The San Diego Strike Force are heading to North Dakota after the bye week for their first game since April 16th. They'll take on the Bismarck Bucks in a non-conference matinee matchup. This will be the final game of San Diego's four game road-trip.

This is a big game for the Strike Force. We're about halfway through the regular season, and the team could potentially find themselves in the Western Conference playoff picture if they can come away with a victory against the 3-3 Bucks this week. A loss could put them multiple games out of a playoff spot, which would likely mean playing catch-up for the rest of the season. Here are the Keys to the Game.

Keys to the Game:

Shake off the Rust, Energy is a Must

Coming off of a bye week has its pros and cons. One of the cons is that the team has to get back into the swing of things and hasn't been exposed to game-speed football in a while. One great way to counteract that is to bring the extra energy that they will hopefully have after having some time to rest and recover. We have seen that this team plays hard from start to finish regardless of the week, but maybe coming into this one with the tank full will help them get off to a fast start. 

Strength of Schedule

The Strike Force have had a tough schedule to get through up to this point in the season. Out of five games played, four have been on the road, two have been against the best team in the league, and the other two were against the teams that currently sit at second and third in the Western Conference standings. Both of San Diego's games against teams with a losing record this season (Bay Area and Tucson) came down to the last play of the game, and they are .500 in those games.

 In short, the Strike Force have been competitive against the middle of the pack in the IFL. Bismarck is a well-rounded team, but they don't do anything on a top-tier level statistically like a number of San Diego's past opponents this season. While there's no doubt that Bismarck will still be a tough opponent, this will be an opportunity for San Diego to prove that they're not just here to participate in their first season as a new team. 

Fly Around

San Diego's passing game has been a bright spot for the offense as of late. They'll be facing a Bucks' defense this week that has allowed the second-most passing touchdowns in the league this season, as well as the third-most average passing yards per game. They've also only recorded two total sacks this season and allow an average of 7.2 yards per pass completed. Look for Strike Force quarterback Steve Cluley to throw the ball often and deep downfield. 

On the flip-side, San Diego's defense will once again be focused on slowing down a dual-threat quarterback. Bismarck's Jayru Campbell is capable of getting it done with both his arm and his legs. He's clearly more comfortable with the latter. Campbell is third in the league in total rushing yards and average rushing yards per game, and he's found the endzone six times on the ground this season. Campbell is a top ten quarterback in the IFL statistically, but the stat that stands out the most for him is not one QBs want: six interceptions this season, which is tied for the league lead. San Diego will also have to be ready for Bismarck's other signal caller Tahj Tolbert, who has appeared in four games and is among the league's leaders in passing stats as well. 

Dial Up the Pressure

While Bismarck has only recorded two sacks this season, the Strike Force have come up with zero. San Diego is tied for the most sacks allowed in the league with eight. Bismarck is tied for the second-most allowed with seven. With that in mind, expect both teams will dial up the pressure. However, if they do so, they have to be wary of the opposing quarterback taking off and running. The Strike Force will have to be especially alert with Campbell, but Bismarck can't just sell out on the pass rush. Cluley has shown that he can run when given the opportunity, even if he's more inclined to sit in the pocket. 

The game will be streamed live on the Indoor Football League's YouTube Channel. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:05 PM PT on Sunday, May 1.