Post by alecs on Jul 26, 2024 19:25:43 GMT -8
Blizzard 34, Steamwheelers 23
7/26/24 --
GREEN BAY, WI - Friday night marked the long-awaited debut of the 2024 IFL Playoffs, with the number one seeded Green Bay Blizzard hosting the fourth seeded Quad City Steamwheelers at the Resch Center in the first Eastern Conference Semifinal. In a stifling affair emblematic of the rigor of postseason football, both teams had to fight tooth and nail for every yard and point. In the end, the Blizzard got key performances out of running back E.J. Burgess and a standout effort from the defensive unit, which paved the way for Green Bay's 34-23 victory over the Steamwheelers. The postseason win was Green Bay's first since 2012.
The Blizzard (14-3) will face the winner of the Eastern Conference's other first round game, the Massachusetts Pirates (8-8) at the Frisco Fighters (13-3), next Friday August 2 at 5:05 p.m. at the friendly confines of the Resch Center. The winner of that will book a trip to Henderson, Nevada to represent the conference in the IFL National Championship Game.
Neither team could find any success on offense to lead off the contest. Quad City got as deep as the Blizzard two-yard line on the opening possession of the game, but a pass from Judd Erickson eluded the grasp of Warren Newman III, resulting in a turnover on downs. Green Bay could only take its first drive to the Quad City 14-yard line, where a 30-yard field goal attempt from Andrew Mevis pulled wide left. The Steamwheelers were held three-and-out following the miss and had to settle for a 55-yard field goal attempt from Kyle Kaplan, whose effort came up short. The Blizzard ran out the remainder of the quarter during their next drive, wrapping up a scoreless first 15 minutes of action.
Green Bay originally ran a touchdown play to begin the second frame, but the points were wiped from the board due to an offensive pass interference called against Lowell Patron. The Blizzard instead had to opt for the field goal, with Mevis sending the 32-yarder through the uprights this time around to account for the game's first points. Quad City's offensive regression continued, with the second play of that possession resulting in an Erickson pass intercepted by Shawn Steele II. Three plays later, the game saw its first touchdown scored as E.J. Burgess ran a bruising 11-yarder just across the goal line to build a double-digit advantage. Led on the next drive by Mike Irwin, Quad City made its way into the redzone for a second time. Faced with another fourth down, the Steamwheelers this time decided on a field goal attempt. Kaplan's 24-yarder found its way through to put Quad City on the board. Mevis would be called upon inside the one-minute warning for a Blizzard field goal, and his 32-yarder down the middle restored Green Bay's ten-point lead. Quad City's attempt at points before the halftime buzzer was stuffed out, with Kaplan missing a 24-yard field goal wide right to bring both teams to the locker room. At the half, the Steamwheelers trailed by ten, with just three points to show for their first half effort.
Green Bay got the first possession of the second half, but could not capitalize on their chance to expand the advantage. Mevis pull-hooked a 37-yard field goal attempt wide right to give Quad City a significant momentum boost. The first house call by a Steamwheeler would come seven minutes into the third quarter, provided by a three-yard rush by Eddie Vander. The Blizzard responded with a rush-heavy touchdown drive capped off by a Burgess touchdown run on an outside pitch, with the former Franklin Pierce product doing the rest for a two-yard rumble. At the end of the third quarter, Green Bay led by ten, separated from a landmark postseason win by just 15 minutes.
After a few short-yardage attempts, the Steamwheelers converted a fourth and goal from inside Green Bay's one-yard line, with Irwin crossing the goal line on a QB sneak to put Quad City back within striking distance. Again, though, Green Bay countered with a touchdown, this one the result of a 16-yard dart from Max Meylor to Demetrius Moore. With penalties setting the Steamwheelers back into a third and 24 situation, Irwin's desperation toss towards the endzone was intercepted, with Ravarius Rivers coming up with the key takeaway. Green Bay took the opportunity to thwart out any hope of a late comeback, scoring on a third consecutive drive with an 18-yard connection from Meylor to Patron. Quad City did get one last chance at a "save-face" garbage time touchdown, and succeeded as Newman caught a two-yard pass from Erickson with no time remaining on the clock. The point-after was thus not attempted (a significant development to some viewers), resulting in a final score line of 34 to 23, with the Blizzard advancing - and ultimately hosting - next weekend's Eastern Conference Final.
