2008–2009 Israel Football League season explained

2008–2009 IFL season
League:Israel Football League
Sport:American football
Season:Regular season
Mvp:Asaf Katz
Finals:Israel Bowl II
Finals Champ:Modi'in Pioneers
Finals Runner-Up:Jerusalem Lions
Finals Mvp:Asaf Katz
Seasonslist:List of Israel Football League seasons
Seasonslistnames:IFL
Prevseason Link:2007–2008 Israel Football League season
Prevseason Year:2007–2008
Nextseason Link:2009–2010 Israel Football League season
Nextseason Year:2009–2010

The 2008–2009 Israel Football League season was the second season of the Israel Football League (IFL). This was the first season under the IFL's new sponsorship agreement with the Kraft Family, which re-branded itself as the Kraft Family Israel Football League.[1] This was also the inaugural season for both the Jerusalem Kings expansion team and the Pioneers' in their new home of Modi'in after relocating from HaSharon in the off-season.[2] [3] The season concluded with the Modi'in Pioneers defeating the Jerusalem Lions, 32-26 in double overtime, in Israel Bowl II.[4]

Regular season

The regular season began in November 2008 and consisted of an eight game schedule, with each team playing the others twice during the season. The top four teams at the end of the regular season (Pioneers, Underdogs, Lions and Kings) qualified for the playoffs, with the Kings edging out the Sabres through the IFL points tie-breaker system.[5] [6]

Playoffs

The semifinals saw the Pioneers defeat the Kings and the Lions upset the Underdogs to set up a match-up between the Pioneers and Lions in Israel Bowl II, which took place on April 3, 2009, at Kraft Family Stadium.[7] Asaf Katz earned Israel Bowl MVP honors for the champion Modi'in Pioneers, who won in double overtime 32-26.[8]

* Indicates overtime victory

Awards

Notes and References

  1. News: Tackle Football: NFL's Kraft family teams up with IFL. The Jerusalem Post JPost.com. 2018-05-30.
  2. News: IFL: Big Blue gets costly opening win. The Jerusalem Post JPost.com. 2018-05-31.
  3. News: Games We Play: IFL season opens in Modi'in. The Jerusalem Post JPost.com. 2018-05-31.
  4. News: Football / IFL / Pioneers Capture Israel Bowl II in Double Overtime Thriller. 2009-04-10. Haaretz. 2018-05-30. en.
  5. News: Football / IFL / Lions Deal Sabres Knockout Blow. 2009-03-27. Haaretz. 2018-05-31. en.
  6. News: Israel Football League: Big Blue ends Sabres' season, gives Kings a shot. The Jerusalem Post JPost.com. 2018-05-31.
  7. News: IFL: Lions, Pioneers to clash in Israel Bowl II on Friday. The Jerusalem Post JPost.com. 2018-05-31.
  8. News: Season Awards פרסי עונת 2008-2009 - IFL. IFL. 2018-05-31. he-IL.