Game Preview: Green Bay Blizzard at Jacksonville Sharks | July 26, 2026
Welcome to Week 20 of the IFL; the final week of the regular season. The very last game of the season takes place in Duval County when the Green Bay Blizzard (13-2) take on the Jacksonville Sharks (10-5). These two teams currently sit at the top of the Eastern Conference. Green Bay has already clinched the #1 seed. Meanwhile, the Sharks are still on the hunt for the #2 seed, which would guarantee them a home playoff game. Kickoff for this game is on Sunday, July 26th at 6:35 PM CDT.
Green Bay is coming off their fourth and final bye week. Prior to the bye, the Blizzard defeated the Iowa Barnstormers 65-21 in Week 18 to lock up the #1 seed with their 13th win. The Blizzard scored on the game's first possession and never relinquished the lead.
Jacksonville began the season 1-1, then rattled off eight straight wins. After briefly sitting atop the Eastern Conference, they went on a four-game losing slide until finally finding the "win" column again last week by defeating the Iowa Barnstormers 43-7.
The Green Bay-Jacksonville series is relatively new as Jacksonville joined the IFL in 2024. Green Bay currently holds the early advantage, winning four of the five games. One of those wins came earlier this season when Green Bay handed the Sharks just their second loss of the season back on June 12th, beginning Jacksonville's four-game losing streak.
If the Blizzard want to spoil Jacksonville's chances at the #2 seed, then there are a few key players Green Bay needs to hold in check. The Sharks have a premier playmaker in RB Jimmie Robinson Jr. Among running backs, he has the third most rushing yards (467) and has scored the most rushing touchdowns (24) by any ball carrier. Robinson Jr. is also a threat in the pass game. He is third in the league in receptions (67) and has the team lead in receiving yards (611). And he's not done there. He also returns kicks. In 25 returns, he has yet to take one the distance; he does have the fourth-highest average yardage on returns (18.2). Robinson Jr. is someone Blizzard defenders and special teamers will need to be aware of anytime he touches the turf. The Sharks also have two DB's that can wrap up ball carriers and defend the perimeter: John Huggins and Clay Fields III. Huggins is third in total tackles (92) and Fields is seventh (83). Fields shares second with forced fumbles (3) and also has three interceptions on the year as well, while Huggins has four interceptions. Fields sits in fourth for pass breakups (14), and Huggins is sixth (11). The Sharks also have DL Chris Rice, who clogs running lanes and tackles runners behind the line. Rice sits tenth in total tackles (73) and fourth in tackles-for-loss (13.5). The duo of DB's and the immovable object in the middle are forces that Green Bay's offense will need to solve if they want to maintain their potent offensive attack, as Jacksonville allows the third fewest points per game.
There are so many Blizzard players to have your sights set on if you are the Sharks. How can you not talk about the impressive play of QB Liam Thompson? He is fifth in passing yards (2,132) and passing touchdowns (47), second in efficiency (179.3), and he has the second-best TD/INT ratio with nearly an 8:1 ratio. However, Thompson does not just get things done through the air- he does it with his legs as well. Thompson is fourth in rushing yards (564) and second in rushing touchdowns (20). That is 67 total touchdowns. Running backs Demilon Brown and Kairee Robinson have both appeared in eight games this season, and Robinson has won IFL Offensive Player of the Week twice. While he does not have the season-long stats, he and Brown certainly have the performances and accolades to wreak havoc. Wide receiver Trevon Alexander may not have flashy stats, and part of that is the stellar WR room Green Bay possesses, but Alexander finds the endzone. He has 15 receiving touchdowns along with 38 receptions; nearly every other reception he finds his way in for six! The same is true for his rushing stats: 17 total rushes and eight rushing touchdowns. Offensive linemen Jaime Navarro, Dakota White, Liam Wortmann II, Raheem Anderson II, and Andrew Carter as a unit have only surrendered eight sacks all season (about one every other game). Defensive lineman Jonathan Ross sheds blocks and takes down ball carriers in backfields with his league-leading 16.5 tackles-for-loss. Defensive back Marcus Hillman and defensive lineman Ja'Quon Griffin find every loose football as they both have a share of first for fumble recoveries with four apiece. Lastly, how do you stop K Andrew Mevis? He has been on a tear, winning back-to-back IFL Special Teams Player of the Week honors. The Blizzard roster is stacked with talent, and while we do not have insight as to who may play with this matchup not possessing playoff implications for Green Bay, the Sharks will still have players at all position groups to manage to split the season series.
It is difficult to anticipate the Blizzard mindset going into this game. Will Head Coach Corey Roberson and the staff look to sit players and limit snaps? Or go full tilt with only bragging rights on the line and a chance at the franchise's 14th win of the season, which would be a franchise record. Will Jacksonville come out swinging with the #2 seed up for grabs? How will the outcome of some other Eastern Conference matchups this weekend alter the mindset for this game? Be part of the watch party action and find out for yourself (alongside Blizzard staff) at Replay Sports Bar on 7/26. Kickoff is set for 6:30 PM CDT. The game will be streamed on Yahoo! Sports.
Written by: Tyler Klackner