Post by DiamondThief on May 6, 2017 19:17:00 GMT -8
5/6/17 --
WICHITA FALLS, SD - At the outset, it appeared that the Spokane Empire might be able to pick up their first-ever win over the Sioux Falls Storm. Alas, it was not meant to be, as the Stormtook control in the first half and ran away in the second half.
In a rematch of the 2016 United Bowl, the Storm emerged with the 62-32 win tonight.
The Empire kicked off to start the game. Brendon Garcia's kick hit the turf near the 10 yard line, but bounced back where it was recovered by the Empire at the Storm 11 yard line. Spokane QB Charles Dowdell scored on a six-yard run and the Empire were ahead 7-0 just two and a half minutes into the game.
The Storm then reeled off three straight touchdowns, the first on a nine-yard run from QB Lorenzo Brown. They took the lead on Brown's 11-yard pass to Drew Powell, then increased their lead to 21-7 on Brown's one-yard run with 3:20 left in the first half.
Spokane cut the lead to 21-14 with 47 seconds left in the half when Dowdell found Samuel Charles for 12 yards. That would be the halftime score.
The Empire were stopped on the first drive of the third quarter. Sioux Falls took advantage, scoring on a five-yard run from Eric Shufford. Dowdell found Charles again, from 26 yards out, but Garcia's extra point attempt was wide to the left. Rolandan Finch put the Storm up 35-20 late in the third quarter when he scampered into the end zone from nine yards out.
Spokane showed some life early in the fourth quarter when Robert Brown intercepted Lorenzo Brown four yards deep in the end zone and returned the pick up the right sideline for the touchdown. The two-point conversion pass was intercepted and the Empire were down 35-26.
The Storm scored twice on runs from Shufford and Lorenzo Brown to essentially put the game away, then increased their lead to 56-26 on Tyler Knight's five-yard interception return.
Aaron Wilmer, in for Dowdell, found Charles on a 17-yard lob, but Claude Davis returned the ensuing onside kick eight yards for a touchdown.
The Storm outgained the Empire in total offense, 173 to 114, with a 127 to 16 yard advantage in the running game. The Storm also doubled the Empire in first downs, 20 to 10. Spokane was tagged for seven penalties for 48 yards to Sioux Falls' three penalties for 15 yards.
Lorenzo Brown completed four of eight passes for 49 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, and rushed 17 times for 70 yards and three scores. Robbie Rouse had eight rushes for 31 yards. Shufford scored on both of his rushing attempts. Jared Elmore, seeing his first action of the season for the Storm, caught three passes for 38 yards. Knight tallied 8.5 total tackles and 1.5 sacks to go along with his interception. Carlton Watkins also had an interception for the Storm.
Dowdell went eight of 19 for 84 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for a score. Wilmer completed three of his five attempts for 30 yards, a touchdown and a pick. Charles caught four passes for 63 yards and three touchdowns. Trevor Kennedy had five receptions for 31 yards. Andrew Jackson led the Empire defense with nine total tackles and a sack. Robert Brown and Tyree Robinson each had an interception.
The Storm (9-1) will visit the Green Bay Blizzard (2-9) on May 13 at 5:05 p.m. The Empire (7-3) will host the Arizona Rattlers (6-4) on May 12 for a 7 p.m. kickoff. All times are pacific time. Both of those games, as well as all of the leagues games this season are available for streaming on the IFL's Youtube channel.
- ANM
(Graphic courtesy SCtoC)
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