 782 | 610 | 8–1 | — | W8 |
| x - Nebraska Danger | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 717 | 660 | 5–2 | 3.0 | W1 |
| Spokane Empire | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 654 | 677 | 7–5 | 4.0 | L3 |
| Salt Lake Screaming Eagles | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 675 | 762 | 4–8 | 7.0 | W1 |
| Colorado Crush | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 629 | 821 | 2–10 | 8.0 | L4 |