Max Meylor efficiently led the Blizzard in victory tonight, with 13 completions on 20 pass attempts for 161 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, adding 29 yards on eight carries as a rusher. E.J. Burgess was Green Bay's leading rusher with nine carries for 42 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Demetrius Moore caught five passes for 50 yards and a touchdown, and running mate Lowell Patron also had a touchdown on four catches for 44 yards. Linebacker Julius Wilkerson was credited with 11 tackles to lead the team, while Shawn Steele II and Ravarius Rivers each logged an interception.
Quad City's infamous quarterback carousel continued with tonight's showing. Judd Erickson drew the start and ended with ten completions on 18 passes for 81 yards, with a touchdown and interception, chipping in two carries for seven yards. Mike Irwin rotated in and completed four of ten passes for 50 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception, but was the more efficient runner with five carries for 30 yards and a touchdown. Eddie Vander was leaned upon heavily with 11 rushes for 43 yards and a touchdown and five catches for 44 yards. Keyvan Rudd was the leading Quad City receiver with four catches for 48 yards, while Warren Newman III had the lone receiving touchdown on four catches for 18 yards. Bubba Arslanian had ten tackles to lead all Steamwheelers, and Dreko Statham came up with a couple of pass breakups to his name.
The offensive yardage production was near-even for the two local rivals, with Quad City slightly outgaining Green Bay 227 to 223. The two Green Bay interceptions helped the Blizzard end the game a plus-two in turnover differential. Quad City had eight penalty calls accepted on them, setting them back 66 yards throughout the game, while Green Bay was guilty of four penalties for 25 yards.
Green Bay's win is the third of 2024 against Quad City, as the Blizzard won the first two meetings this year on April 6 and May 31 before the Steamwheelers prevented the regular season sweep with an upset win back on June 22. The all-time series record moves to seven games to five, in favor of the Blizzard.
2024 Head to Head: April 6 - Blizzard 32, Steamwheelers (H) 24. May 31 - Blizzard (H) 64, Steamwheelers 36. June 22 - Steamwheelers (H) 37, Blizzard 27.
All playoff games with the exception of the National Championship Game will be streamed live on Stadium's YouTube Channel and are also offered to view on multiple other platforms such as Prime Video and Freevee. 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.
7/26/24 --
GREEN BAY, WI - Friday night marked the long-awaited debut of the 2024 IFL Playoffs, with the number one seeded Green Bay Blizzard hosting the fourth seeded Quad City Steamwheelers at the Resch Center in the first Eastern Conference Semifinal. In a stifling affair emblematic of the rigor of postseason football, both teams had to fight tooth and nail for every yard and point. In the end, the Blizzard got key performances out of running back E.J. Burgess and a standout effort from the defensive unit, which paved the way for Green Bay's 34-23 victory over the Steamwheelers. The postseason win was Green Bay's first since 2012.
The Blizzard (14-3) will face the winner of the Eastern Conference's other first round game, the Massachusetts Pirates (8-8) at the Frisco Fighters (13-3), next Friday August 2 at 5:05 p.m. at the friendly confines of the Resch Center. The winner of that will book a trip to Henderson, Nevada to represent the conference in the IFL National Championship Game.
Neither team could find any success on offense to lead off the contest. Quad City got as deep as the Blizzard two-yard line on the opening possession of the game, but a pass from Judd Erickson eluded the grasp of Warren Newman III, resulting in a turnover on downs. Green Bay could only take its first drive to the Quad City 14-yard line, where a 30-yard field goal attempt from Andrew Mevis pulled wide left. The Steamwheelers were held three-and-out following the miss and had to settle for a 55-yard field goal attempt from Kyle Kaplan, whose effort came up short. The Blizzard ran out the remainder of the quarter during their next drive, wrapping up a scoreless first 15 minutes of action.
Green Bay originally ran a touchdown play to begin the second frame, but the points were wiped from the board due to an offensive pass interference called against Lowell Patron. The Blizzard instead had to opt for the field goal, with Mevis sending the 32-yarder through the uprights this time around to account for the game's first points. Quad City's offensive regression continued, with the second play of that possession resulting in an Erickson pass intercepted by Shawn Steele II. Three plays later, the game saw its first touchdown scored as E.J. Burgess ran a bruising 11-yarder just across the goal line to build a double-digit advantage. Led on the next drive by Mike Irwin, Quad City made its way into the redzone for a second time. Faced with another fourth down, the Steamwheelers this time decided on a field goal attempt. Kaplan's 24-yarder found its way through to put Quad City on the board. Mevis would be called upon inside the one-minute warning for a Blizzard field goal, and his 32-yarder down the middle restored Green Bay's ten-point lead. Quad City's attempt at points before the halftime buzzer was stuffed out, with Kaplan missing a 24-yard field goal wide right to bring both teams to the locker room. At the half, the Steamwheelers trailed by ten, with just three points to show for their first half effort.
