2022 National Arena League season

Last updated

2022 NAL season
NAL Logo.png
League National Arena League
Sport Indoor American football
Number of teams6
Regular season
Season champions Albany Empire
2022 NAL Championship
ChampionsAlbany Empire
  Runners-up Carolina Cobras
NAL seasons
← 2021

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]

Contents

Ironman football

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

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
TeamsLocationArenaCapacityFoundedJoinedHead Coach
Albany Empire Albany, New York MVP Arena [12] 13,000 [13] 20202021Tom Menas
Carolina Cobras Greensboro, North Carolina [14] Greensboro Coliseum Complex [15] [16] 5,000 [15] 2018 [16] 2018Josh Resignalo
Columbus Lions Columbus, Georgia Columbus Civic Center [17] 10,00020062017Jason Gibson
Jacksonville Sharks Jacksonville, Florida VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena [18] 15,00020092017 Siaha Burley
Orlando Predators Orlando, Florida Amway Center 20,00020192019Jeff Higgins
San Antonio Gunslingers San Antonio, Texas Freeman Coliseum [19] 11,70020202021 [20] Fred Shaw [21]

Reference for teams in 2022: [22]

Standings

2022 National Arena League Standings
TeamWinLossPCTPFPASTK
z – Albany Empire 84.667717619W4
y – Carolina Cobras 95.643725676W1
x – Columbus Lions 75.583576554W3
x – Jacksonville Sharks 77.500707663L2
e – San Antonio Gunslingers 48.333647720L1
e – Orlando Predators 39.250492632L6

z – clinched home field advantage

y – clinched home playoff game

e – eliminated from playoffs

Reference: [3] [7]

Playoffs

Semifinal 2022 NAL Championship
      
1Albany Empire68
4 Jacksonville Sharks 67
1Albany Empire47
2 Carolina Cobras 20
2Carolina Cobras65
3 Columbus Lions 51

Reference: [3] [4] [23] [24]

Controversies

Awards

Players of the Week

Players of the Week throughout the 2022 NAL Season
WeeksOffensive Player of the WeekDefensive Player of the WeekSpecial Team Player of the WeekIronman Player of the Week
1 Devin Wilson, Jacksonville SharksWalter Thomas, Carolina Cobras Darius Prince, Albany Empire (1/4)Jarmon Fortson, Columbus Lions
2Sam Castronova, Albany Empire (1/3)Rob Jones, Jacksonville SharksMarc Orozco, Albany Empire (1/3)Darius Prince, Albany Empire (2/4)
3Darius 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 SharksKwan Stallworth, Jacksonville Sharks TC Stevens, Carolina Cobras (1/3)Miles Kelly, Jacksonville Sharks
5Darius 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 PredatorsDroell Greene, Columbus LionsCody Barber, Jacksonville SharksAnthony Johnson, Jacksonville Sharks
7 Arvell Nelson, Jacksonville SharksRodney Hall Jr., Columbus LionsTC Stevens, Carolina Cobras (2/3)Zack Brown, Carolina Cobras (2/2)
8 Robert Kent, San Antonio Gunslingers (1/2)Kenny Starks, Columbus LionsDarien Townsend, Columbus Lions (1/2)Darien Townsend, Columbus Lions (2/2)
9Robert Kent, San Antonio Gunslingers (2/2)Droell Greene, Columbus LionsDaniel Justino, Orlando Predators Kendrick Ings, Carolina Cobras
10Sam Castronova, Albany Empire (2/3) Marvin Ross, Albany EmpireDrew Pearson, San Antonio GunslingersTrevon Shorts, Albany Empire
11Sam Castronova, Albany Empire (3/3)Joshua Jenkins, Orlando PredatorsTC Stevens, Carolina Cobras (3/3)DJ Myers, Carolina Cobras
12 Mason Espinosa, Columbus Lions Maurice Leggett, Columbus LionsNick Belcher, Orlando PredatorsKamrin Solomon, Jacksonville Sharks

Reference: [28] [29]

The 2022 All-National Arena League Team

2022 All-NAL Second Team

Offense
PositionPlayerTeamFormer PotW awards
QB Robert KentSan Antonio GunslingersBack-to-back 2022 Offensive Player of the Week.
FB Pierre TurnerSan Antonio Gunslingers
WR Khali RashaadSan Antonio Gunslingers
WRDJ MyersCarolina Cobras
WR Phillip Barnett San Antonio Gunslingers
OL Dashawn JohnsonCarolina Cobras
OLBrandon TurnerColumbus Lions
C Melvin HollinsAlbany Empire
Defense
PositionPlayerTeamFormer PotW awards
ML Zack BrownCarolina CobrasTwo time 2022 Ironman Player of the Week.
WL Trevon ShortsAlbany Empire2022 Ironman Player of the Week.
DB Delvon Randall Orlando Predators
DB Maurice Leggett Orlando Predators
DBDroell GreenColumbus Lions
DE Chei HillJacksonville Sharks
DE Larry Ford Carolina Cobras
DT Kwan StallworthJacksonville Sharks
Special Teams
PositionPlayerTeamFormer PotW awards
K Marc OrzocoAlbany EmpireThree time 2022 Special Team Player of the Week.
KR Darien TownsendColumbus Lions

Reference: [30]

2022 All-NAL First Team

Offense
PositionPlayerTeamFormer PotW awards
QBSam CastronovaAlbany EmpireThree time 2022 Offensive Player of the Week.
FBZack BrownCarolina CobrasTwo time 2022 Ironman Player of the Week.
WRDarius PrinceAlbany EmpireTwo 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
WRDarien TownsendColumbus Lions2022 Special Teams Player of the Week, 2022 Ironman Player of the Week.
OLCornelius LewisAlbany Empire
OLFaleoga RussellJacksonville Sharks
CDerrick ZeiglerCarolina Cobras
Defense
PositionPlayerTeamFormer PotW awards
MLKerry StarksColumbus Lions
WLDJ MyersCarolina Cobras2022 Ironman Player of the Week
DBJosh JenkinsOrlando Predators
DBMarkus SmithJacksonville Sharks
DBDwayne HollisAlbany Empire2022 Ironman Player of the Week
DEKen WashingtonColumbus Lions
DEJustin AlexandreSan Antonio Gunslingers
DTWalter ThomasCarolina Cobras2022 Defensive Player of the Week
Special Teams
PositionPlayerTeamFormer PotW awards
KTC StevensCarolina CobrasThree time 2022 Special Teams Player of the Week
KRKali RashaadSan Antonio Gunslingers

Reference: [31]

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References

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

See also

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