Post by alecs on Jul 14, 2024 8:06:42 GMT -8
Blizzard 45, Sharks 42
7/13/24 --
JACKSONVILLE, FL - After sitting out last week on bye, the Green Bay Blizzard entered this week a half game behind Frisco for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. They sought to reclaim that spot with a trip to VyStar Verterans Memorial Arena to take on a resurgent Jacksonville Sharks team coming off two consecutive road wins. The hosts gave the championship-hopeful Blizzard everything they could handle, but Green Bay pulled away just enough in the final frame to log an important 45-42 win on Saturday night.
Jacksonville began the game with the football and bled over seven minutes of game clock, taking the game's first lead on a one-yard QB sneak from Kaleb Barker. The Sharks did force a fourth-and-goal attempt on the following drive, but the Blizzard converted to tie the game with a three-yard slant pass from Max Meylor to Lowell Patron Jr. Only those two possessions were complete in the game's first 15 minutes, and at the end of one the game was tied at seven.
As the second Sharks drive continued five minutes into the second quarter, a one-yard rush score by Tyler King was wiped off the board due to offensive holding, so the Sharks had to settle for a 26-yard field goal by Kevin DiDio-Weber. Green Bay responded fairly quickly, taking their first lead on a five-yard pass from Meylor to Henry Ballard III. That lead was short-lived, though, with Jacksonville scoring just a few moments later on a four-yard sweep rush by Joshua Mack. With time nearing down to the one-minute warking, Meylor put the Blizzard back on top with a barging, three-yard keeper to go ahead 19-17. The Sharks did string together a scoring drive just before the half expired, with Barker tossing a 15-yard jump ball in the direction of D.J. Matthews, who high-pointed the ball and secured it just across the goal line to take the lead. The final kickoff of the half was nearly taken the distance by Ravarius Rivers, who was tackled inside the Sharks five-yard line as time expired. The score midway through, a somewhat surprising line, with Jacksonville in front 24-19.
The Blizzard took advantage of the first drive of the second half, pushing back out ahead on a three-yard pass from Meylor to Ballard. The Sharks could not match the touchdown with their following drive, but did manage a 23-yard field goal by DiDio-Weber to jump out to a one-point lead. Green Bay would drive deep into Jacksonville territory by the end of the quarter, as after 45 minutes they trailed the Sharks 27-26.
Green Bay got a frenetic fourth quarter underway with the foot of Andrew Mevis, who knocked through a 20-yard field goal a minute into the quarter to hop ahead by two points. On the third play of Jacksonville's next drive, Barker would get sacked in the endzone, collapsed by Julius Wilkerson and Olalere Oladipo for a safety to extend Green Bay's lead to four. The Blizzard would take the ensuing possession in for a touchdown on a Max Meylor one-yard "tush-push" style sneak. Now down by 11 points, Jacksonville would find a much-needed score on an eight-yard pass from Barker to Jaedon Stoshak, leaving just under seven minutes left at a potential comeback bid. Moments later, a 22-yard deep ball from Meylor to Patron restored the 11-point lead for the visitors. As the one-minute warning approached, Barker connected with Tyler King on a six-yard touchdown pass, and King's "Octopus" sequence was completed when he caught a screen pass and ran it in for the two-point conversion. Jacksonville, now down by three, vied for an onside kick recovery, but Rivers recovered for Green Bay. After Green Bay made at least five attempts to grab a nominal touchdown, which would have been significant to some viewers in the audience, they eventually exhausted Jacksonville's timeouts and allowed the remainder of time to expire, preserving a 45-42 win over the Sharks.
Max Meylor put on a display, going 15 for 18 on his passes for 138 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions, and he added a pair of scores on nine carries for 19 yards. E.J. Burgess rushed seven times for a healthy 42 yards and added another 21 yards on a pair of catches. Lowell Patron Jr. (4/54/2) and Harry Ballard III (6/48/2) each caught a pair of scores for the Blizzard. Julius Wilkerson was a force leading Green Bay with 11 tackles, and Rafiq Abdul-Wahid netted two sacks.
Kaleb Barker tossed 11 completions on 15 attempts for 107 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions, while rushing seven times for 43 yards and another touchdown. Tyler King rushed eight times for 45 yards and caught four passes for 27 yards and a score. D.J. Matthews caught four targets for 54 yards and a touchdown, while Jaedon Stoshak nabbed a receiving touchdown on two grabs for 12 yards. Harrison Poole led all Sharks with 11 tackles, while running mates Raashad Wilkins and Brandon Munoz each sacked Meylor once.
With tonight's win, Green Bay completes the two-game sweep of the Sharks, which are the first two all-time matchups between the two squads this year. Back at the Resch Center on June 14, the Blizzard dominated the inaugural meeting 63-35.
The Sharks (4-11) close out their inaugural IFL season with a home date against the playoff-bound Quad City Steamwheelers (8-7) on Saturday July 20 with kickoff at 4:05 p.m. The Blizzard (12-3) will be at their rival Sioux Falls Storm (3-12) on Saturday July 20 with kickoff scheduled for 5:05 p.m. Times listed are pacific daylight time.
