Arena football: Slumping Outlaws have shot at redemption in APFL playoffs

As the adage goes, there’s no use crying over spilled milk.

That’s the attitude of the Mid-Missouri Outlaws, not even a week removed from forfeiting a game in which they led 35-15 late in the second half because of concerns of injuries and further ejections (center Clint Wehrman and linebacker Ricky Mahaney were thrown out of Saturday’s game at the Springfield WolfPack).

With an American Professional Football League semifinal date with the two-time defending champion Iowa Blackhawks, the Outlaws can’t afford to dwell on a contest that had no bearing on the playoff seedings.

“We’ve moved on and we’re fully prepared for Iowa,” Mid-Missouri quarterback Kyle Middleton said.

In a turbulent season marred by injuries, a four-game losing streak and the program’s first sub-.500 regular-season campaign in five seasons, the 5-6 Outlaws have a chance to undo all of the drama.

The third-seeded Outlaws will travel Saturday to Council Bluffs, Iowa, for a 7 p.m. rematch of last year’s APFL title game. The victor will then play the winner of the other semifinal between the top-seeded and undefeated Sioux City Bandits and the 5-6 Kansas Koyotes.

Redemption will be the theme of Saturday’s contest considering the Outlaws lost a 31-28 overtime heartbreaker to the Blackhawks in last year’s title game.

“Our whole goal is to go to Iowa and win,” Middleton said. “They beat us out of a championship last year, so revenge is on our mind.”

That wasn’t the only down-to-the-wire contest in a series defined by late, game-winning drives and goal-line stands.

With the Blackhawks leading the all-time series 4-3, five of the seven meetings have been decided on the final play.

Asked if that’s a measure of how evenly matched the teams are, Middleton replied, “They do a lot of the same stuff we do. They’re very athletic, very physical and definitely a team we match up very similarly to.”

According to Middleton, that means there’s little room for error.

“We can’t dig ourselves an early hole and fall behind,” the fifth-year quarterback said. “And that’s on me. I have to rally our offense and get the job done.

“We can’t afford to let them dictate what we do offensively and defensively. We have to play our game.”

And lately, that’s been a vertical game. Aided by the resurgence of a ground attack featuring a healthy Marcus James — three touchdowns in his return last week — and a bruising Moa Palepale, the passing game has benefited from Middleton’s comfort in the pocket.

With his offensive line creating space and time and Darryl Madry emerging as one of the best receivers in the league, earning the “superstar” moniker from his quarterback, Middleton has thrown for 38 touchdowns compared to 15 interceptions this season.

“We feel very confident,” Middleton said. “With everybody healthy and Moa Palepale in the backfield and Madry, (Aaron) Luebbe and Marcus as weapons, we fully expect to win.”

Notes: The Outlaws have appealed the one-game suspension — mandatory after an ejection — of Wehrman and Mahaney and are waiting to hear back from the league.