DES MOINES, Iowa – Travis Partridge threw five touchdown passes and the Iowa Barnstormers never trailed, convincingly beating the Spokane Empire 58-28 on Friday in Indoor Football League action. Partridge was 9 of 19 for 186 yards, with two interceptions, for Iowa (13-2). He also rushed for 88 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns.

The Spokane Empire will have a quarterback when the offense lines up against red-hot Iowa on Friday. But the Indoor Football League team isn’t quite ready to announce whether it will be Aaron Wilmer or Marcus McDade.

Three weeks later with a new quarterback, running back and center, Spokane still couldn’t solve Arizona’s defense.

The third meeting between Spokane and Arizona on Saturday at the Arena will shape both Indoor Football League teams’ postseason plans.

The Spokane Empire really needed this one. So did their coach. Spokane held off Colorado 48-43 on Friday at the Arena, ending a three-game Indoor Football League losing streak. “I’m a pretty humble guy but I’ve never lost three in a row,” coach Adam Shackleford said.

A three-game losing streak has damaged the Spokane Empire’s once glossy record and their standing in the Indoor Football League playoff chase.

Daniel Lindsey returned a fourth-quarter kickoff 45 yards for a touchdown and the Colorado Crush beat the Spokane Empire 45-36 in Indoor Football League action in Loveland, Colorado, on Thursday.

It’s good timing to play the last-place team in the Intense Conference. It’s not good timing to play on a short week.

The line of scrimmage usually tells the story of football games at any level. It certainly did in Arizona’s 49-35 Indoor Football League win over the Spokane Empire on Friday at the Arena.

Feels a little like the old days.

Nick Haag is getting another shot in the NFL and he made Spokane Empire history along the way.