For the Blizzard, they hold control of their own fate for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. A win at Sioux Falls next Saturday assures home-turf advantage throughout the postseason, or if Frisco loses their home date with the Iowa Barnstormers. The Sharks, meanwhile, could spoil Quad City's bid for the number three seed if they can beat the Steamwheelers that night. Quad City needs to win and have Massachusetts lose at Tulsa on Friday to jump to that position.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL 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. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
7/13/24 --
JACKSONVILLE, FL - After sitting out last week on bye, the Green Bay Blizzard entered this week a half game behind Frisco for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. They sought to reclaim that spot with a trip to VyStar Verterans Memorial Arena to take on a resurgent Jacksonville Sharks team coming off two consecutive road wins. The hosts gave the championship-hopeful Blizzard everything they could handle, but Green Bay pulled away just enough in the final frame to log an important 45-42 win on Saturday night.
Jacksonville began the game with the football and bled over seven minutes of game clock, taking the game's first lead on a one-yard QB sneak from Kaleb Barker. The Sharks did force a fourth-and-goal attempt on the following drive, but the Blizzard converted to tie the game with a three-yard slant pass from Max Meylor to Lowell Patron Jr. Only those two possessions were complete in the game's first 15 minutes, and at the end of one the game was tied at seven.
As the second Sharks drive continued five minutes into the second quarter, a one-yard rush score by Tyler King was wiped off the board due to offensive holding, so the Sharks had to settle for a 26-yard field goal by Kevin DiDio-Weber. Green Bay responded fairly quickly, taking their first lead on a five-yard pass from Meylor to Henry Ballard III. That lead was short-lived, though, with Jacksonville scoring just a few moments later on a four-yard sweep rush by Joshua Mack. With time nearing down to the one-minute warking, Meylor put the Blizzard back on top with a barging, three-yard keeper to go ahead 19-17. The Sharks did string together a scoring drive just before the half expired, with Barker tossing a 15-yard jump ball in the direction of D.J. Matthews, who high-pointed the ball and secured it just across the goal line to take the lead. The final kickoff of the half was nearly taken the distance by Ravarius Rivers, who was tackled inside the Sharks five-yard line as time expired. The score midway through, a somewhat surprising line, with Jacksonville in front 24-19.
The Blizzard took advantage of the first drive of the second half, pushing back out ahead on a three-yard pass from Meylor to Ballard. The Sharks could not match the touchdown with their following drive, but did manage a 23-yard field goal by DiDio-Weber to jump out to a one-point lead. Green Bay would drive deep into Jacksonville territory by the end of the quarter, as after 45 minutes they trailed the Sharks 27-26.
Green Bay got a frenetic fourth quarter underway with the foot of Andrew Mevis, who knocked through a 20-yard field goal a minute into the quarter to hop ahead by two points. On the third play of Jacksonville's next drive, Barker would get sacked in the endzone, collapsed by Julius Wilkerson and Olalere Oladipo for a safety to extend Green Bay's lead to four. The Blizzard would take the ensuing possession in for a touchdown on a Max Meylor one-yard "tush-push" style sneak. Now down by 11 points, Jacksonville would find a much-needed score on an eight-yard pass from Barker to Jaedon Stoshak, leaving just under seven minutes left at a potential comeback bid. Moments later, a 22-yard deep ball from Meylor to Patron restored the 11-point lead for the visitors. As the one-minute warning approached, Barker connected with Tyler King on a six-yard touchdown pass, and King's "Octopus" sequence was completed when he caught a screen pass and ran it in for the two-point conversion. Jacksonville, now down by three, vied for an onside kick recovery, but Rivers recovered for Green Bay. After Green Bay made at least five attempts to grab a nominal touchdown, which would have been significant to some viewers in the audience, they eventually exhausted Jacksonville's timeouts and allowed the remainder of time to expire, preserving a 45-42 win over the Sharks.
Max Meylor put on a display, going 15 for 18 on his passes for 138 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions, and he added a pair of scores on nine carries for 19 yards. E.J. Burgess rushed seven times for a healthy 42 yards and added another 21 yards on a pair of catches. Lowell Patron Jr. (4/54/2) and Harry Ballard III (6/48/2) each caught a pair of scores for the Blizzard. Julius Wilkerson was a force leading Green Bay with 11 tackles, and Rafiq Abdul-Wahid netted two sacks.
Kaleb Barker tossed 11 completions on 15 attempts for 107 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions, while rushing seven times for 43 yards and another touchdown. Tyler King rushed eight times for 45 yards and caught four passes for 27 yards and a score. D.J. Matthews caught four targets for 54 yards and a touchdown, while Jaedon Stoshak nabbed a receiving touchdown on two grabs for 12 yards. Harrison Poole led all Sharks with 11 tackles, while running mates Raashad Wilkins and Brandon Munoz each sacked Meylor once.
With tonight's win, Green Bay completes the two-game sweep of the Sharks, which are the first two all-time matchups between the two squads this year. Back at the Resch Center on June 14, the Blizzard dominated the inaugural meeting 63-35.
The Sharks (4-11) close out their inaugural IFL season with a home date against the playoff-bound Quad City Steamwheelers (8-7) on Saturday July 20 with kickoff at 4:05 p.m. The Blizzard (12-3) will be at their rival Sioux Falls Storm (3-12) on Saturday July 20 with kickoff scheduled for 5:05 p.m. Times listed are pacific daylight time.
For the Blizzard, they hold control of their own fate for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. A win at Sioux Falls next Saturday assures home-turf advantage throughout the postseason, or if Frisco loses their home date with the Iowa Barnstormers. The Sharks, meanwhile, could spoil Quad City's bid for the number three seed if they can beat the Steamwheelers that night. Quad City needs to win and have Massachusetts lose at Tulsa on Friday to jump to that position.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL 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. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
-AS
