Local Sports Report: Strike Force preps for playoff opener against familiar foe

The San Diego Strike Force won’t have to do much scouting to prepare for Monday’s Indoor Football League playoff opener.

The Strike Force will travel to Glendale, Ariz., to take on the Arizona Rattlers — the same team they beat 46-26 earlier this week in Oceanside.

Quarterback Nate Davis has been a consistent weapon all season and finished with 217 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday’s victory. San Diego’s defense came up with several key stops and even put points on the board thanks to Wallace Cowins’ 48-yard scoop-and-score fumble return in the second quarter.

The 26 points were the second fewest allowed by the Strike Force all season.

“Indoor football is obviously so offensive-driven, but many games come down to the team that can get those handful of big stops or defensive plays when they are really needed,” Davis said. “We have some playmakers over there, so it’s, ‘Hey, do your thing, get that ball back to us, and then it’s our job to put points on the board.’”

Monday’s playoff winner will face the winner of the other Western Conference semifinal between the Vegas Knight Hawks and Bay Area Panthers. All IFL playoff games will stream live at iflnetwork.com.

Ballo impresses in boxing debut

San Diego’s Julius Ballo showed why he is considered one of the rising young talents in American boxing. The El Cajon native posted an impressive unanimous-decision, four-round defeat of Brandan Ayala last Saturday in his professional debut at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

A spokesperson for Top Rank said the plan is to have Ballo fight in San Diego in the near future.

The 22-year old Ballo was scheduled to make his pro debut at Sycuan Casino last March but suffered a hand injury in training.

Notable

The San Diego Seals of the National Lacrosse League have re-signed defenseman Danny Logan to a three-year contract. Logan scored four goals, had five assists and scooped up 119 loose balls while appearing in 19 games last season.

• The San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League will open the 2025-26 season Oct. 10 at Coachella Valley, with the home opener coming Oct. 18 against Henderson at Pechanga Arena. The team also recently announced the re-signing of goalie Calle Clung.