Post by DiamondThief on May 22, 2021 19:59:08 GMT -8
Gladiators 63, Barnstormers 55 - OT
5/22/21 --
DES MOINES, IA - It was the Davis-to-Davis show in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Duke City Gladiators slashed their way to an inaugural Indoor Football League win over the Iowa Barnstormers tonight at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Gladiators, who are playing in their first full season in the IFL, scored on a nine-yard pass from quarterback Nate Davis to wide receiver Dello Davis in overtime and the duo connected once again for the two-point conversion. The Gladiators went up 63-55 and forced the Barnstormers to turn it over on downs in order to come away with the extra-session win.
Duke City won the Champions Indoor Football championship in 2018 and 2019. They made the move from the CIF to the IFL for the 2020 season, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Iowa was coming off a 56-36 win over the Sioux Falls Storm in their opener last week in nearby South Dakota.
The Gladiators struck first on Davis' 26-yard touchdown pass to former Nebraska Danger receiver Gregory Dent, Jr. on the first play from scrimmage. They went up 14-0 when Nate Davis found Dello Davis for a 42-yard bomb midway through the opening quarter. Daquan Neal's 17-yard touchdown strike to Connor Hollenbeck put the Barnstormers on the board with 3:39 left in the quarter. The Gladiators responded with a five-yard touchdown from Nate Davis to Jared Elmore which was enough to give the Gladiators a 21-7 lead at the end of the quarter.
Neal's seven-yard run cut into the Gladiators' lead, though Nathan Criswell's kick was no good. Duke City went up 27-13 when Nate Davis found Xavier Amey for a 26-yard touchdown. Kimo Naehu's point after went wide resulting in the score. Those two point afters would be the only missed attempts by either kicker in the game. Neal then scored on a 22-yard run around the left side with 6:12 left, and then the Barnstormers tied the game five minutes later on a 20-yard run from Neal at the one-minute warning of the first half.
The Gladiators scored quickly on a nine-yard run from Raymond Taylor with just 54 seconds remaining, though Neal's one-yard run knotted the game with four seconds remaining in the half. The score was 34-34 heading into the second half.
Iowa took its first lead of the game on its first possession of the second half when Neal found Elad Covaliu for a seven-yard touchdown. The Gladiators' Taylor scored again; this time on a two-yard pass from Nate Davis to tie the score at 41-41 with 6:09 remaining in the third quarter. But, the Barnstormers came back with Neal's 10 yard scoring toss to Covaliu as time expired in the third quarter.
From then on, it was Davis-squared for the Gladiators as Nate Davis found Dello Davis for a 10-yard touchdown early in the fourth, and the score was locked at 48-48. Iowa went up on Neal's four-yard pass to Andrew Mahoney with just under five minutes left. Nate Davis ran it in from five yards out to tied the score at 55-55 at the one-minute warning. Criswell of the Barnstormers attempted a 37-yard field goal with 11 seconds left, but it was blocked, giving the Gladiators the ball with four seconds remaining. They attempted a field goal, but Naehu's attempt was blocked, sending the game into overtime.
Duke City got the ball first to open the overtime sequence. They overcame a fourth-and-six and eventually scored On the Davis-to-Davis nine-yard touchdown and two-point conversion. Iowa had its turn, but was stopped on fourth down, giving the Gladiators the win.
Prior to the game, the Barnstormers organization honored its longtime executive and general manager John Pettit, who passed away of COVID-19 last fall. Pettit was inducted to the IFL Hall of Fame during last week's IFL Hall of Fame Game featuring the Barnstormers at the Storm. Juli Pettit, his daughter and former director of media relations, was promoted to general manager last month to fill the vacancy left by her late father.
Nate Davis threw for six touchdowns and ran for another, while Dello Davis caught a trio of touchdowns. Taylor scored twice for the Gladiators. Neal threw for four scores and ran for four more, and Covaliu caught a pair of touchdowns for the Barnstormers.
The Gladiators will host the Tucson Sugar Skulls on May 29 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. The Barnstormers are at home against the Bismarck Bucks with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m. All times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for the SCtoC 2021 Indoor Football League schedule.
