Week 1 -Barnstormers put away Blizzard in 4th quarter, 41-20
Feb 25, 2018 15:39:50 GMT -8
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Post by DiamondThief on Feb 25, 2018 15:39:50 GMT -8
2/25/18 --
The Iowa Barnstormers scored 21 fourth quarter points and held off the Green Bay Blizzard to capture the season opener between the teams, 41-20.
After a strong defensive stand by the Blizzard defense on thh Barnstormers' first possession if the game, which included a fourth down sack of quarterback Drew Powell, Green Bay went up 3-0 on a 26-yard field goal from Jeff Budzien. Powell drove Iowa downfield and into the red zone when Donavan Williams scampered in from four yards out to put the Barnstormers up 7-3. The Blizzard stormed back to take the lead on quarterback Christian Lemay's 20-yard scramble with 2:52 left in the first. The Blizzard led 10-7 after the opening quarter.
Iowa struck back early in the fourth on Powell's 12-yard strike to wide receiver Johnathan Duarte. Budzien pulled the Blizzard to within a point on a 43-yard field goal with 9:44 left in the second. The Barnstormers extended their lead to 20-13 on a pair of field goals from Cody Barber, including a 30-yarder as time expired in the half.
After intercepting Lamay on Green Bay's first drive of the third quarter, the Barnstormers failed to capitalize, surrendering the ball on downs. Budzien missed a field goal, giving Iowa the ball at their own five yard line. Neither team scored in the third quarter and the score remained 20-13 in favor of Iowa, heading into the fourth.
Balentine's diving one-handed catch put the Barnstormers up 27-13 with just over 12 minutes to go in the fourth. A minute later, the Blizzard answered on Lemay's teardrop pass to Chris Malott of 20 yards. Wide receiver Brady Roland's leaping catch from 10 yards out put the Barnstormers back up by 14 with 6:18 left in the game. The Barnstormers iced it when Powell found Balentine for 31 yards with just under two minutes left. Iowa led 41-20.
Each team was flagged for just four accepted penalties. The large disparity offensively was the Barnstormers' 190 passing yards to the Blizzards' 21. Green Bay, however, did out rush Iowa 99 to 63 yards. Iowa doubled the Blizzard in first downs gained 19 to 9.
Powell shook off some early uncertainty to finish 20 of 26 for 208 with 4 touchdowns, while rushing 13 times for 48 yards. Balentine caught 10 passes for 119 yards and two scores, and Roland recorded 6 receptions for 62 yards and a score. Zachary Allen had 12 total tackles to lead the Barnstormers. Keith Jones Jr. recorded a sack, and Bryce Enyard had an interception.
Lemay struggled in his first start, completing just 4 of 13 passes for 28 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He was efficient running th ball, gaining 32 yards on 6 rushes and a touchdown. Running back Jason Oden Jr. rushed 16 times for 51 yards, and Malott had 3 grabs for 28 yards and a score. Hill led Blizzard tacklers with 9.5 total takedowns. Josh Francis and Robert Metz each had a sack on Powell.
The official attendance was announced at over 5,800 at the Resch Center in Green Bay.
The Barnstormers (1-0) have a week 2 bye. They will be back in action on March 10 when they host the Arizona Rattlers at 5:05 p.m. (PT). The Blizzard (0-1) are in action next week when they visit the Cedar Rapids Titans at 4:05 p.m. (PT).
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL's Official YouTube Channel. SCtoC will present previews of those, and all, games this season.
- ANM
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