Green Bay got the first possession of the second half, but could not capitalize on their chance to expand the advantage. Mevis pull-hooked a 37-yard field goal attempt wide right to give Quad City a significant momentum boost. The first house call by a Steamwheeler would come seven minutes into the third quarter, provided by a three-yard rush by Eddie Vander. The Blizzard responded with a rush-heavy touchdown drive capped off by a Burgess touchdown run on an outside pitch, with the former Franklin Pierce product doing the rest for a two-yard rumble. At the end of the third quarter, Green Bay led by ten, separated from a landmark postseason win by just 15 minutes.
After a few short-yardage attempts, the Steamwheelers converted a fourth and goal from inside Green Bay's one-yard line, with Irwin crossing the goal line on a QB sneak to put Quad City back within striking distance. Again, though, Green Bay countered with a touchdown, this one the result of a 16-yard dart from Max Meylor to Demetrius Moore. With penalties setting the Steamwheelers back into a third and 24 situation, Irwin's desperation toss towards the endzone was intercepted, with Ravarius Rivers coming up with the key takeaway. Green Bay took the opportunity to thwart out any hope of a late comeback, scoring on a third consecutive drive with an 18-yard connection from Meylor to Patron. Quad City did get one last chance at a "save-face" garbage time touchdown, and succeeded as Newman caught a two-yard pass from Erickson with no time remaining on the clock. The point-after was thus not attempted (a significant development to some viewers), resulting in a final score line of 34 to 23, with the Blizzard advancing - and ultimately hosting - next weekend's Eastern Conference Final.
Max Meylor efficiently led the Blizzard in victory tonight, with 13 completions on 20 pass attempts for 161 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, adding 29 yards on eight carries as a rusher. E.J. Burgess was Green Bay's leading rusher with nine carries for 42 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Demetrius Moore caught five passes for 50 yards and a touchdown, and running mate Lowell Patron also had a touchdown on four catches for 44 yards. Linebacker Julius Wilkerson was credited with 11 tackles to lead the team, while Shawn Steele II and Ravarius Rivers each logged an interception.
Quad City's infamous quarterback carousel continued with tonight's showing. Judd Erickson drew the start and ended with ten completions on 18 passes for 81 yards, with a touchdown and interception, chipping in two carries for seven yards. Mike Irwin rotated in and completed four of ten passes for 50 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception, but was the more efficient runner with five carries for 30 yards and a touchdown. Eddie Vander was leaned upon heavily with 11 rushes for 43 yards and a touchdown and five catches for 44 yards. Keyvan Rudd was the leading Quad City receiver with four catches for 48 yards, while Warren Newman III had the lone receiving touchdown on four catches for 18 yards. Bubba Arslanian had ten tackles to lead all Steamwheelers, and Dreko Statham came up with a couple of pass breakups to his name.
The offensive yardage production was near-even for the two local rivals, with Quad City slightly outgaining Green Bay 227 to 223. The two Green Bay interceptions helped the Blizzard end the game a plus-two in turnover differential. Quad City had eight penalty calls accepted on them, setting them back 66 yards throughout the game, while Green Bay was guilty of four penalties for 25 yards.
Green Bay's win is the third of 2024 against Quad City, as the Blizzard won the first two meetings this year on April 6 and May 31 before the Steamwheelers prevented the regular season sweep with an upset win back on June 22. The all-time series record moves to seven games to five, in favor of the Blizzard.
2024 Head to Head: April 6 - Blizzard 32, Steamwheelers (H) 24. May 31 - Blizzard (H) 64, Steamwheelers 36. June 22 - Steamwheelers (H) 37, Blizzard 27.
All playoff games with the exception of the National Championship Game will be streamed live on Stadium's YouTube Channel and are also offered to view on multiple other platforms such as Prime Video and Freevee. 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
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