Eastman Wins MVP, Zamir Wins Special Teams Player-of-the-Year

The IFL Award Banquet for the 2012-2013 season took place this evening at Jem's Beer Factory in Petach Tikva, and two Rebels won awards: Dani Eastman won the MVP award, and Liran Zamir won the Special Teams Player-of-the-Year award.

Eastman became the first player in IFL history to be named All-IFL First Team in three different positions in the same season: wide receiver, defensive back and return specialist. Zamir was the All-IFL First Team kicker, and Uria Loberbom made First Team All-IFL at defensive tackle.

Other award winners:Hasharon Hammers' Gilad Shoham won Defensive Player-of-the-Year and the Sabres' Adi Hakami won Offensive Player-of-the-Year. The Hammers' Jordan Curran won Offensive Rookie-of-the-Year and Mor Kalomiti of the Petach Tikva Troopers won Defensive Player-of-the-Year. The Hammers' coaching staff, led by Ady Totah, won Coaching-Staff-of-the-Year.

Joining Eastman on the First Team offense were: The Sabres' QB Hakami, G Jack Randolph, RB Brandon McDougald and WR Jonathan Curran.The  Pioneers' C Tal Mordoch and G Eyal Cimet. The Hammers' TE Nick Zhiharev and Beersheva Black Swarm RB Zac Labby.

Second Team offense consisted of the Sabres' RB Cory Zinker and G Saud Kassas, Pioneers' QB Ronny Moscona, Jerusalem Lions' TE Shmuel Halpern and WRs Binyamin Schultz and Ori Refaelowitz, Haifa Underdogs' C Alan Hearn, and Jerusalem Kings' RB Jordan Guin.

Joining Eastman and Loberbom on the First Team defense were Sabres' DE/OLB Adam Zinker, LB Ryan Michael and DB Banning Fudge, Hammers' DE Gilad Shoham and DT Lior Goldberg, and Pioneers' LB Asaf Katz and DB Sagan Zavelo.

Second defense included: Sabres' DT Mohamed Yatim, Pioneers' DT Georges Bouaziz and DB Lewie Duker, Underdogs' LB Tim Kelly, Kings' LB Ami Notis, Lions' DE Yoni Cooper, Hammers' DB Keith Noble, and Northern Stars' DB Yuval Fisher.

Besides Zamir and Eastman, the other First Team specialist was Hammers' P Tomer Levi.

Second Team specialists were Underdogs' K Alex Primak, Kings' P Ari Wajsbort, and Pioneers' RS Elan Neiger.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Kozo Kicking It Up at Prokicker Camp

Rebels K/P is having a blast at Prokicker camps in the U.S.

Read more.

Rebels 2012-2013 Highlights

The Judean Rebels proudly present their 2012-2013 highlight film.

Thank you to Ehud Sharon for the editing, and to Pavel Arshavsky and to the Rebels game-filmers for the raw material.

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Judean Rebels Deny Rumors of Possible Tim Tebow Signing

Press Release 025/2013

Judean Rebels Deny Rumors of Possible Tim Tebow Signing
May 2, Jerusalem

Today, the Talpion Judean Rebels wish to clarify that recent rumors concerning Mr. Tebow landing with the franchise are without basis. No contact was made  by Mr. Tebow's side, nor has the organization approached Mr. Tebow.

The Judean Rebels, based in Israel's capital Jerusalem, have played in the Israel Football League since 2009. Sponsored by the Kraft family, the IFL was established in 2007. Since joining the IFL, the Rebels qualified for the  playoffs every single year. In 2011, they won the Israel Bowl to become national champions. That year, they were led by QB Alex Swieca - now a sophomore walk-on for the Michigan Wolverines. The Rebels made another recent (2013) Israel Bowl appearance.

This franchise is determined to continue competing at the highest levels. In the present circumstances, it does not look like Mr. Tebow would be the right fit for the Rebels. We have full confidence in our guy under center and happy with our depth at quarterback. Obviously, Mr. Tebow's kind of talent is something many teams should be interested in. We understand why Mr. Tebow should feel, given his history, a special connection to Jerusalem or want to come back to the Holy Land. But it is not up to us to comment on the nature of Mr. Tebow's interest or on his career development. At the moment, the Rebels' needs and requirements are elsewhere. We wish Mr. Tebow all the best in his career.

P.S. In case you haven't realized it until now, it's a joke. Mr. Tebow is more than welcome in the Holy Land, and we think that Mr. Tebow might be able to challenge for a roster spot ;-).

Rebels Beat the Heat (and the Pioneers) to Reach Israel Bowl

The heat was on Friday morning as temperatures climbed well above 95 degrees Fahrenheit in Tel Aviv. The Rebels came into the game as definite underdogs (#5 seed vs. #2), looking to continue ther Cinderella run after knocking off the 4th-seeded Lions in the quarterfinals.

The Pioneers scored first but couldn't convert the 2-pointer, and the Rebels replied immediately with Dani Eastman's TD strike to Jaymes Kine, which was subsequently converted for an 8-6 orange lead. The Pios replied with a scoring drive of their own, and Eastman lead the troops right back down and hit Kine again to tie the game at 14. After the Pios scored again, Eastman was picked off by former Rebel Lew Duker, but the Pios weren't able to convert before halftime, and the score at the much-needed water-gatorade-and-popsicle halftime break was 20-14, blue.

Despite penalties on three straight plays to start the 2nd half (helmet-to-helmet against an O-lineman? Seriously?), the Rebel O drove down the field, and Eastman hit veteran Shai Brill for his first career offensive TD, which was converted for a short-lived 2-point Rebel lead. The Rebel D forced a turnover on downs on the Pios' next drive, but the Pio D answered in turn, and a bad snap on the punt attempt put the hosts in prime position to score again, which they promptly did to go ahead 26-22. The back-and-forth continued as the Rebels drove the field again, and this time Eastman took it in himself for a 30-26 lead. The ping-pong continued into the fourth and final frame, as a Pioneers' score was answered by another Eastman rushing TD, which gave the Pioneers the ball with about 4 minutes to go and the score 38-34, orange.

The Pioneers started driving, but just after they crossed midfield, linebacker Dudu Eliraz picked off Pios' QB Ronny Moscona to give the Rebels the ball with 2 minutes to go, while holding a four-point lead. Eastman scrambled for whatever first downs were necessary, and then kneeled out the clock to set off the celebrations.

The Rebels would like to thank all of the fans who came out to the game, and especially superfans Debbie Karmel, Shosh Miskin, Miki Gorodetzer and Ariel Forman who worked very hard to keep all of our boys hydrated.

Israel Bowl VI will take place on Friday, 12 noon at Kraft Stadium in Jerusalem, pitting the Rebels against the undefeated defending champion Tel Aviv Sabres. The game will be broadcast live on Israeli cable TV channel ONE, and on the radio at www.isn.co.il. A taped version will be broadcast in the States on JLTV, most probably on Sunday the 24th. Go Rebels!