5/22/21 --
DES MOINES, IA - It was the Davis-to-Davis show in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Duke City Gladiators slashed their way to an inaugural Indoor Football League win over the Iowa Barnstormers tonight at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Gladiators, who are playing in their first full season in the IFL, scored on a nine-yard pass from quarterback Nate Davis to wide receiver Dello Davis in overtime and the duo connected once again for the two-point conversion. The Gladiators went up 63-55 and forced the Barnstormers to turn it over on downs in order to come away with the extra-session win.
Duke City won the Champions Indoor Football championship in 2018 and 2019. They made the move from the CIF to the IFL for the 2020 season, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Iowa was coming off a 56-36 win over the Sioux Falls Storm in their opener last week in nearby South Dakota.
The Gladiators struck first on Davis' 26-yard touchdown pass to former Nebraska Danger receiver Gregory Dent, Jr. on the first play from scrimmage. They went up 14-0 when Nate Davis found Dello Davis for a 42-yard bomb midway through the opening quarter. Daquan Neal's 17-yard touchdown strike to Connor Hollenbeck put the Barnstormers on the board with 3:39 left in the quarter. The Gladiators responded with a five-yard touchdown from Nate Davis to Jared Elmore which was enough to give the Gladiators a 21-7 lead at the end of the quarter.
Neal's seven-yard run cut into the Gladiators' lead, though Nathan Criswell's kick was no good. Duke City went up 27-13 when Nate Davis found Xavier Amey for a 26-yard touchdown. Kimo Naehu's point after went wide resulting in the score. Those two point afters would be the only missed attempts by either kicker in the game. Neal then scored on a 22-yard run around the left side with 6:12 left, and then the Barnstormers tied the game five minutes later on a 20-yard run from Neal at the one-minute warning of the first half.
The Gladiators scored quickly on a nine-yard run from Raymond Taylor with just 54 seconds remaining, though Neal's one-yard run knotted the game with four seconds remaining in the half. The score was 34-34 heading into the second half.
Iowa took its first lead of the game on its first possession of the second half when Neal found Elad Covaliu for a seven-yard touchdown. The Gladiators' Taylor scored again; this time on a two-yard pass from Nate Davis to tie the score at 41-41 with 6:09 remaining in the third quarter. But, the Barnstormers came back with Neal's 10 yard scoring toss to Covaliu as time expired in the third quarter.
From then on, it was Davis-squared for the Gladiators as Nate Davis found Dello Davis for a 10-yard touchdown early in the fourth, and the score was locked at 48-48. Iowa went up on Neal's four-yard pass to Andrew Mahoney with just under five minutes left. Nate Davis ran it in from five yards out to tied the score at 55-55 at the one-minute warning. Criswell of the Barnstormers attempted a 37-yard field goal with 11 seconds left, but it was blocked, giving the Gladiators the ball with four seconds remaining. They attempted a field goal, but Naehu's attempt was blocked, sending the game into overtime.
Duke City got the ball first to open the overtime sequence. They overcame a fourth-and-six and eventually scored On the Davis-to-Davis nine-yard touchdown and two-point conversion. Iowa had its turn, but was stopped on fourth down, giving the Gladiators the win.
Prior to the game, the Barnstormers organization honored its longtime executive and general manager John Pettit, who passed away of COVID-19 last fall. Pettit was inducted to the IFL Hall of Fame during last week's IFL Hall of Fame Game featuring the Barnstormers at the Storm. Juli Pettit, his daughter and former director of media relations, was promoted to general manager last month to fill the vacancy left by her late father.
Nate Davis threw for six touchdowns and ran for another, while Dello Davis caught a trio of touchdowns. Taylor scored twice for the Gladiators. Neal threw for four scores and ran for four more, and Covaliu caught a pair of touchdowns for the Barnstormers.
The Gladiators will host the Tucson Sugar Skulls on May 29 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. The Barnstormers are at home against the Bismarck Bucks with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m. All times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for the SCtoC 2021 Indoor Football League schedule.
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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