Post by DiamondThief on Jun 8, 2018 19:45:07 GMT -8
FINAL - Storm 51, Barnstormers 49
Barnstormers RB Donavan Williams rushed for two TDs in Iowa's 51-49 loss to the Storm.
(Photo by Adam Lamprecht/SCtoC)
(Photo by Adam Lamprecht/SCtoC)
6/8/18 --
SIOUX FALLS, SD - In the most unusual ending of any game this season, the Sioux Falls Storm scored a safety on the game's final play and emerged with a 51-49 win over the Iowa Barnstormers tonight at the Denny Sanford Premiere Center.
With the game tied with five seconds remaining in regulation, the Barnstormers' elected to try a 50-yard field goal for the win. The Storm blocked the kick and in the mad scramble for the ball, it went into the Iowa end zone and was recovered by Donavan Williams of the Barnstormers. The result was the safety which proved to be the game winner.
Sioux Falls was behind by 18 points heading into the final quarter, but rallied to tie the game with with 13 seconds on a two-yard stretch by quarterback Lorenzo Brown, Jr. Brown's two-point conversion pass to Damien Ford was good and brought the game into the 49-49 tie.
The win muddied the waters of the Indoor Football League playoffs. The Barnstormers could have earned home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win. The result creates a three-way tie between the Barnstormers, Storm and Arizona Rattlers. All three teams stand at 10-3. The tiebreakers in such an event of three teams locked together has not been released by the IFL. The Storm win the season series over the Barnstormers, 2-1. The Barnstormers swept the Rattlers, 3-0, while the Rattlers swept the Storm, 2-0.
Two of these three teams will earn home field advantage in the first round the playoffs (a.k.a the semifinals). If a three-way tiebreaker comes down to collective records in matchups involving the three teams, the Barnstormers would stand first at 4-2, while the Storm and Rattlers would each be 2-5. All three teams go into the final week of the season facing teams with sub-.500 records. Should one or more of them be upset in week 17, the mud in the playoff waters could become much clearer.
With the game tied with five seconds remaining in regulation, the Barnstormers' elected to try a 50-yard field goal for the win. The Storm blocked the kick and in the mad scramble for the ball, it went into the Iowa end zone and was recovered by Donavan Williams of the Barnstormers. The result was the safety which proved to be the game winner.
Sioux Falls was behind by 18 points heading into the final quarter, but rallied to tie the game with with 13 seconds on a two-yard stretch by quarterback Lorenzo Brown, Jr. Brown's two-point conversion pass to Damien Ford was good and brought the game into the 49-49 tie.
The win muddied the waters of the Indoor Football League playoffs. The Barnstormers could have earned home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win. The result creates a three-way tie between the Barnstormers, Storm and Arizona Rattlers. All three teams stand at 10-3. The tiebreakers in such an event of three teams locked together has not been released by the IFL. The Storm win the season series over the Barnstormers, 2-1. The Barnstormers swept the Rattlers, 3-0, while the Rattlers swept the Storm, 2-0.
Two of these three teams will earn home field advantage in the first round the playoffs (a.k.a the semifinals). If a three-way tiebreaker comes down to collective records in matchups involving the three teams, the Barnstormers would stand first at 4-2, while the Storm and Rattlers would each be 2-5. All three teams go into the final week of the season facing teams with sub-.500 records. Should one or more of them be upset in week 17, the mud in the playoff waters could become much clearer.
Iowa went up 20-14 with 13:17 left in the second quarter on a five-yard run from Donavan Williams. The Storm re-took a one-point lead on Brown's run of two yards, and they went up 28-20 at the 7:56 mark of the second quarter on Brown's 26-yard touchdown pass to Judd Harrold. The Barnstormers pulled to within 28-26 nearly four minutes later on a four-yard pass from Powell to Roland. On the ensuing kickoff, Damond Powell, while trying to escape the coverage, was tripped up in the end zone for a safety which knotted the score at 28-28. Williams' three-yard run put the Barnstormers up 35-38 with 15 seconds remaining in the quarter. That would remain the score through intermission.
Miles Bergner hit a 25-yard field goal to make the score 35-31 early in the third quarter. The Barnstormers came right back with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Drew Powell to Skyler Scott. Iowa took a 49-31 lead with 3:06 left in the third. With the Storm driving, Barnstormers' defensive back Tyrell Pearson intercepted Brown in the end zone, stepped out and stepped back in before going down in the end zone, resulting in a safety for the Storm. The Barnstormers led 49-33 at the end of three quarters.
Brown scored on a one-yard run with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter, and hit Damond Powell for the two-point conversion to bring the Storm to within 49-41, which would later set up Brown's one-yard run and two-point conversion pass to a wide open Ford to tie the game in its final seconds.
Sioux Falls outscored Iowa 20-0 in the final 16:02 of the contest.
The Storm outgained the Barnstormers in total yards, 296 to 234, including a 259 yards to 166 in the passing game. The Barnstormers held the edge on the ground 68 yards to 37. Sioux Falls overcame a total of four turnovers (three interceptions and a lost fumble), while Iowa lost just a fumble. The Storm were penalized five times for 24 yards and the Barnstormers were flagged four times for 40 yards.
Brown completed 16 of 28 passes for 259 yards with three touchdowns, but he tossed a trio of interceptions. He also rushed 10 times for 32 yards and three scores. Ford finished with a career high of 165 yards on seven catches and 2 touchdowns. Judd Harrold caught 5 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. Trey Wafford, Lorenzo White, Jr. and Dezmin Reed each had 7.5 total tackles for the Storm defense. Wafford recovered a fumble, which he also forced.
Drew Powell went an impressive 17 of 19 passing for 166 yards and 5 touchdowns. Powell also rushed 15 times for 48 yards. Williams carried just 6 times for 13 yards, but rushed for a pair of touchdowns. Roland had one of his better games of the season with 8 grabs for 70 yards and 3 scores. Ryan Balentine finished with 5 catches for 49 yards and a touchdown, while Scott had 4 receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. Week 15's Defensive Player of the Week Jourdan Wickliffe led the Storm defense with 6.5 total tackles and a fumble recovery. Tyrell Pearson intercepted Brown twice, and could have had a third, but it was called back due to a procedure defense against the Barnstormers' defense. Jeremy Gloston recorded an interception.
The Barnstormers close out their regular season with a home date against in-state rival Cedar Rapids Titans on June 16. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. pacific (7:05 p.m. central). The Storm also will be at home as they host the Green Bay Blizzard on June 16 with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m. pacific (7:05 p.m.).
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. Those previews will be posted on the board of the home team in each game.
- ANM
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